# Cricket (Grace)/Chapter 11

CHAPTER XI.
CRICKETERS I HAVE MET.
IN order to facilitate reference, I have adopted the plan of placing "Cricketers I have Met" in alphabetical order.
Robert Abel was born at Rotherhithe, Surrey, November 30th, 1859. His height is 5 ft. 5 in.; weight, 10 st. He played his first match for Surrey in 1881; but showed very little promise with either bat or ball until a year or two later. In the year 1885 he came to the front very quickly, and, with the exception of 1887, has been well up in the first-class batting averages ever since. His bowling has not improved to the same extent; but then his county has been so well off in that respect the last two or three years, that he has rarely been called upon to bowl for it.
As a batsman he is in the first flight, having exceptionally strong defence and patience, and for his size he hits very freely all round. His pluck and cheerfulness are really first-rate, whether they are required in fighting an uphill game with the bat or in the field. He has played many fine innings in first-class company, but the best I have witnessed was his 105 in the second innings of the South v. North at Scarborough on the 7th September, 1889. He went in first, and with myself, in three hours and three-quarters, put on 226 runs before we were parted; and his defence and hitting were as fine as any cricketer could wish to see. He is a brilliant fieldsman, very certain with plenty of dash, and has been one ​of the mainstays of the Surrey Eleven for half-a-dozen years.
His best years with the bat have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1885 | 39 | 966 | 92 | 24.30 |
| 1886 | 42 | 1221 | 144 | 29.3 |
| 1887 | 42 | 1323 | 160 | 31.21 |
| 1888 | 38 | 1095 | 138 | 28.31 |
| 1889 | 30 | 914 | 151* | 30.14 |
Mr. Charles Alfred Absolom was born at Blackheath, 7th June, 1846. His height was 5ft. 10in.; weight, 13 st. As a batsman he had a peculiar style of his own. He held the bat very high up in the handle, and did not pay much attention to the pitch of the ball. Balls bowled to the off he hit to long-on in fact,, anywhere but where the bowler intended and hoped they would be hit to. It will be easily inferred that he did not trouble much about keeping up his wicket: all the same, he made some very good scores against the best bowling of his time; and more than once, like my brother E. M., I have seen him upset bowlers who had been bowling accurately against good players before he went in. He always played bareheaded, and without pads or gloves.
He bowled slow medium-pace round-arm, with a high delivery, varying it with an occasional fast one; and would go on for a whole day without any appreciable diminution of strength or accuracy. He could not be tired, either in bowling or fielding, and he was worthy of his place in any eleven for the excellent and stimulating example he showed of working heart and soul from beginning to end of a match, whether he was on the winning or losing side. A good illustration of it occurred in the M.C.C. v. Kent match at Canterbury on August 10th, 11th and 12th, 1876. He was never happier than when bowling, he said, ​and it was strikingly enforced on that occasion. Kent batted first, scoring 473. M.C.C. made 144 first innings, and followed on at five o'clock of the second day. "Let me begin the bowling," said Absolom; "I'm in rare form, and strong enough for anything." After six hours' fielding next day, when I had scored 300 runs, and every one of the Kent Eleven showed the effects of the long outing, he was as eager as ever and kept beseeching to be allowed to have another trial!
Rarely have I seen a man of such excellent physique and staying powers. In the Inter-University contests, in 1867, he won the broad jump for Cambridge, clearing 22 ft. 2 in.; and on another occasion he cleared 21 ft. 2 in. More than once he "put" the 16-lb. shot 32 feet, and he is said to have thrown the cricket-ball over 100 yards; he was also successful on the running path. He did excellent work for his county, and we can also all recall the just and touching acknowledgment of it made by Lord Harris when the news arrived of his untimely death on board the steamer Muriel on the 27th July, 1889. He said: "A generation of cricketers is short-lived: but though it is ten years since 'Bos' played his last match for the county, there must be thousands of onlookers who can remember what a safe pair of hands were his; what a successful, if not very difficult, bowler he was occasionally; what good service he did many a time in his own peculiar but vigorous style with the bat; and last, but not least, how he always played up for his side. At any rate, there are many lovers of the game in Kent who will gratefully remember the yeoman service he rendered the county from 1875 to 1879. I had the good fortune to be able to induce him to play for the county. It brought me more than a right sturdy comrade in the cricket-field: it brought me a sincere, true-hearted friend, whose early death I, and all who knew him, deeply deplore."
​Mr. C. W. Alcock was born at Sunderland, 2nd December, 1842. His height is 5 ft. 11 ins.; weight, about 14 st. He played for M.C.C. v. Middlesex at Lord's, 28th, 29th July, 1862. Mr. Alcock is one of the workers; he succeeded Mr. W. Burrup as secretary of the Surrey County Club in 1872, and an excellent secretary he has made. He has also been an indefatigable worker outside of his club. Most of the teams that came to us from Australia and America have been indebted to him for smoothing their way in the arrangement of fixtures and other matters. Very few possess his knowledge of the game, its players, and its literature; and, like all true and energetic secretaries, he has desired the success of his club, and his desires have been more than fulfilled. Surrey has been great in the past, and it is great to-day; and it has been pretty much owing to Mr. Alcock's efforts that the list of members reached the high figure of 3291 in 1890. While it has for its secretary so able a gentleman it need have little doubt about the future.
The total size of the ground at Kennington Oval is 11 acres, the playing part about 8 acres.
George Anderson was born in Yorkshire, 2oth January, 1826. His height was 6 ft.; weight, 14½ st. He was an excellent field, and as a batsman possessed rare hitting powers. He stood well up, played freely and confidently; and when he hit, the ball travelled at a great pace. He was one of the English Eleven which visited Australia in 1864. He was superior to the average professional player in manner and education, and was a great favourite wherever he played.
Mr. Arthur Appleby was born at Enfield, Accrington, Lancashire, 22nd July, 1843. His height was 6ft.; weight, 13 st. Lancashire has reason to be proud of him; for he did good work with both bat and ball for it, and he ​was just as successful in the Gentlemen v. Players and other matches. Few bowlers had so easy and beautiful an action, or could keep up their end for so long a time without going to pieces. He bowled fast round, left-hand, took a deliberate and long run, was very straight, and kept a good length. He very rarely bowled a loose ball: now and then you might get one a little bit short, but it rose quickly off the pitch, and required a very quick eye and flexible wrist to do anything with it. The general opinion is that he was one of the best of our amateur bowlers.
He had a wonderful break from the off for a left-hand bowler. The ball came with his hand, and I remember he bowled Daft with such a ball in the Gentlemen v. Players' match at Lord's in 1872, when he had scored 102 runs. The ball was so wide of the wicket that Daft did not attempt to play it. For Mr. Fitzgerald's team, in Canada and America, he bowled very successfully, and came out second in the batting averages.
William Attewell was born at Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, on the 12th June, 1861. His height is 5 ft. 10 ins.; weight, 11 st. 12 lbs. He had barely completed his twentieth year when he was asked to represent his county, and it may be safely said of him that he has been the mainstay of the team in bowling since 1884. The year 1889 was a great year with him, and to-day his hand has lost none of its cunning. He has been equally successful for the M.C.C., for the Players v. Gentlemen, for English elevens in Australia, and against Australian elevens in England.
He bowls right-hand, round-arm, medium-pace, is very straight, and keeps a wonderfully good length; in fact his length is so good and accurate, that he can depend on it alone to get wickets on an indifferent ground. When the wicket is at all sticky, his break from the off ​is very effective. He is a fair bat, but has not come up to his early promise; however, he hits very hard, and makes good scores occasionally: his fielding is excellent. His best years with the ball so far have been:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1884 | 1150 | 659 | 1217 | 101 | 12.5 |
| 1885 | 1301 | 767 | 1218 | 87 | 14 |
| 1886 | 1295 | 736 | 1272 | 97 | 13.11 |
| 1887 | 1330 | 810 | 1238 | 89 | 13.81 |
| 1888 | 1393 | 848 | 1235 | 91 | 13.52 |
| 1889 | 1314 | 354 | 1555 | 140 | 11.15 |
| 1890 | 1581 | 820 | 1874 | 151 | 12.62 |
His proportion of maiden overs is larger than that of any bowler since Alfred Shaw.
