History of English cricket (1751–1775)

In the years from 1751 to 1775, English cricket saw the rise of the Hambledon Club and continued to spread across England. The Laws of Cricket underwent a re-codification in 1775, including the introduction of the leg before wicket rule and the addition of the third stump to the wicket.

The mid-century deaths of some of the game's leading patrons reduced investment, and the sport seems to have regressed during the period of the Seven Years' War (1756–1763). However, cricket underwent an evolutionary change around 1760 with the introduction of pitched delivery bowling and the consequent invention of the straight bat. Around the same time, the Hambledon Club was founded, and cricket thrived under its leadership for the next 25 years. Cricket continued its spread throughout England with several references in 1751 followed by Derbyshire in 1757, Northumberland in 1766, and Wiltshire in 1769.

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