Chalvington and Ripe Cricket Club, from Wealdon, East Sussex, is the oldest in the world. The Chalvington and Ripe Cricket Club, formed in 1762, celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2012, though some historians say the club was actually founded five years earlier, in 1757.
Chalvington and Ripe Cricket Club organised a series of events during 2012 to celebrate its history – culminating in a 35-over match on Sunday, September 9, against David English's famous Bunburys.
In the past the club has played host to the Sussex county team and legendary players such as W. G. Grace, England's Women's Cricket team, including Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint, have played at the Yew Tree Inn, Chalvington.
More recently the likes of Chris Adams, James Kirtley, Peter Moores and Alan and Colin Wells have played there, and it has even hosted international matches, playing host to the Australian Crusaders.
The oldest cricket ground in the world is certainly Mitcham Green, where the red ball game was first played in 1685, though not by Mitcham Cricket Club, which was formed many years later (around the 1780s). Lord Horatio Nelson watched cricket on this ground.
Three Mitcham Cricket Club players – fast bowler Tom Richardson (1890s), batsman Andy Sandham (1920s) and wicket-keeper Herbert Strudwick (early 1900s) – were all selected to play for England.
Other old clubs include: The Vine Cricket Club, Sevenoaks, Kent (formed in 1774); Hambledon Cricket Club (Hampshire); and Shaftesbury Cricket Club (Dorset).
Found in the Daily Mail's "Answer to Correspondents" column, contributed by Tony Matthews of Almeria Province, Andalucia, Spain.