Mr. Alexander Charles Bannerman was born at Sydney, New South Wales, on the 21st March, 1859. He was a member of the first Australian team in 1878, and has been here on four occasions since. Very few have shown better all-round cricket; for he was a good batsman, a brilliant field at mid-off and cover-point, and a fair change, medium-pace, round-arm bowler. His strong defence and great patience were his best points; but it must not be thought that he was lacking in hitting. Against loose bowling he was fairly effective, and he rarely allowed a ball to pass that was off the wicket. I believe that he possessed the best defence of all the Australian batsmen, and many a match he saved by it. His pick-up and smart return in the field were really brilliant, as many an English batsman found to his cost. Batting performances in England, in eleven-a-side matches:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1878 | 23 | 260 | 71* | 11.7 |
| 1880 | 12 | 196 | 38 | 16.4 |
| 1882 | 54 | 1196 | 120* | 22.8 |
| 1884 | 50 | 961 | 94 | 19.11 |
| 1883 | 56 | 943 | 93* | 16.47 |
​Richard Gorton Barlow was born at Bolton, Lancashire, on May 28th, 1850. His connection with the county began about 1872; and he has done good work for it with bat and ball. Until late years, he invariably batted first with Mr. A. N. Hornby, and as a rule scored ten runs or thereabouts while Mr. Hornby made a hundred. He has the patience of Job, and takes rank with the Scotton and L. Hall type of batsmen; but I do not know which holds the record for slowness. I know on one occasion Barlow batted 80 minutes without scoring, and took 2 hours to make 5 runs! He has been an exceedingly useful all-round player for his county, and has both batted and bowled with success for the Players v. Gentlemen. He bowls above medium-pace, keeps a good length, and is very seldom off the wicket.
William Barnes was born at Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on the 27th May, 1852. He has been a host in himself for his county, since he first played for it in 1875. He has also done excellent work for the M.C.C., the Players v. Gentlemen, and England v. Australia. His highest score so far is 266 for M.C.C. v. Leicestershire at Lord's in 1882, when Midwinter and he scored 473 runs in the remarkably quick time of 5½ hours before they were parted. He has also exceeded 100 in an innings on twenty-six occasions: twelve times for the M.C.C., eleven times for his county, once for the Players, once for England v. Australia, and once for England v. Eighteen of Bendigo. His batting average in first-class matches in 1889 was a very fine one:
36 completed innings, 1249 runs, average 34.25.
He is not a graceful batsman; but he has excellent defence, and watches the ball very carefully. He scores faster than the average professional, his hitting ​to the off and cutting being exceptionally good; and he keeps the ball well down.
As a bowler he has also been very successful, and at times unplayable. He bowls round-arm, faster than medium pace, with a high delivery, and breaks slightly from the off. Repeatedly when the wicket was in a crumbling condition he has done exceptionally good performances. Two of these were for the Players v. Gentlemen in 1887 at Lord's. In the first innings he took six wickets for 23 runs; in the second, four for 35. Another was his two wickets for 18 runs for England v. Australia in the first innings at the Oval in 1888, and five for 32 in the second.
He is an excellent fieldsman anywhere, and a safe catch.
Edward Barratt was born at Stockton-on-Tees, 21st April, 1844. His height was 5 ft. 8 in.; weight, 11 st. 4 lbs. He was a very good left-hand slow roundarm bowler, and was the bowling mainstay of Surrey for years. He could break a great deal from leg, and against batsmen who were timid about running out invariably got wickets. Like most slow bowlers, he sent in a fast straight one now and then; but his pet ball was one a little bit up, about a foot to the off, which he caused to break away a few inches, and an impatient or thoughtless batsman "spooned" in trying to hit. I have seen good batsmen hit wildly at that kind of ball, although Barratt had placed extra fieldsmen on the off for the chance of a catch. It was all owing to the eagerness of the batsman, who could not resist the temptation to hit out at everything off the wicket. A little thought would have shown that stepping back and cutting it, instead of hitting it on the rise, was the right way to treat it; or that quickness in running out and hitting before it pitched would have been equally effective.
​But Barratt seemed to divine this inherent weakness of young players, and rarely failed to profit by it. Against my brother E.M. and myself he seldom bowled that ball. We played against him at Swindon in local matches before he appeared at Lord's and the Oval, and knew his trap; and as he said repeatedly, when bowling against us for Surrey v. Gloucestershire, "It's no use now; my little game is over. Help yourselves, gentlemen!" which E.M. promptly did. He ran yards out of his ground, and pulled him to the boundary so often that Barratt was frightened to bowl a good length against him, and his short ones were just as mercilessly thrashed.
It was rather hard luck on Barratt that when he represented Surrey the eleven was not only weak, but had very little fast bowling. In many matches he was kept on too long because there was no one good enough to relieve him, and the consequence was that the batsmen got set and hit him. Nothing disheartens a bowler so much; and these circumstances must be taken into consideration in forming an estimate of the good work he did for his county. He represented the Players in 1877, and might have been chosen oftener; but Alfred Shaw and Southerton were in great form at that time, and naturally were chosen first. Barratt has many fine performances to his credit; but his best was for an Eleven of Players v. Australians, at the Oval, on the 2nd and 3rd Sept., 1878, when he took all ten wickets first innings for 43 runs. Like most left-hand batsmen he could hit, but his defence was weak. I took more than common interest in his progress, for I was the first to find out his powers when he played at Swindon, and recommended him to the M.C.C., where he was engaged in 1872. The year after he moved to Prince's; and in 1874 he was on the staff of the Surrey Club at the Oval, where he remained for many years.
​William Bates was born at Lascelles Hall, near Huddersfield, on 19th November, 1855. He first played for his county in 1877; but it was in 1878 that he proved himself to be a first-class bat and bowler. For years Peate and he ran a close race for first place in the Yorkshire bowling averages, and there can be very little doubt the pair did much to give that county the high position which it held for some years. Bates bowled slow medium- pace, and on his day was very successful. He got a fair amount of break from the off, and made the ball come rather quickly off the pitch.
But he was even more successful with the bat than the ball. Some of his batting performances were really brilliant, and on a good fast wicket he scored at a rate which few could surpass. He hit very hard all round, and one or two of his performances against time will stand out conspicuously. His big scores were all made in a free, dashing style, and if he could have fielded with more certainty he might have been classed as the best all-round player of his time. He represented the Players in 1880, and rarely missed doing so until 1886. He was also a member of Daft's team which visited Canada in 1879; and he was one of the sixth English team which went to Australia in 1881-82: for the latter he came out first in the batting averages and fourth in the bowling. Afterwards he accompanied most of the English teams to Australia, doing well with both bat and ball. Out there he did a most brilliant performance for the Hon. Ivo Bligh's team against Murdoch's Australian Eleven, on the 19th of January, 1883. He scored fifty-five runs in the only innings of Mr. Bligh's team, and bowled:
First innings: 26 overs, 14 maidens, 28 runs for 7 wickets; three of the wickets were with successive balls. Second innings: 33 overs, 14 maidens, 74 runs, 6 wickets.
​He met with an unhappy accident while practising as a member of Mr. Vernon's team in Australia in 1887-8, and has not been able to play in first-class cricket since. His best batting years were:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1883 | 44 | 1024 | 79 | 23.12 |
| 1884 | 42 | 1000 | 133 | 23.34 |
| 1885 | 46 | 1161 | 98 | 25.11 |
| 1886 | 43 | 1018 | 136 | 23.29 |
| 1887 | 40 | 996 | 103 | 24.36 |
His best bowling years were :
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1878 | 901 | 337 | 1160 | 99 | 11.71 |
| 1879 | 690 | 309 | 815 | 78 | 10.35 |
| 1881 | 1279 | 540 | 1883 | 114 | 16.59 |
Mr. John McCarthy Blackham was born at Fitzroy, Melbourne, on the 11th of May, 1855. His height is 5 ft. 9 in.; weight, 11 st. 3 lbs. It can be said of him as of no other Australian, that he is without a rival in his own particular branch of the game. Blackham has a genius for wicket-keeping, but it is a genius that has been built up by stern hard work and pluck. He has been a member of every Australian team which has come to us. Before he had been a month in England in 1878 his quickness with the gloves was the admiration of all cricketers; to-day he has still no equal behind the wickets.
MR. JOHN McCARTHY BLACKHAM.
