Stephen Butcher

Stephen Butcher (c.1765–?) was an English cricketer of the late 18th century. A top-class player, he was one of the outstanding professional bowlers of the period. Butcher is known to have played in at least 28 historically important matches between 1787 and 1793.

Career Butcher played for several teams, though mostly for Surrey. He may also have been engaged by both the White Conduit Club (WCC) and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) as a ground staff bowler, and he did play for both teams on a few occasions.

First known match He is first recorded in the 1787 season when he played for a White Conduit Club & Moulsey Hurst combine against Hornchurch. This match was played 15/16 May at Langton Park. The combined team won by 6 wickets. Butcher shared the bowling with Lumpy Stevens. In the Hornchurch first innings, he held one catch to dismiss John Boorman for 12, and bowled Michael Remington for 2. Lumpy took five wickets, and Hornchurch were dismissed for 46. WCC scored 117 in reply (George Boult 62), for a first innings lead of 71. Hornchurch scored 118 in their second innings, Butcher bowling five and Lumpy four. Having scored 3 in the first innings, Butcher was 2* in the second as WCC made 18/4 to win. In a footnote to the match scorecard, CricketArchive says:

1788 season Kent played Surrey at Bishopsbourne Paddock from 5 to 7 August. Butcher held two catches to dismiss James Aylward and William Bullen. He may not have bowled because Surrey had David Harris as a given man, and he shared the bowling with Lumpy. Surrey won by 37 runs.

The fixture was repeated in August, again at Bishopsbourne Paddock, Surrey winning by 9 wickets. Butcher played but was not credited with any wickets.

1790 season Butcher is recorded in four matches this season as "Butcher, Esq.", although he was certainly a professional player; in other seasons, he was always recorded by his surname only. The first game was between Hornchurch/Essex and MCC at Langton Park on 5/6 July. It was pre-announced in the Chelmsford Chronicle on 25 June with the names of 22 players. However, four of the named players did not take part, and Butcher was one of those brought in to play for the MCC team, which was led by the Earl of Winchilsea.

1791 season On 2/3 June, Butcher played for Kent against MCC at Lord's Old Ground. Kent were all out for 39, and MCC replied with 240. Butcher bowled George Louch for 24, and William Fennex for 53. The top-scorer was Billy Beldham with 57. 201 runs behind, Kent were dismissed for 88 in their second innings, Butcher being the not out batsman with 15. MCC won by an innings and 113 runs.