William Hodsoll

William Hodsoll aka Hodswell (1718; christened 28 October 1718 at Ash-next-Ridley, Kent – 30 November 1776 at Ash-next-Ridley), was an English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period, at a time when the single wicket version of the game was popular. He was an outstanding fast underarm bowler. Mainly associated with Dartford and Kent, he also played for England teams. Although information about Hodsoll's career is limited by a lack of surviving data, he was a top-class player who made numerous appearances in historically important matches, both eleven-a-side and single wicket.

Hodsoll lived in Dartford for many years, and was a tanner.

1743 Three of Kent v Three of England was a three-a-side single wicket game, played 11 July 1743 on the Artillery Ground. The six players involved were publicised as "the best in England". They were William Hodsoll (Dartford), John Cutbush (Maidstone), and Val Romney (Sevenoaks) playing as Three of Kent; and Richard Newland (Slindon), William Sawyer (Richmond) and John Bryant (Bromley) playing as Three of England. Hodsoll and Newland were the captains.

The Daily Advertiser of Thursday, 7 July 1743 says Thomas Ridgeway of Sussex was to play alongside Hodsoll and Romney. Then, on Friday, 8 July, Cutbush, known to have been a clockmaker from Maidstone, was named instead of Ridgeway. Kent won by 2 runs. The London Evening Post estimated a crowd of 10,000. A return match was arranged at Sevenoaks Vine on 27 July, but "it did not come off".

According to the description of him in Cricket, An Heroic Poem (1745) by James Love, Hodsoll was a fast underarm bowler, and also a useful batsman. This poem was written to commemorate the famous match between Kent and England at the Artillery Ground in 1744, in which Hodsoll played for Kent.

Last known match Hodsoll's last recorded appearance was for Dartford v England on Dartford Brent on 29 July 1752.