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1878 | 14 | 256 | 53 | 18.4 |
| 1880 | 15 | 205 | 42* | 13.10 |
| 1882 | 36 | 6l2 | 62 | 17 |
| 1884 | 40 | 690 | 69 | 17.10 |
| 1886 | 45 | 731 | 71 | 16.11 |
Mr. George John Bonnor was born at Bathurst, New South Wales, on the 25th February, 1855. His height is 6 ft. 6 ins.; weight 17 st. He was the hitter of the Australian teams, and when he made up his mind to play that game he was really a dangerous batsman on all kinds of wickets; but the last time he visited us he indulged now and then in what some called a "sweetly pretty" game, and came sadly to grief. As a hitter he has no superior in the world, although Mr. C. I. Thornton has been considered quite as good by English judges.
Mr. Bonnor was a magnificent field in the country; for not only did he catch well, but he could throw in at a great pace. Repeatedly he has thrown over 120 yards, and he is credited with having once exceeded 130. He was a great favourite on English grounds, ​for he was undoubtedly a model of physical beauty, and "looked so very amiable," as a lady once remarked. Batting averages in England, in eleven-a-side matches
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1878 | 16 | 145 | 35 | 9.1 |
| 1882 | 40 | 815 | 122* | 20.15 |
| 1884 | 49 | 937 | 95* | 19.6 |
| 1886 | 32 | 581 | 49 | 18. 5 |
| 1888 | 61 | 1204 | 119 | 19.45 |
Mr. Henry Frederick Boyle was born at Sydney, New South Wales, on the 10th December, 1847. His height is 6 ft.; weight, 11 st. 7 lbs. He came to England with the first Australian team, and ran a very close race with Spofforth for first place in bowling honours. He bowled right-arm, medium pace, generally round the wicket, and broke slightly both ways. His length was good, and he kept altering pitch and pace with excellent judgment; in fact, at his best he had a rare head on his shoulders, and was successful in getting batsmen out when other bowlers equally good had tried and completely failed. He was a magnificent field to his own or anybody's bowling; and was the first man to stand at short mid-on, where he brought off some remarkable catches. Once or twice I thought him a little bit foolhardy there; and I know he had two or three remarkable escapes when my brother E.M. was batting. He was a fair bat.
Bowling performances in England, in eleven-a-side matches:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1878 | 409 | 168 | 569 | 54 | 10.29 |
| 1880 | 516 | 239 | 616 | 39 | 15.31 |
| 1882 | 1200 | 525 | 1680 | 144 | 11.96 |
| 1884 | 727 | 291 | 1143 | 67 | 17.4 |
JOHN BRIGGS.
He represented Lancashire in his seventeenth year, and made his mark as a batsman and field; but it was not until 1884 that he bowled so well and took his position amongst first-class players, and played in representative matches against the Australians and the Gentlemen. He has been to Australia on several occasions; and his most successful years with bat and ball so far have been:
BATTING.
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1885 | 31 | 857 | 186 | 27.20 |
| 1887 | 29 | 819 | 68 | 28.7 |
| 1888 | 41 | 872 | 126* | 21.11 |
| 1890 | 38 | 708 | 129* | 18.24 |
BOWLING.
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1885 | 657 | 326 | 921 | 67 | 13.5 |
| 1886 | 1176 | 612 | 1471 | 92 | 15.91 |
| 1887 | 1592 | 831 | 2018 | 114 | 17.80 |
| 1888 | 1450 | 763 | 1679 | 160 | 10.79 |
| 1889 | 1040 | 447 | 1646 | 140 | 11.106 |
| 1890 | 1113 | 456 | 1950 | 158 | 12.54 |
Mr. David Buchanan was a first-class player almost before I was born, and had not lost much of his power as a bowler when I met him in some of the big matches ​in 1866. He was born in Scotland, 16th January, 1830, and was educated at Rugby and Cambridge. His height was 5 ft. 5 in.; weight, 12 st. At first he bowled fast round-arm, left-hand, and was very successful for his School and University; but it was after he moderated his pace that I met him, and that he did his finest performances. He had a wonderful command of the ball, and could break both ways; and when he found a batsman too eager to hit, had little difficulty in getting him caught out. The ball he was most successful with was one well up, about a foot on the off, which he caused to break slightly away from the batsman when he hit at it. It was sure to touch the edge of the bat, and an easy catch followed. He placed extra fieldsmen to the off for this particular ball, and I have seen many good players walk into the trap with their eyes open, and then come away from the wicket railing at their simplicity and stupidity.
Mr. R. F. Miles, of Gloucestershire, and Barratt, of Surrey, were fairly successful with the same kind of delivery; but after a time batsmen became wary and left it alone, and it is one rarely bowled to-day, unless to a novice. But I remember Messrs. Buchanan and Miles, who were carrying everything before them against right-hand batsmen, being completely knocked all over the ground more than once by a left-hand player. The break which had done so much mischief in one case was useless in the other. Mr. Buchanan was very closely connected with the Free Foresters' Club, and was their principal bowling mainstay for years. He bowled splendidly for the Gentlemen v. Players in 1868, when he was 38 years old, taking nine wickets for 82 runs in the second innings. He bowled with success in the same matches for four or five years afterwards; and if he could only have fielded his own bowling as well as some of our brilliant amateurs, he would have ​taken a higher position among our great bowlers. He has lived at Rugby for many years, and takes great interest in the school cricket there.
Mr. Frederic Burbidge was born at Champion Hill, Camberwell, Surrey, 23rd November, 1832. His height was 5 ft. 8 in.; weight, 11½ st. He batted in a very correct style, had sound defence, and hit with great freedom all round; but his distinguishing feature was the way in which he played an uphill game. He was also a brilliant fieldsman, and brought off many a remarkable catch in the Gentlemen v. Players matches and for his county. The year 1857 saw him representing the Gentlemen, and he played for them several years afterwards, and as late as 1865. When he gave up playing, he did not give up his interest in the game; for he was continually thinking of his county's interests, and was ever on the alert for promising colts. He is a constant spectator at the Oval of all important matches.
Mr. James Arthur Bush was born at Cawnpore, India, 28th July, 1850. His height is 6 ft. 2 in., weight, 15½ st. He has been closely associated with Gloucestershire, having played every year but one since its formation. It will be news to a great many that he was first played for his batting and fielding. The year 1877 was his best batting performance for the county, when he averaged 22.75, but he did not keep it up afterwards; though, fortunately, he tried his hands with the gloves, and soon proved himself to be one of the best amateur wicket-keepers of his day. I have little hesitation in saying that at his best he was the safest amateur wicket-keeper for a catch, no matter how fast the bowling, and I have heard outside opinions expressed to the same effect. He kept wicket for the eleven I took out to Australia in 1873-4, and it was the general opinion of the team that no wicket​keeper alive could have done better, or stood the wear and tear of the task so well. He represented the Gentlemen in 1874 and 1875.
As a batsman he used to have good defence, and could hit; but he is about the most casual player I know. At the Oval, when Gloucestershire met Surrey in 1876, he played at a ball on the leg side, and missed it. Without looking to see if Pooley had stopped the ball, he quietly stepped out of his ground, and was stumped. He had got into his head that such a ball ought to go to the boundary. We chaffed him over it, but he did not mind, and when he telegraphed the score home that evening, he coolly added: "I was magnificently stumped off a leg-shooter!"
In a match at Kadina, South Australia, he was bowled first ball; but he quietly put on the bail again, and said, "he never could play a 'trial ball,' and wished the cricket authorities would put their foot down and expunge it from the rules." He gained his point, and resumed batting.
But on another occasion, at Castlemaine, the laugh went against him. We had only a few runs to get to win, and I sent him in first on a bumpy wicket. He insisted on having the first ball, and told his partner he was going to run everything. The first ball was a shooter, and just grazed the leg stump, the bail falling quietly down. His partner, not noticing it, yelled, "Come on, Frizzy!" But after they had run three, the wicket-keeper and bowler, to his disgust, pointed to the wicket, and asked "if it was a running match." In the same match he kept wicket splendidly; but the umpire, not quite sympathising with his display, declined to give a man out, on the ground that the tip of his nose was just over the wicket, and that it was an infringement of the laws.
