The Bs

The Bs was an English cricket team that played in the first half of the 19th century in occasional matches against England and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The team ostensibly consisted of players whose surname began with the letter B, given that there were several top-class players at the time who qualified. A total of 44 players represented the Bs in twelve matches, all rated important, between July 1805 and August 1837. They included Thomas Beagley, Lord Frederick Beauclerk, Billy Beldham, John Bennett, Henry Bentley, Jem Broadbridge, and E. H. Budd. Another was Frederick Hervey-Bathurst, whose surname had half a B in it. There were three instances of the team including given men. These were James Lawrell in 1810, Roger Kynaston in 1837, and the outstanding all-rounder John Wells, who played for them in both 1805 and 1810.