The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 inGuildford.[5] Cricket became established in Surrey during the 17th century, and the earliest village matches took place before theEnglish Civil War. It is believed that the earliest county teams were formed in the aftermath of theRestoration in 1660.
The present Surrey County Cricket Club was formed at a meeting which took place at the Horns Tavern inKennington following a match between Gentlemen of Surrey and Players of Surrey atThe Oval (in its initial season as a cricket ground) on 21 and 22 August 1845.[7] The earliest important match at The Oval was Surrey Club vMarylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on 25 and 26 May 1846. Only 194 runs were scored in the match with a top score of 13.W. R. Hillyer took 14 wickets to help MCC win by 48 runs.[8] Surrey County Cricket Club played its first important match vKent at The Oval on 25 and 26 June 1846, winning by 10 wickets.[9]
^Some eleven-a-side matches played from 1772 to 1863 have been rated "first-class" by certain sources.[1] However, the term only came into common use around 1864, whenoverarm bowling was legalised. It was formally defined as a standard by a meeting atLord's, in May 1894, ofMarylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and thecounty clubs which were then competing in theCounty Championship. The ruling was effective from the beginning of the1895 season, but pre-1895 matches of the same standard have noofficial definition of status because the ruling is not retrospective.[2] Matches of a similar standard since the beginning of the 1864 season are generally considered to have anunofficial first-class status.[3] Pre-1864 matches which are included inthe ACS' "Important Match Guide" may generally be regarded as important or, at least, historically significant.[4] For further information, seeFirst-class cricket.