Julius Cæsar was born at Godalming, Surrey, March, 1830. His height was 5 ft. 7½ in.; weight, ​11 st. 7 lb. He appeared at Lord's for his county in 1850. He was a good fieldsman at point and at longstop; and he was also a very free batsman. He was one of the famous eleven of Surrey which a few years later more than held its own against the other counties. He was also a member of the first English Eleven which visited Australia in 1862.
William Caffyn was born at Reigate, Surrey, and February, 1828. His height was 5 ft. 7, in.; weight, 11 st. He was the Surrey crack for a good many years, and one of the best all-round players of his time. As a batsman, his cutting was exceptionally good and his scores very large. Repeatedly he scored over 100 runs in an innings. He was a good field anywhere, and worth playing in any team for his bowling alone. He was a member of the first team that visited Australia in 1862, and he created so favourable an impression in the Colonies that he was engaged to remain for some years at a very high salary. I played against him on his return; and though he was not the man he had been, yet the style was there, and we had occasional glimpses of his old form.
Robert Carpenter was born at Millroad, Cambridge, 18th November, 1830. His height was 5 ft. 8½ in.; weight, 11 st. 7 lbs. He may be safely placed as one of the finest of our great batsmen; his defence, considering he did not play forward, being perfect. I have rarely seen a batsman who watched the ball so carefully, and his back play and patience were exceptionally good. The bowler had all his work cut out to get Carpenter's wicket, whatever the state of the ground shooting or bumping balls being confidently met. Batsman after batsman was beaten on a kicking wicket in some of the matches Carpenter played; but there he remained, keeping the straight ones down, punishing the loose ones, and breaking the hearts of many a twenty-two, who saw ​victory slipping out of their grasp owing to his patience and coolness. He was not of the stone wall type of batsman. Often he carried out his bat, but rarely without a good score to his credit. He could hit to every part of the field, but excelled in leg-hitting; he was also a first-rate fieldsman at point, but no bowler.
I remember an amusing remark of Carpenter's in 1872, when I was scoring heavily. It was made at the end of the Gentlemen v. Players match at the Oval on the 5th of July. The Gentlemen had won the first match two days before at Lord's by seven wickets, and my share of the runs was 77 first innings, 112 second. On this occasion the Gentlemen won by nine wickets, and my score was 117.
"I have had about enough of fielding out to Mr. Grace this week; but thank goodness I shall be on his side the next match," said Carpenter.
My next match was at Lord's on the 8th, when Carpenter and I played for England v. Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. I batted first, and two wickets were down for 77 when Carpenter joined me. I was scoring as rapidly then as I ever scored in my life, and there were no boundary hits. Nearly every ball was hit away, and at the end of an hour, when Carpenter was caught at the wicket, we had put on exactly a hundred runs, of which he had made 36. He was over forty years of age at the time, had played splendidly, and was warmly cheered when he walked from the wicket.
"Well, Carpenter," said one of the players, "you ought to feel happy to-day!"
"Feel happy! If I had been in much longer I should have died. It is a deal harder work to be in with him than fielding against him. When you are fielding you do get a rest now and again, but when batting you never do!"
​I believe it was the first time that we played on the same side.
I had played four innings in succession in seven days, and had scored 77, 112, 117, and 170 not out.
Mr. James Stewart Carrick was born at Glasgow, 4th September, 1855. His height is 5 ft. 10 ins.; weight, 13 st. 5 lbs. He is one of the best all-round cricketers in Scotland, and has done good work with both bat and ball for close upon twenty years. I met him first at Glasgow when I was playing for the United South in 1872, and was rather struck with his bowling form for a youth of sixteen years of age. He bowls slow round-arm, left-hand, and varies his pace and pitch. He belonged to the old Caledonian Club, and when it gave up attached himself to the West of Scotland, for which he has done excellent work most years. His sensational score of 419 not out for the West of Scotland against Priory Park at Chichester in 1885, though not made against first-class bowling, was a very fine display of good defence and vigorous hitting. He was batting two days, and made as many as thirty 4's.
Since that time he has scored over 100 in an innings two or three times; but his best was, undoubtedly, 112 for an Eleven of Scotland against Nottinghamshire, on the West of Scotland ground, 1888. It was rather a noteworthy performance, from the fact that it was the only century scored against Nottinghamshire that year. He bats left-hand, and is one of the few cricketers who has raised the standard of Scottish batting to the level of English. He was a first-class Rugby football player, and represented Scotland v. England in 1876 and 1877.
Scotland had, however, even a finer batsman before he appeared in the person of his brother-in-law, Thomas Chalmers, who was born at Glasgow, 19th March, 1850. ​His height was 5 ft. 10 in.; weight, 11 st. 7 Ibs. From 1870 to 1880 Mr. Chalmers was, without doubt, the premier batsman of Scotland, and rarely failed to score against the All-England and United South of England Elevens when they played in Glasgow. He also belonged to the Caledonian and West of Scotland clubs. His defence was good, and he hit low and hard to all parts of the ground. But it was his power to play the ball hard away from him, whatever the quality of the bowling, that gave him his high position amongst Scottish cricketers. He was also a very fair wicket-keeper and a first-class long-field, and has thrown the cricket-ball repeatedly over 100 yards.
Another eminent Scottish cricketer to be included with such good men as Messrs. Chalmers and Carrick is Mr. Leslie Melville Balfour. He was born in 1854, and from 1876 until the present time no one has done more for the game in his own country. He has been closely indemnified with the Grange Club, Edinburgh, one of the oldest, strongest, and most influential in Scotland. The string of centuries to his credit in club matches is an exceptionally long one, and he has invariably scored in the inter-city contests between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
He is a very fast scorer, his late cutting and leg-hitting being quite first-class. In the field he is very quick, especially at cover-point, and he can keep wicket in very fair style; and he makes an excellent captain. As an all-round athlete he has few equals in his own country, being quite at the top of the tree at golf, and not far short of it at football and lawn-tennis.
A Scottish cricketer better known in England than either of the three I have just mentioned is Mr. James George Walker. He was born at Glasgow, October 9th, 1859, but received his cricket education at Loretto School, Edinburgh. He entered Trinity ​College, Oxford, in 1879, and secured a place in the eleven in 1882. Of late years he has played for Middlesex, M.C.C., Gentlemen of England, Free Foresters, and I Zingari, and has done very good work for all of them. He was seen at his best in 1883 and 1886, when he could show the fine batting averages of 29.9 and 27.9 in first-class cricket.
His defence is sound and his cutting very good, and he has scored well against all kinds of bowling. He is a fair field anywhere, but he usually stands point and fields in that position very well; and he is also one of the willing players and goes cheerfully to any part of the field he is asked to.
Henry Rupert James Charlwood was born at Horsham, Sussex, 19th December, 1847. His height was 5ft. 7 in.; weight, 10½ st. For a player of his height and weight, he hit very hard. At the early age of 17 he played for his county, and he was a member of the United South Eleven the year after. A good many times he was at the head of the averages for his county, 1876 in particular being a brilliant season for him. Against Kent and Surrey he scored over 100 runs in an innings that year, and few players have done so well for Sussex. He was a very fine field and safe catch, and was in the Players' Eleven on several occasions, but he did not come off so successfully as he did for his county. The best hit I saw him make was for the United South v. I Zingari at Enville Hall (Lord Stamford's). It was a straight drive over the bowler's head, and the ball travelled low and at a tremendous pace. We were in together, and had run six for the hit; but in turning for the seventh he slipped, put his knee out, and had to stop. We could easily have run three more, for I remember I had time to run up to his end to see what was the matter and get back in time to my own before the ball was thrown ​in. Afterwards his knee interfered with his jumping out to hit, and it was only occasionally he gave us a glimpse of the form which at one time earned him the title of "The Hope of Sussex."
Mr. Bransby Beauchamp Cooper was born in India, 15th March, 1844. His height was 5ft. 10in.; weight, 10 st. He was a very fine batsman, with splendid defence, and took part in a great many important matches in England between 1864 and 1870. His driving powers were good, and he could cut very prettily, but it was his patience and defence which made him so valuable. He played for Kent and Middlesex, and represented the Gentlemen v. Players in 1865, 1867, 1868 and 1869, batting with fair success and keeping wicket as well. But his finest effort was for the Gentlemen of the South v. Players of the South, at the Oval, in 1869, against Willsher, Lillywhite, Southerton and Silcock. Batting together, he and I made 283 for first wicket a record in a first-class match which holds good to-day. One hundred runs were hit in two hours, 200 runs in three, and 283 in three hours and forty minutes. Mr. Cooper's share was 101, and his hitting comprised one 6, two 5's, six 4's and singles.
