Hambledon Cricket Club, Richard Nyren, and Bat and Ball, Hambledon black plaque

This black commemorative plaque records: The Bat & Ball Hambledon is known as the cradle of cricket and was the first headquarters of English Cricket, although cricket had been played on the South Downs for 200 years prior to that. The modern game was formulated on rules drawn up by Hambledon Cricket Club on Broadhalfpenny Down. This formidable cricket club led by Richard Nyren, the landlord of the Bat & Ball, played an All England Team on 51 occasions wining no less than 29 times! Artefacts relating to the origins of cricket can be found hanging on the walls around the pub.

Hambledon Cricket Club, based at The Bat & Ball pub, is renowned as the cradle of modern cricket, where key rules were formulated and it led to the standardization of the game; Richard Nyren, the landlord, played a pivotal role in organizing matches that established Hambledon's dominance, winning 29 out of 51 against All England Teams.