In English cricket, the years 1846–1863 were the main period of the sport's "roundarm era". Although roundarm had been legalised amid great controversy, its timespan was relatively short. By 1863, there was an increasing demand for the legalisation of overarm bowling and this was achieved on 10 June 1864.
Taking advantage of the "railway boom", the professional travelling elevens began to tour the country, staging matches against local teams before large crowds. The first of these was the All-England Eleven (the AEE), founded by William Clarke in 1846 and then managed by George Parr following Clarke's death. The rival United All England Eleven (the UEE) was established by Jemmy Dean and John Wisden in 1852. Travelling took on a global aspect when, for the first time, an international England team was formed to undertake the first overseas tours to North America in 1859 (this was, in fact, by a combined AEE/UEE team) and Australia in 1861–62.
In 1846 there were only four definitive county clubs. Sussex County Cricket Club was the oldest, having been founded in 1839. It had been followed by Nottinghamshire in 1841, Cambridgeshire in 1844 and Surrey in 1845. Kent County Cricket Club had a complex history with separate organisations founded in 1842 and 1859 – these merged to form the present Kent club in 1870. Yorkshire, Hampshire and Middlesex were all founded in 1863.
England Elevens
Social conditions, especially the railways, were a key factor in the creation of the travelling All-England Eleven (the AEE). The team was founded in Nottingham by William Clarke. Taking advantage of the railway boom, they travelled throughout Great Britain and were a significant factor in the spread of cricket. The first AEE match was against a Sheffield XX in September and they played others in Manchester and Leeds. The original AEE team was: William Clarke, Jemmy Dean, William Dorrinton, Fuller Pilch, Alfred Mynn, Joe Guy, Will Martingell, Tom Sewell, George Butler, Villiers Smith and William Hillyer. Other players who represented the AEE in its early days included George Parr, William Lillywhite, Nicholas Felix, William Denison, Thomas Box and Oliver Pell.
In 1852, the United All England Eleven (the UEE) was established as a rival to the AEE. Jemmy Dean and John Wisden were the main organisers and other players to represent the UEE in its early years included John Lillywhite, Tom Lockyer, Jem Grundy, F. P. Miller, Will Mortlock and Tom Sherman.
In 1857, the AEE and UEE began an annual series of matches against each other that continued until 1869. The fixture was the most important of the season while it lasted. Two games were played in 1857, both at Lord's and both won by the AEE whose players in 1857 included George Parr (captain), Alfred Diver, H. H. Stephenson, Julius Caesar, Cris Tinley, George Anderson, Ned Willsher and John Jackson. UEE players in 1857 included: John Wisden (captain), Jemmy Dean, Jem Grundy, William Caffyn, John Lillywhite, Tom Lockyer, Will Mortlock and Will Martingell. Also in 1857, the Cricketers Fund Friendly Society was instituted and, for ten years, the great match between the AEE and the UEE was played in its support.
On 7 September 1859, the departure of cricket's first-ever touring team. A photograph was taken on board ship before they sailed from Liverpool. The team of English professionals went to North America and played five matches, winning them all. There were no top-class fixtures. The 12-man squad was: George Parr (captain), James Grundy, John Jackson (all of Nottinghamshire); Robert Carpenter, Alfred Diver, Thomas Hayward (all of Cambridgeshire); Julius Caesar, William Caffyn, Tom Lockyer, H. H. Stephenson (all of Surrey); John Lillywhite, John Wisden (both of Sussex).
H. H. Stephenson (Surrey) captained the first English team to tour Australia. The other players were William Caffyn, Will Mortlock, George Griffith, William Mudie, Tom Sewell Jr (all Surrey); Roger Iddison, Ned Stephenson (both Yorkshire); Tom Hearne, Charles Lawrence (both Middlesex); George Wells (Sussex); and George Bennett (Kent). H. H. Stephenson and Caffyn had toured America in 1859. They were abroad from October 1861 until May 1862. One top-class match was played and twelve, mostly against odds of at least 18 to 11, that were non-top-class.