He was a moderately good wicket-keeper; but never, to my recollection, bowled in first-class matches; although he was fairly successful against second-class batsmen. I met him again at Melbourne in 1873, when he played for Eighteen of Victoria against England, and showed that he had lost little of his skill as a batsman. He scored 84 against us, and helped Victoria very materially to win the match.
Mr. Joseph Montagu Cotterill was born at Brighton, 23rd November, 1851. His height was 5 ft. 10¾ ins.; weight, 11½ st. He was one of the brilliant lights of Sussex, representing that county when he was only 18 years of age, and at once taking a very high position as ​a splendid batsman and fine field. The season of 1875 was his best for the county; he scored 191 in a single innings against Kent, and averaged 61 for the whole season. When the bowling was at all off the spot, Mr. Cotterill was in his element, and spectators had a rare display of scientific and all-round hitting; or, if the boundaries were small, he adapted himself to the situation, and, instead of going in for low hitting all along the ground, he put additional force into the stroke and hit right over the ropes. The match, United South v. Twenty-two of Edinburgh, at Edinburgh, in 1872, was played on a rather small ground, and I remember how he ran out at every favourable opportunity and hit the ball time after time among the spectators for his 95, second innings. He did not play for the Gentlemen so often as his performances entitled him to, but after his removal to Edinburgh he doubtless found his medical work prevented him from travelling so far south.
Few players have been so successful in throwing the cricket-ball, his performances that way being exceptionally good.
I competed against him at Eastbourne Sports in 1870, and a very good contest we had. The cricketers present took sides, and we were heartily cheered in the final throw, which was considered excellent at the time. My last effort, when measured, was 116 yds.; his, as well as I can remember, half-dozen yards less. But it will be seen from the following results that he exceeded that five years later:
In June, 1872, at the Edinburgh University Sports, he threw 116 yds. 1 ft. 4 ins.
In September, 1874, at Lewes Priory Sports, Sussex, he threw in 111 yds.
In March, 1875, at Edinburgh University Trial Sports, he threw 113 yds.
​On March 27th, 1875, in the Scottish Inter-University Sports, at Edinburgh, he threw 121 yds.
Mr. James Cranston was born at Birmingham on the 9th January, 1859. His height is 5 ft. 11 ins.; weight, 14 st. 6 lbs. He is, in my opinion, the finest left-hand batsman in England. As long ago as 1876, when he was but seventeen years of age, he played for Gloucestershire, and met with fair success. Gradually he built, up his reputation, and in 1881 he was acknowledged to be quite first-class in county contests as a batsman and field. In the year 1883 he was very successful with the bat for his county, and could show the very good average of 28 for eleven completed innings; a brilliant 127 against Lancashire at Clifton being his highest score. A break then occurred in his cricketing career, owing to his removal to Warwickshire, and he did not appear in the eleven again until 1889. Very quickly he showed that he had lost none of his powers, for that season revealed that he still possessed his old hitting form and had improved his defence and placing, while his fielding was as accurate and safe as ever. The year 1890 was his best batting year. He displayed grand form for Gloucestershire, and came out fourth in the first-class averages.
He played for Warwickshire once or twice in 1886 and 1887, but did not come off; and the committee of that county have been censured more than once for not having played him oftener. Many amusing things have been written concerning this since his subsequent success for Gloucestershire; but I think the following,, which appeared in a Birmingham paper, is really the most laughable:
"A batsman named Cranston made a promising debut last week down in the West Country. He was playing for a local club named Gloucestershire, captained by a Mr. Grace who has some reputation in the district, and ​he began his season by making over a hundred against an eleven from Yorkshire, which has some grand bowlers. We wonder if Cranston is the same man who was tried for Warwickshire a few seasons ago and rejected. But, of course, ability to make a hundred in such cricket as he is now playing is no criterion of his capacity to make runs for Warwickshire."
Now that is very funny, and very sarcastic; but I am sure Mr. Cranston will agree with me when I say that he was living in the country at the time, where he could get very little, and no good practice, and was consequently not in his best form.
Mr. Cranston plays with a very straight bat, and comes down on the ball very firmly. He drives and cuts well, and rarely allows a ball to pass. He is very good in the long-field, and, though not so brilliant as he was ten years ago, can always be relied on for a catch. He represented the Gentlemen against the Players in 1889-90, and England v. Australia in 1890. His best batting years have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1881 | 12 | 317 | 63 | 26.5 |
| 1889 | 23 | 709 | 130 | 30.19 |
| 1890 | 34 | 978 | 152 | 28.26 |
MR. R. DAFT
Many a weary day he gave us in the Gentlemen v. Players matches, and I was just as thankful to see his back to the wicket as he was mine. He was a fine field at long-leg, and that too at a time of rough kicking grounds, when it required both skill and nerve to pick up a ball smartly and accurately. He made an excellent captain, and led the Players and Nottinghamshire to many a victory. He returned to his first love, the Amateurs, before giving up first-class play. His best batting years were:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1867 | 7 | 377 | 72* | 53.6 |
| 1869 | 10 | 494 | 105 | 49.4 |
| 1870 | 11 | 565 | 92 | 37.10 |
| 1871 | 15 | 565 | 92 | 37.10 |
| 1872 | 17 | 589 | 102 | 34.11 |
| 1873 | 11 | 416 | 161 | 37.9 |
| 1876 | 26 | 886 | 99 | 34.2 |
Mr. Ludford Charles Docker was born at Smethwick, in Staffordshire, 26th November, 1860. His height is 6 ft. 2 in.; weight, 12 st. 12 lbs. His brilliant batting and fielding capabilities at a very early age, in connection with the Smethwick Club, attracted the attention of the Derbyshire Committee, and he was asked to play for that county when he was in his twenty-first year.
I question if any young player has ever done better for his county the first year of his appearance. From the beginning right to the end of the season of 1881 Mr. Docker batted in exceptionally fine form, and one week in particular towards the end of the season was a veritable triumph for him. Against Sussex, at Brighton, ​he scored 52 and 80, and in the next match, against Kent at Maidstone, 107 and 35 not out. For the whole of the season he could show in County matches the fine average of 36 for 12 completed innings. He continued to play for Derbyshire until 1886, and captained the eleven in 1884-5. In 1887 he transferred his services to Warwickshire, and for that county he has since played. For both counties he has, with one or two exceptions, been at the top of the batting averages every year. He was a member of Shrewsbury's team which visited Australia in 1887-8, and it is said of him that he never missed a catch in the long field throughout the tour.
As a batsman he has good defence, and is one of the quickest of scorers, his cutting and off-driving being exceptionally fine. In the field he is very safe and quick, especially in the long-field; and he is a cheerful, willing worker, whether the match is going in his favour or against him.
T. EMMETT.
I might give a dozen of his great bowling performances, but shall content myself with three. For Twenty-two of Dudley against the United England Eleven, in 1867, he took eight wickets first innings and eight second; ten of them clean-bowled, and Carpenter's among them. For Yorkshire v. Nottinghamshire, in 1868, he took nine wickets for 34 runs (the other was run out), Daft, Parr, and Wild's among them, and Freeman bowling at the other end. For Yorkshire v. Cambridgeshire, in 1869, he took seven wickets for 16 runs first innings, and nine for 23 second (he caught the tenth), Hayward and Carpenter's among them and Freeman bowling at the other end. He appeared for the Players in 1869, and as late as 1884, in his 43rd year, and bowled and batted in good form.
He batted in much better style than most left-hand batsmen, pulling less and possessing sounder defence, and his driving was both clean and hard. He rarely failed to score against Gloucestershire, and played against that county in 1887, when he was in his 46th year. As captain of Yorkshire he was modest about his own abilities, and ought to have bowled more; and I am of opinion that, though advanced jn years, that county might have played him a year or ​two longer with advantage. At the beginning of his innings he was sometimes rather excited, and started off for a run as soon as he touched the ball, without looking where it had gone. Once at Lord's he touched one which came straight to me at short-slip; but as usual he was off, and I had thrown the wicket down before he thought of looking round. I can remember now the expression that stole over his face when he realised how impetuous he had been.
