2026 is the 250-year anniversary of the middle stump!
Find out the history and how you can get involved here!
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It was during a match with Hambledon on 22nd - 23rd May 1775 that Lumpy beat batsman John Small three times by the ball going through the middle of the two stumps. Lumpy, as a typical precious bowler, was understandably upset, and along with the other patrons at the game (we can only imagine during conversation at the bar post match, where most decisions are made) agreed this gap must be filled and a third stump introduced, and after a meeting with the great and the good, the rest they say is history. If you check out our current logo, this is reflected with the golden middle stump and the year of its introduction, 1776.
2026 marks 250 years since the first match the middle stump was played with, on 6th September 1776 against Coulsdon, and to honour this history-defining event we'll be hosting events right through 2026.
Two hundred and fifty years and a lot of middle-stump wickets - and it all started here.
It was Chertsey man Edward “Lumpy” Stevens whose sharp thinking and sharper bowling exposed a flaw in the game, leading to the introduction of the middle stump as a permanent feature of cricket. A simple change, born at Chertsey, that went on to shape the game worldwide.
This year marks 250 years since the first match was played with the middle stump, way back in 1776, and Chertsey Cricket Club is immensely proud to honour its place at the very heart of cricketing history.
To celebrate this remarkable anniversary, we’re hosting events throughout the year, including a week-long festival of cricket, bringing together players, supporters, families and friends to reflect our past, celebrate our present, and inspire the future.
From walking cricket to our Saturday league fixture, social league to dedicated section's evening events, everyone's included in the celebration!
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating an achievement that has influenced world cricket, and get involved to put Chertsey in the spotlight!
Sunday June 21st to Sunday 28th June - Cricket Week
Sunday 21st June - Chertsey Strollers v Surrey Seniors Cricket
Monday 22nd June - Ladies Interclub Match
Tuesday 23rd June - Walking Cricket Celebration
Wednesday 24th June - Chertsey v The Stage
Thursday 25th June - Social League - Dad's Army v Bab's Army 6pm
Friday 26th June - Colts Challenge Night
Saturday 27th June - League Match - 2nd XI v Hampton Hill 12pm
Sunday 28th June - Chertsey v Lords Taverners
The celebrations continue with President’s Day on Sunday 26 July, featuring Chertsey v MCC XI, and culminate with our 250th “To the Day” Anniversary Matches on Sunday 6 September, as we host Coulsdon, Chipstead, and Walcountians (Coulsdon being the team Chertsey played in the original match back in 1776) and travel to Hambledon, who along with Chertsey are one of the oldest clubs in the world.
President's Day
Sunday 26th July - Chertsey v MCC XI
250th "To the Day" Anniversary Matches
Sunday 6th September - Chertsey v Coulsdon (H) & Chertsey v Hambledon (A)
Please email us with any enquiries about our anniversary year to comms@chertseycc.org.uk
Chertsey make the February edition of The Cricketer - buy your copy here!
Chertsey legend Martin Allen and Communications Manager Claire Wright sat down with Oscar Ress of The Cricketer in December to talk about the middle stump event and outlining Chertsey's plans for honoring the event in the 2026 season.
"We're fiercely proud," Allen said. "There are a number of times when clubs come down to play us, whether a friendly game or a league game, and they'll see the logo up against the bar and say, 'oh, what does that mean?' And then when we tell them, they're astonished because, with great respect, some of these clubs are only 50 or 60 years old. And there we are, 250 years old.
They are truly astonished, particularly those players in those clubs who are interested in the history of the game, not just in what happened yesterday."
Martin Allen
