Will Palmer (cricketer)
Most of Palmer's career was before cricket's statistical record began in the 1772 season so relatively little is known of him.
Will Palmer was born at Coulsdon, Surrey in 1737 and christened on 7 January that year (Julian calendar).
Caterham batted first and were all out for 63 but Bourne were dismissed for 60 in their first innings, Palmer scoring 12.
[6] In 1769, Palmer played for Caterham against Hambledon at Guildford Bason on 31 July and 1 August.
The report found by Waghorn described the match as "the finest that ever was played" and calculated an attendance of 20,000.
[8][9] G. B. Buckley discovered an additional report which mentioned that the first day's play was interrupted by rain and that Hambledon in their first innings had scored 51/4 at the close.
[10] According to CricketArchive, however, the match was played in 1768 and Hambledon won by 86 runs after scoring 137 and 142 while Caterham (who batted first and third in reality) replied with 104 and 99.
Hambledon's match total by the database's reckoning was 279 and Caterham's was 203, a difference of 76, not 86.
[11] In the ACS guide, the match is correctly dated and called "Caterham v Hambledon".
A song was written by a Kent supporter which named all the England players in one quatrain:[16] Minshull, Miller, and Palmer, with Lumpy and May,Fresh laurels have gained by their conquest to day;Wood, Pattenden, Simmons, with Fuggles and White,With Boorman we'll join and we'll toast them all night.1773 was the best of Palmer's known seasons.
The latter was played on 2 June at the Artillery Ground between Five of Hambledon and Five of England, including Palmer.
[17] He made his first known appearance for Surrey at Laleham Burway on 21–22 June in a match against Kent.
[17][13] Palmer then had an outstanding match on 2–3 July at the Artillery Ground as England defeated Hampshire by 6 wickets.
[18][13] On 19–21 July, Palmer was in the Surrey team which defeated Kent by 153 runs at Bourne Paddock.
[19][13] As happened in Kent the previous year, a song was written to celebrate Surrey's victory.
It was called Surrey Triumphant and was a parody of The Ballad of Chevy Chase.
Pitch preparation in the 18th century can best be described as rudimentary and conditions invariably favoured the bowlers.
It was not until 1895, when marl began to be used as a soil conditioner in pitches, that there was a general improvement in favour of batsmen.
Palmer, who is known to have been a long stop fielder, took a catch to dismiss Richard Francis.
[13] In the match at Sevenoaks, Palmer was number 2 in the Surrey batting order and scored 20 in both innings.
[28][13] There was a return match at Sevenoaks Vine on 8–9 July which Hampshire won by 169 runs.
In the second innings, he was bowled by his Surrey colleague, Lumpy Stevens, who was playing for Hampshire as a given man.
[29][13] After that poor start to the season, Palmer had a better game for Surrey against Hampshire at Guildford Bason on 20 July.
Surrey in their second innings scored 77, Palmer being bowled by Richard Francis for 2.
Surrey were bowled out for 78, of which Palmer made the top score of 22, and Hampshire won by 296 runs.
The match was against Hampshire on the neutral venue of Moulsey Hurst for a stake of 500 guineas.
Palmer is number one in the scorecard but he was dismissed for 2 and 0, bowled by William Barber in both innings.
[37][38] Haygarth left a short biographical note about Palmer which included the "batting well esteemed" verse.