He had a keen sense of the ludicrous, and could laugh as heartily, when he had blundered, as anyone. On a certain occasion, after having passed my medical examination, I had travelled all night from Edinburgh to London, and was making my way from the railway station to Lord's, when I overtook Tom. He knew where I had been and my purpose, and was anxious to know the result. "Is it all right, sir?" "All right, Tom," I replied, "I have got my diploma," pointing to the case containing it which I had in my hand. It had rained during the night, and the ground at Lord's was very wet. We batted first, and Tom was fielding at cover-point. In trying to stop a hard hit of mine, he slipped and fell heavily backward, and did not get up for a little. "Are you hurt, Tom?" I asked. He pulled himself together, got up and, pointing to a lovely mud-mark on his trousers, replied, "No, sir; but I have got my diploma!"
Gloucestershire played England in 1878, and Emmett was batting to F. Townsend's curly underhand slows. Rather than run the risk of hitting into cover-point's hands one or two that were a foot or more off the wicket, he allowed them to pass. Townsend persevered, and Emmett, to show his contempt for the bowling, shouldered his bat and smiled as the ball passed him. But the bowler got rather more break than usual on one ball, and the batsman, with uplifted bat, had the ​mortification of seeing it curl in and hit the off stump. "A little over-confident, were you not, Tom?" we shouted as he left the wicket; but he took no notice of our remarks. Quite a storm of voices greeted him as reached the pavilion: "What was the matter, Tom?" "Don't Tom me!" he replied. "Well, Emmett, then." "Don't Emmett me!" "Would you like to be called Mr. Emmett?" "Look you," he said, "call me a fool, for I feel like one!"
There was no brighter spirit in the field, and there was none more willing. He worked heart and soul in every department of the game, and was always ready to do a spell of fielding to oblige anyone. He had a bumper benefit in the Yorkshire v. Gloucestershire match at Sheffield in 1878, and every player in both elevens worked with a will to testify to the merits of one of the ablest and best-hearted cricketers that ever played. His best bowling years were:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1867 | 166 | 69 | 236 | 40 | 5.36 |
| 1868 | 407 | 205 | 529 | 59 | 8.57 |
| 1869 | 558 | 285 | 721 | 59 | 12.13 |
| 1870 | 437 | 177 | 753 | 55 | 13.38 |
| 1874 | 856 | 308 | 1171 | 99 | 11.82 |
| 1877 | 617 | 260 | 1004 | 72 | 13.68 |
| 1878 | 982 | 464 | 1278 | 112 | 11.46 |
| 1879 | 435 | 161 | 566 | 54 | 10.26 |
| 1882 | 730 | 350 | 1044 | 95 | 10.94 |
| 1884 | 1031 | 557 | 1250 | 107 | 11.73 |
| 1886 | 1339 | 677 | 1675 | 132 | 12.91 |
Mr. John James Ferris was born at Sydney on the 21st of May, 1867. His height is 5 ft. 8 ins.; weight, 11 st. 3 lbs. He may be safely considered the best left-hand bowler that has ever come from Australia; the only one likely to question his right to it being Mr. Frank Allan, who accompanied the first team in 1878. Ferris bowls medium-pace, keeps a splendid length, and as a ​rule breaks from leg; but occasionally he puts in a beauty which comes with his arm. Like Turner, he alters his pace with good judgment; but he is more reliable on a perfect wicket, not caring a bit about being hit, and he can keep up his end as pluckily as any one. As he has only completed his 24th year, he may be expected to improve for some years to come. He is a safe field, and can make runs when they are badly wanted. His bowling performances in England in 1888 and 1890 were something remarkable for so young a player:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1888 | 222 | 998 | 3103 | 220 | 14.23 |
| 1890 | 1685 | 688 | 2838 | 215 | 13.43 |
Mr. Charles King Francis was born at Upminster, Essex, 3rd February, 1851. His height was 5ft. 10ins; weight, 11 st. 8 lbs. He was a good all-round man, batting freely and in good style, and bowling with great success in good matches. For Rugby he bowled with great effect against Marlborough, at Lord's, in June, 1869, taking seven wickets first innings and all ten second. He played for the Gentlemen when he was 19 years of age, and for some years afterwards; but was more successful with the ball than the bat. He bowled very straight and very fast round-arm, and occasionally gave a short, bumpy ball that was difficult to get away from. He was one of Mr. Fitzgerald's team which visited Canada in 1872, and he did good work for it.
GEORGE FREEMAN.
As a bat he was a fine hitter, and scored largely at times, as witness his 123 for Malton v. All-England Eleven in 1868, against Tarrant, Tinley, J. C. Shaw and Alfred Shaw. Owing to pressure of business, he played very little first-class cricket after 1872. I sometimes think if a bowler of the quality of Freeman were to appear to-day, he would astonish the majority of good batsmen who think it a first-rate performance to keep up their wickets against medium-pace bowlers because they can break a little both ways. Freeman was a good fieldsman as well, and a real good fellow also. His best bowling years were:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1867 | 564 | 310 | 553 | 66 | 8.25 |
| 1868 | 392 | 197 | 454 | 46 | 9.40 |
| 1869 | 540 | 300 | 577 | 50 | 11.27 |
| 1870 | 433 | 216 | 417 | 55 | 7.32 |
| 1871 | 255 | 122 | 331 | 29 | 11.12 |
Mr. Thomas William Garrett was born at Wollongong, near Sydney, New South Wales, on the 26th July, 1858. His height is 5 ft. 11 ins.; weight, 12 st. He came to England with the first Australian Eleven, and was very successful as a bowler. He bowls right-hand, fast round-arm, mostly over the wicket, and has a beautifully easy action. The ball ​comes very quickly off the pitch, and he can break both ways. I have little hesitation in saying that he was at that time the best of the Australian bowlers on a good wicket; for he kept pegging away with a good length, and required a great deal of watching. His particular ball was one that pitched on the off stump and broke slightly away, and he was a lucky batsman who did not touch it either into short-slip or the wicket-keeper's hands. Like all of the Australian bowlers, he is very fond of a yorker. He is a good field and a fair bat, hitting out well and occasionally running up good scores; in fact, he is a good all-round cricketer, and a good fellow as well. His best bowling performances for the Australian Elevens in England, in eleven-a-side matches, were:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1878 | 296 | 144 | 394 | 38 | 10.14 |
| 1882 | 1206 | 488 | 1759 | 128 | 13.95 |
| 1886 | 1650 | 778 | 2221 | 123 | 18.7 |
Mr. George Giffen was born at Adelaide, South Australia, on the 27th March, 1852. His height is 5 ft. 9½ in.; weight, 12 st. 7lb. He has the reputation of being the best all-round cricketer in Australia: he has certainly proved himself to be the best that has yet visited England. In bowling he was not up to Spofforth's form or one or two others; nor was he so successful with the bat as Murdoch; but there can be little doubt that he combined both in a way no other Australian has yet done.
He first came to us in 1882, but 1886 was his great year, when he headed the averages with both bat and ball, and was the backbone of the team. I know that he has done even better in Australia than in England, but I have not his doings on the other side by me, and can only give what I know and what I have seen. One feat on the other side I must make room for: his ​bowling for the Anglo-Australian Eleven v. Combined Australia on the 16th February, 1884, when he took all 10 wickets for 66 runs.
As a batsman Giffen never gave me the impression of being troubled with nerves. He was perfectly cool and collected on all occasions, and it made little difference whether he went in first man or later in the innings. He had great patience as well, and watched the ball very closely; and his hitting was good all round. His bowling was medium-pace, right-hand, with a good break from the off, varied with a fast one; and he altered both pitch and pace with great effect. He had a very high delivery and a peculiar swing of the arm, which distracted the attention of the batsman. In the field he was very good also. Batting and bowling averages in England, in eleven-a-side matches:
BATTING.
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1882 | 48 | 873 | 81 | 18.9 |
| 1884 | 50 | 1052 | 113 | 21.2 |
| 1886 | 54 | 1453 | 119 | 26.49 |
BOWLING.
