Thomas Chambers (cricketer)

Thomas Chambers (dates unknown) was an English cricketer, known to have been active in 1731, who was also a patron of the sport on behalf of Middlesex. According to John Major, Thomas Chambers was a forebear of Lord Frederick Beauclerk. Chambers is recorded in connection with three first-class matches in 1731.

Matches

On Monday, 16 August 1731, Thomas Chambers' XI defeated the 2nd Duke of Richmond's XI at an unspecified venue in Chichester. The stake in this game was 100 guineas. No details are reported other than that Chambers' XI won. It seems that Chambers and his team all came from Middlesex so the match could perhaps be titled Sussex v Middlesex.

A week later, on Monday, 23 August, a return match was played on Richmond Green for 200 guineas. It is notable as the earliest match from which team scores are known: Richmond's XI 79, Chambers' XI 119; Richmond's XI 72, Chambers' XI 23-5 (approx.). The game ended promptly at a pre-agreed time although Chambers' XI with "four or five more to have come in" and needing "about 8 to 10 notches" clearly had the upper hand. The end result caused a fracas among the crowd at Richmond Green who were incensed by the prompt finish because the Duke of Richmond had arrived late and delayed the start of the game. The riot resulted in some of the Sussex players "having the shirts torn off their backs; and it was said a law suit would commence about the play". As the report of the next game strongly infers, Richmond apparently conceded.

On Monday, 6 September, Chambers' XI played Surrey on Sanderstead Common, so this was effectively a Surrey v. Middlesex match. The Daily Post Boy reported on Wednesday, 8 September that "11 of Surrey beat the 11 who about a fortnight ago beat the Duke of Richmond's men", which suggests that Richmond did concede the controversial match on Richmond Green.