“Advertisement, cricket. On Thursday next, the 26^th of this inst., June, will be played on Broad Oak, on The Dicker in Chiddingly, a game betwixt the Gentlemen of Alfriston Club and the Parish of Chiddingly, with four men, two of which may be selected from any part of the county.
The wickets to be pitched at 10 in the morning.
A good ordinary will be provided at the Bat and Ball and from eligibility of the spot, a great many spectators are expected.
N.B. ---- On Monday, the 30^th of June, at the Bat and Ball Fair, 11 cricket bats will be played for, by any parties who may approve the exercise.
The wickets to be pitched at 9 in the morning.”

Cricket then, as now, was a popular sport in which both high and low, rich and poor, took an interest. It did not, however, appeal over-greatly to Richard Lower. His poem about one match on Broad Oak comments scathingly on the so-called “rational behaviour” of both players and spectators. He describes a fieldsman:

Another behold with his hands on his knees;
Profoundly he waits for a stretcher;
With his mouth open wide ev’ry movement he sees
And with hands or with mouth he will catch her!

After describing the excited spectators, he concludes that the only ones to profit are the bookmakers and the refreshment sellers:

There’s rational Beters, too, stand in the rear
With hands full of silver and brass;
Who very genteelly can bluster and swear
To tempt ev’ry Cranky that pass.

There’s Swilltub the Landlord, with rational bowls,
More rational he than them all;
So busy to cherish their rational souls,
Regardless of batt and of ball.

There’s old Goody Doughnut, his cousin, I swear,
With hot smoking puddings and pies;
Amidst all the fair ones that prance on the green,
More rational she and more wise.

Now over and past is this rational treat;
Reflections as rational follow;
Reveal to our conscience this rational cheat
And leaves an irrational hollow,