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1882 | 386 | 122 | 728 | 32 | 22.24 |
| 1884 | 827 | 285 | 1619 | 82 | 19.61 |
| 1886 | 1693 | 722 | 2711 | 159 | 17.8 |
Mr. Charles Ernest Green was born at Walthamstow, Essex, 26th August, 1846. His height was 6 ft.; weight, 13 st. He was a rare good batsman, and one of the pluckiest. When we were in together the runs came at a great pace, and it was a treat to watch him punish the bowling. Very few of our best batsmen played in so free a style against all kinds of bowling, and he did not always require a perfect wicket to do it. I can recall one match at Lord's, M.C.C. and Ground v. Yorkshire, in 1870, when he stood up ​to Emmett and Freeman, on one of the roughest, bumpiest wickets we had now and then on that ground twenty years ago. About every third or fourth ball kicked badly, and we were hit all over the body and had to dodge an occasional one with our heads. Shooters were pretty common on the same wicket, and what with playing one ball and dodging another we had a lively and unenviable time of it. But not once did Mr. Green shirk the work, and his 51 against such bowling was, to my mind, a wonderful performance. On another occasion, for the Gentlemen of the South v. Players of the South, at the Oval, on a good wicket, he rattled up 50 in a very short time in a way that I have rarely seen equalled; and his 57 not out for the Gentlemen v. Players, at the Oval in 1871, was one of the finest bits of hitting I can remember, and enabled the Gentlemen to win the match three minutes before time.
He was a splendid fieldsman also, and at long-leg, or long-stopping, could hold his own with our finest exponents. He bowled round-arm, very fast, and took wickets when better bowlers had failed. At his best he played in most of the great matches, the Gentlemen v. Players included, and invariably accompanied the Uppingham Rovers on their annual tour. He also played for Sussex in his younger days; but his native county, Essex, has had the best of his time and manhood, and may be said to owe its existence to-day to his unwearied and unselfish efforts. In 1867 he was one of the secretaries of the Cambridge University Cricket Club, and was elected President the year after. As an all-round athlete he was much above the average, and represented his university in 1867 and 1868. He threw the cricket-ball 103 yards; in a long jump cleared 18 ft. 9 in., and in the high jump 5 ft. 7½ in.; and held his own against good competitors in the 100 yards, one mile, and hurdle races.
​William Gunn was born at Nottingham on December 4th, 1858. His height is 6 ft. 3 in.; weight 14 st. 4 lbs. He did not represent his county at so early an age as some players; but he very soon showed that he possessed batting powers of no mean order. So pleased were the authorities of the M.C.C. with his first display at Lord's, that they made him the offer of a place as one of the ground-bowlers, which he promptly accepted. But he very soon gave evidence that it was as a batsman, and not as a bowler, that he was going to attract attention. The year 1881 saw him exceeding 100 more than once for the old club, though he did not score so successfully for his county.
In the year 1884 he made distinct improvement, and every year since he has been a most prominent figure with the bat in county and representative matches. His great height enables him to get well over the ball, and of late years his defence has much improved. He hits very hard and clean; but he has not scored so fast the last two or three years as he used to.
His highest score for his county is 205, made against Sussex in 1887; but he exceeded that by 14 runs two years later, and was not out, in the memorable match M.C.C. and Ground v. Northumberland. He has proved himself to be a magnificent field in the country; and his displays for the Players v. Gentlemen at the Oval and Lord's the last two or three years have been magnificent. The year 1889 saw him at the top of the batting averages in first-class cricket; and he took second place in 1890. His grand score of 228 for the Players against the Australians at Lord's on the 19th and 20th June, 1890, will be remembered as one of the finest bits of batting that has ever been witnessed against first-class bowling. There was not the shadow of a chance in it, and the last 28 runs were made in the same careful and scientific manner as the first hundred. Altogether he batted nine ​and a half hours, and it was the highest score ever made by professional or amateur against an Australian eleven in England. He has been moderately successful as a bowler. His best batting averages in first-class matches:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1884 | 25 | 647 | 138 | 25.22 |
| 1885 | 40 | 1451 | 203 | 36.11 |
| 1886 | 28 | 752 | 83 | 26.24 |
| 1887 | 27 | 958 | 205* | 35.13 |
| 1888 | 45 | 920 | 91 | 20.20 |
| 1889 | 34 | 1299 | 118 | 38.7 |
| 1890 | 47 | 1621 | 228 | 34.23 |
Mr. E. Maitland Hadow was born at Sudbury, Middlesex, March 13th, 1863. His height is 5 ft. 10 in.; weight, 12 stone. He is the youngest brother of a well-known family, of which more than one member has played a prominent part in first-class cricket. The year 1880 saw him representing Harrow v. Eton; and in 1881, in the same match, he played two very fine innings, and enabled his school to win very easily. Two years later he played for Middlesex; but from various causes he has not been able to play much for that county until the last three years. Since 1888, however, he has been a most active player, playing for Middlesex, M.C.C., I Zingari, Free Foresters, and Harrow Wanderers, and doing fine work for all of them. He is a good batsman, his off-driving being exceptionally fine; an excellent change fast round-arm bowler and a brilliant fieldsman; and if he continues playing will take a still higher position amongst first-class cricketers.
Mr. Walter Henry Hadow was born in London, 25th September, 1849. His height was 6ft. 0½ in.; weight, 13½ st. He was a very fine batsman, with a free style, and could hit all round. For Harrow he was very ​successful, scoring 181 not out against the Household Brigade when he was only 16 years of age. His finest performance was 217 for Middlesex v. M.C.C. in 1871, when he scored very freely and rapidly. Owing to an injured leg, he had a man to run for him the greater part of the innings; but, considering the quality of the bowling, it was a very fine display, and created a great impression at the time. He accompanied Mr. Fitzgerald's team to Canada; but hurting his knee before the tour commenced, he did not do himself justice; although I remember he batted very pluckily at a critical moment in the close and exciting match against Philadelphia, which enabled us to pluck it out of the fire. He was very successful for Middlesex in 1875; and in 1871, for the Gentlemen v. Players, at the Oval, he batted very finely for 97 against the bowling of Alfred Shaw, J. C. Shaw, and Southerton. He was one of the racquet champions for Oxford in 1871-72, and excelled at tennis also.
Louis Hall was born at Batley, Yorkshire, on November 1st, 1852. His height is 5 ft. 10 in.; weight, about 11 st. He first played for his county on the 22nd May, 1873, when he scored 37 runs, after he had batted for an hour and 40 minutes. It was a promising start for him, and as his defence was excellent, the Yorkshire Committee naturally thought they had secured a valuable recruit for the eleven; however, he did not do much during the remainder of the season, and he was left out of county contests until 1878. From that year he improved quickly; and to-day, although in his 39th year, there is no more dependable bat in the Yorkshire eleven. He invariably goes in first, and the spectators are never surprised when he comes out last, or carries his bat throughout the innings. I believe that he has carried his bat through the Yorkshire innings on thirteen different occasions. His patience and ​coolness are quite equal to Scotton's, and his scoring pace not much faster. From 10 to 15 runs an hour is a fair average for him. But he can hit when he makes up his mind to; these occurrences, however, are few and far between.
I remember one of them. It was some years ago, when the United South played Eighteen of Batley. I was bowling to him, and had tried to tempt him to hit out for some overs, but failed. Suddenly he woke up, and, to my surprise, hit me to square-leg clean out of the ground: and he kept it up for some time.
In the same match I had rather a peculiar experience. I was fairly well set, when a bowler whom I had never seen before was commissioned to have a try at me. The very first ball was a deliberate throw, and it hit my wicket, and I had to go out, every one of the opposite side alleging that as the umpire had not "no-balled" him, the ball must be considered to have been fairly delivered. The joke of the thing lay in the fact that the bowler had been engaged to play entirely owing to his throwing powers, and was only to be allowed to bowl one over at me. They still tell that story against me in the North.
