Monster Bat Incident 1771

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The Monster Bat Incident 1771 concerns an attempt to use a bat that was as wide as the wicket in a Chertsey versus Hambledon game at Laleham Burway from Monday, 23 September, to Tuesday, 24 September 1771. Hambledon won the match by 1 run ^[1].

Controversy arose when Chertsey's Thomas White attempted to use a bat as wide as the wicket. The Hambledon players objected. Afterwards, a formal protest was written by Thomas Brett and signed by himself, Richard Nyren and John Small.

The incident brought about a change in the Laws of cricket, as confirmed in 1774, whereby the maximum width of the bat was set at four and one quarter inches. This ruling has remained intact to the present day.