[1] He is most associated with organising matches involving Kent teams towards the end of the 18th century.
[2][3] Amherst employed cricketers such as Thomas Boxall, a noted bowler who is believed to have been the first player to bowl legbreaks,[4] and John Crawte, who he persuaded to move from the Hambledon Club in Hampshire.
[3][5] Both men played for Kent sides whilst employed by Amherst who built an indoor training centre in a converted barn for Boxall to use.
He is known to have played non-first-class matches until at least 1800, including for the Gentlemen of Kent and the Rochester club.
[1][6] Arthur Haygarth quoted from a tablet in the parish church at West Farleigh to confirm his view that the spelling of Amherst's name was correct, rather than Amhurst which is used in a number of other sources.