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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tanya Aldred

How Lumpy Stevens and two pubs led to the creation of cricket’s middle stump

Cricket Smriti Mandhana Chertsey India John Small Surrey MCC Thames Yorkshire
A vintage illustration, featuring an 18th century game of cricket at the Artillery Ground in Finsbury
An illustration featuring an 18th century game of cricket at the Artillery Ground in Finsbury. The wicket has two stumps with a bail balanced across them and the cricket bat is more of a curved club. Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Cricket has had a long love affair with the number three. The ethereal batter walking down the steps after the dismissal of one of the Praetorian Guard – a Don Bradman, a Meg Lanning, a (reluctant) Joe Root.

The hat-trick, a bowler’s most showboating achievement – and a quick glass raised here to Henry Crocombe of Sussex, who just completed two in consecutive matches in the County Championship.

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