The Surrey and All-England cricketer called Durling (first name, date of birth and date of death unknown) was a noted player in the mid-18th century, although nothing is known of him outside mentions in match reports.
He played for the famous Addington Cricket Club and he is first recorded in the 1748 season when he took part in a "fives" match for high stakes alongside other leading players of the day, his team winning. Earlier the same year, on 6 June, in another "fives" game between Addington and "The Rest of England excluding Kent", Addington’s players were Tom Faulkner, Joe Harris, John Harris, George Jackson and the shoemaker that lately came out of Kent! As Durling was himself apparently new that season, it is possible that he was the mysterious shoemaker.
In 1749, when All-England played his native Surrey and were a man short, they picked Durling from their opponents to complete the side. Later that year, when Addington played All-England in a "fives" match, Durling played for a very strong Addington side alongside Faulkner, Jackson and the Harris brothers.
Lonely stranger, you’ve been running for ages
But from what, no one can be sure
You’ve gotta stop turnin’ pages
Find a place to be pure
Lonely stranger, go forth and discover
Feelings buried in the black hole
And then you will recover
The lost part of your soul
Don’t choose the prom queen, though she’ll cure the fear
She will hurt you without tryin’
The best bet is the road without tears
You’ve seen enough cryin’
You are gettin’ no younger
Time to stop this charade
Your pain and your hunger
Drive you out of the shade
Lonely stranger, fight off all the sadness
Don’t let happiness turn to pain
Forget all the madness
And come in from the rain
Lonely stranger, it’s all caught up with you now
You cannot run any longer