1881 was the 95th season ofcricket in England since the foundation ofMarylebone Cricket Club (MCC). There was a first outright title win by Lancashire and a strike by the Nottinghamshire professionals, led by their main bowlerAlfred Shaw, over benefits and terms.^{[note 1]}

^[a]

• Lancashire

^[5]

Nottinghamshire's professionals, led by Alfred Shaw, held a strike over playing contracts agreed by the MCC and secretary CaptainHenry Holden. The players demanded security of contract for all games during the season and the right to organise their own terms^[8] rather than those set by the MCC, which during the 1870s as county cricket grew established a strong grip on terms for professional players.^[8]

The dispute meant that seven of Nottinghamshire's top players did not play for the first half of the season, and leading batsmanArthur Shrewsbury played only three first-class games all year.^[9] Shaw and Shrewsbury used the dispute to organise an eight-month tour of Australia and New Zealand during the winter.^[9]

• The scheduled 18 to 20 July county match between Lancashire and Middlesex was cancelled because Harrow Wanderers booked Lord's ground and no alternative arrangement could be made to play the game.
• Frederick Randon Sr was struck by a delivery that resulted in his death two years later in 1883.^[10]

• Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1881

^a An unofficial seasonal title sometimes proclaimed by consensus of media and historians prior to December 1889 when the officialCounty Championship was constituted. Although there are ante-dated claims prior to 1873, when residence qualifications were introduced, it is only since that ruling that any quasi-official status can be ascribed.
^b The match between Middlesex and Lancashire at Lord's was cancelled becauseHarrow Wanderers had booked the ground on the same day.

• ACS (1981).A Guide to Important Cricket Matches Played in the British Isles 1709–1863. Nottingham:ACS.OCLC 85045528.
• ACS (1982).A Guide to First-class Cricket Matches Played in the British Isles. Nottingham:ACS.OCLC 10586869.
• Warner, Pelham (1946).Lords: 1787–1945. London: Harrap.OCLC 877106024.

• John Lillywhite's Cricketer's Companion (Green Lilly), Lillywhite, 1882
• James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual (Red Lilly), Lillywhite, 1882
• Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 1882

• Altham, H. S.;Swanton, E. W. (1962).A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914) (5th ed.). London:George Allen & Unwin.OCLC 894274808.
• Birley, Derek (1999).A Social History of English Cricket. London:Aurum Press.ISBN 978-18-54107-10-7 – viaInternet Archive.
• Bowen, Rowland (1970).Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development. London:Eyre & Spottiswoode.ISBN 978-04-13278-60-9.
• Major, John (2007).More Than A Game. London:HarperCollins.ISBN 978-00-07183-64-7 – via Internet Archive.

• 1881 in English cricket
• English cricket seasons in the 19th century

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