Stephen Amherst

Stephen Amherst or Amhurst (1750 – 6 May 1814), was an English cricketer and organiser of cricket matches.

Amherst was born in 1750.^[1] He is most associated with organising matches involving Kent teams towards the end of the 18th century.^[2][3] Amherst employed cricketers such as Thomas Boxall, a noted bowler who is believed to have been the first player to bowl legbreaks,^[4] and John Crawte, who he persuaded to move from the Hambledon Club in Hampshire.^[3][5] Both men played for Kent sides whilst employed by Amherst who built an indoor training centre in a converted barn for Boxall to use.^[4]

As well as organising matches, Amherst played in 31 first-class matches between 1783 and 1795.^[1][6] He played most frequently for Kent sides, making 18 appearances for teams using the name Kent as well as three for West Kent and one for both East Kent and for the Gentlemen of Kent. He is known to have played non-first-class matches until at least 1800, including for the Gentlemen of Kent and the Rochester club.^[6]

Amherst died at West Farleigh near Maidstone in Kent in 1814.^[1][6] Arthur Haygarth quoted from a tablet in the parish church at West Farleigh to confirm his view that the spelling of Amherst's name was correct, rather than Amhurst which is used in a number of other sources.^[7] A Stephen Amhurst is recorded as the owner of Court Lodge in the village in 1798, a house his family had lived in since the 17th century,^[8][9] and it is possible that both spellings of the name were used by the same family.^[7]

• Stephen Amherst at ESPNcricinfo