An Evening at the Cradle: History, Cricket and Good Company Some evenings feel like they were made for a particular place. Thursday 10 September might just be one of them. Peter Oborne and Richard Heller, co-authors of Full Circle: A History of Cricket, widely regarded as one of the most ambitious cricket books in years, have accepted an invitation to join us for dinner in the Bat & Ball. They will speak about the book and about the game itself. Oborne needs little introducti

Cricket doesn't get closer than this, and Simon Arnold was there with his camera for both innings 31 May 2026, Brigands 210-7 beat Wellington Wanderers 209 all out by 1 run Broadhalfpenny Down, with flags flying, is ready to host a touring team from New Zealand Northwood starts to accelerate. Blackburn survived an early edge but went on to hit a magnificent 25. Brigands going for attacking shots are out! Abdeen, Turner and Peach all bowled, Wood caught at Long Off. The elega

A Very Long Way for a Dot Ball In the summer of 1777, the Hambledon Club played a match on this very hill for a stake of a thousand guineas, roughly £150,000 in today's money. The ground's history is saturated in stories of wager; bookmakers operated at the boundary rope, gentlemen lost fortunes on the result of a single delivery, and the players were not always above suspicion. At Broadhalfpenny Down on Sunday, Wellington Wanderers arrived in their green, blue and yellow bla

20 reasons why Broadhalfpenny Down remains one of cricket’s most charming stages, where history hangs in the air, and the scorebook reveals a few surprises.

A Spring game against The Saints in 2008, Matt Sturman and Glen Duggan walking towards the pavilion, and Mike Beardall and Graham Peach batting with slip fielders waiting. Nina is scoring, with Harry by her side, of course. Picture credit Alamy

On 23 September 1771, amidst the flint and flannel of Georgian Surrey, a bat was raised, not in triumph, but in challenge. It was wider...

On this day in 1756, Rover the dog was lost during a cricket match at Broadhalfpenny Down, and a reward was offered for his recovery—the...

By Bill Evershed At first, I thought I had become a victim of the Great Grey Granite Slabs Scam. But it all turned out fine when the...

In 1908, following the erection of the Monument to the Glory of Cricket, W R Weir published The Cradle of Cricket; a Hambledon Souvenir....