Hall can drive fairly well, and is good on the leg-side; but it is his unwearied patience and strong defence which make him so valuable a bat. He is a good field close in, and can bowl lobs or slow round. He has scored over 100 runs in an innings on several occasions, and has represented the Players against the Gentlemen for, many years. He captained the Yorkshire eleven for some time. Hall is a strict teetotaller. His best batting years have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1883 | 35 | 1180 | 127 | 33.25 |
| 1887 | 32 | 1240 | 160 | 38.24 |
​The Hon. George Robert Canning Harris, now Lord Harris, was born at St. Anne's, Trinidad, West Indies, 3rd February, 1851. His height is 5 ft. 11½ ins.; weight, 11 st. 12 Ibs. He has proved himself to be a distinguished cricketer and a distinguished politician; an upright, true-hearted English gentleman, and the best of friends. No one has had the game more at heart, or done more for it; and every cricketer in England felt it had lost one of its greatest supporters when, in taking farewell of the County Cricket Council, at Lord's, in December, 1889, he said: "My cricket book is closed; but it contains nothing but the pleasantest of recollections."
LORD HARRIS.
We have played side by side in more matches than I can remember: first for Mr. Fitzgerald's team in Canada and America; then for Gentlemen v. Players, Kent and Gloucestershire v. England, England v. Australia and other representative matches. He was the heart and soul of the Canadian trip, and we were the closest of friends from beginning to end of it; for we had two things in common our sailing and speaking capabilities. We never sailed but we were ill together, and we never got on our legs to attempt a speech without wishing we had never been born! When I listened to his eloquent remarks at Canterbury at the end of 1889 season, I could not help recalling certain efforts in the Canadian trip, and feeling keenly how I had neglected my opportunities, while he had cultivated his. But he has had many long innings at it since, and gone forward; while mine have been short, and I very much fear I have gone back.
No cricketer is quicker to congratulate a comrade on a fine performance. In the Kent v. Gloucestershire match at Clifton, in 1887, when I scored 100 twice in a match, the second time in my career, he was the first to applaud. A little before the time for drawing stumps on the third day, when I was about twenty runs short of the number to complete the feat, and the regular Kent bowlers had failed to dislodge me, he put on underhand bowling. That had no effect; and, knowing the match could not be lost, he kindly allowed the bowler to continue an over or two longer so that I might accomplish my end. He could easily have made another change, which might have prevented me from doing it before time expired.
​His best batting years were:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1874 | 8 | 234 | 58 | 29.2 |
| 1875 | 19 | 631 | 92 | 33.4 |
| 1876 | 29 | 916 | 154 | 31.17 |
| 1880 | 22 | 722 | 123 | 32.18 |
| 1882 | 24 | 787 | 176 | 32.19 |
| 1883 | 30 | 919 | 118 | 30.19 |
| 1884 | 42 | 1417 | 112* | 33.31 |
| 1886 | 20 | 644 | 76 | 32.4 |
The Hon. Martin Bladen Hawke, now Lord Hawke, was born on the 10th August, 1860. He has taken a very prominent part in Yorkshire County Cricket, and the game has no warmer supporter. He first represented his county in 1881, and was chosen captain of the team in 1883, a position which he has filled most satisfactorily. Always a hard worker, he has the power of stimulating his team to do their best, and he has fought pluckily for years to give Yorkshire a better position amongst the counties. His style of batting is excellent, as he plays both forward and back with equal confidence, and comes down on the ball clean and hard. Few batsmen hit more freely, his driving being particularly good; and he always plays the game, whether it be a winning or losing one. And when he is in for one of his long scores no one can bat in better style. As one or two critics have remarked, "When he makes runs, he gets them as well as anybody."
He represented Cambridge University in 1882 and 1883, and was captain of the eleven in 1885; and he also played in Mr. Vernon's Australian team in 1887-8, and Indian team in 1890.
LORD HAWKE.
Thomas Hearne was born at Chalfont St. Peter's, Buckinghamshire, Sept. 4th, 1826. His height was 5 ft. 10½ in.; weight 11½st. He was a fine batsman, possessing good sound defence, and hit to all parts of the field. His leg hitting and driving were exceptionally good, and his runs were made very quickly; and he was one of the few I can call to mind who played the old-fashioned draw with great certainty and effect, That stroke may be said to have died with him and one or two other batsmen of his time, for it has been little used of late; indeed it would be dangerous against bowlers who get much break on the ball, and I have always thought there was more likelihood of playing on or being bowled off the pads in attempting it than playing the ball firmly in front. Hearne did not appear at Lord's until late in life, and he was 36 years of age before he represented the Players. He also played for Middlesex and M.C.C., and was very successful for both. When the Eleven was being chosen to represent the Players, in 1866, the opinion of the majority was dead against Hearne, but one or two pressed for another chance, as it was likely to be his last opportunity, he ​then being in his 4oth year. He scored 16 first innings, 122 not out second, and he never batted better in his life, playing his pet stroke the draw repeatedly and well.
As a bowler he was above medium-pace, but not fast; but he bowled very straight and kept a fair length. Like Grundy and one or two others belonging to the ground bowlers at Lord's, he was more inclined to bowl too short than too far up, a habit they had got into owing to the nature of the ground. The pitch was very lively and short balls bounded rather high, which made them difficult to hit with safety a point which Hearne and Grundy made use of. I know when they tried a similar length ball on a slower wicket elsewhere they got punished rather severely. Hearne was a very good fieldsman close in, and could keep wicket. He succeeded Grundy as head bowler at Lord's in 1872, which position he still holds.
Allen Hill was born at Kirkheaton, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, 14th November, 1845. His height was 5 ft. 11 ins.; weight, 12½ st. He was one of our very best fast round-arm bowlers, particularly between 1870 and 1875. For Yorkshire he did good work in conjunction with Emmett, after Freeman gave up playing. In pace he was not quite so fast as Freeman or Tarrant; but he had a very easy delivery and beautiful style. He did not put much work on the ball, although now and then he would break from the off; but he bowled very straight and kept a good length, and I have had occasional balls from him that required all my skill to get my bat in front of, and one or two that completely beat me. I forget the exact distance he took before delivering the ball; but I know it was much shorter than the average run of fast bowlers. For his county he was very successful during the years I have mentioned, and in 1874 his form with the ball enabled the Players ​to win their match against the Gentlemen at Lord's on the 6th] and 7th July. He clean-bowled Messrs. A. N. Hornby, C. F. Buller, G. F. Grace and myself in the first innings. The Players had not won a match since 1866, and Hill had reason to be pleased with his performance. He was very keen, and tried all he knew to get wickets, no matter the quality of the batsmen against him: but after I got well set I have seen him decline to bowl a third or fourth time.
He was not much of a bat, being more inclined to hit than keep up his wicket; but he was a good field at short-slip, and one of the quietest and most unassuming players it has been my pleasure to meet. But that has been characteristic of Yorkshire county players generally, ever since I played against them.
His best bowling years were:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1873 | 741 | 299 | 1064 | 81 | 13.11 |
| 1874 | 668 | 266 | 983 | 89 | 11.4 |
| 1875 | 1265 | 577 | 1738 | 109 | 15.103 |
| 1876 | 1208 | 504 | 1861 | 109 | 17.8 |
| 1881 | 337 | 154 | 435 | 43 | 10.5 |
MR. A. N. HORNBY.
I should say Mr. Hornby, with the exception of myself, has gone in to bat first man oftener than any man in England or out of it, and his record for first wicket down in the matches he has played—Lancashire county matches in particular—should be exceptionally high. He has a wonderful eye, and at his best was very quick on his legs for a short run, at times accomplishing extraordinary things which electrified his opponents and the spectators. I know he used to be the terror of some batsmen who were in with him, and one or two have said they never knew whether they were on their head or their legs while the partnership continued; but I never had any difficulty with him. If I said "No," he was prompt to respond; and no matter how far up the wicket he might be, he could always get back in time.
On one occasion, at Prince's, when we were in together, instead of trying to punish the bowling and make as many runs as we could, we played tip and run for half an hour, and completely demoralised the bowlers and fieldsmen. Each tried to outdo the other in desperate endeavour, and I should say that that halfhour was about the liveliest seen on a cricket-field. One run was a curiosity. I played a ball in front of me, and without looking where it was going yelled "Come on, Hornby!" I had no need to say "Come on" to him; for he was up like a flash of lightning, and had crossed before the words were out of my mouth. The ball travelled straight up the pitch to Willsher, the bowler, who ran up a yard or so to meet it, and I thought it was all over with me; for I was not more than ​halfway when he picked it up. I had the sense to keep running, and Willsher hearing my feet thundering behind him lost his head, and instead of putting the wicket down quietly, as he might have done, let fly with all his force and missed it by yards! I believe that was the culminating point of our temporary insanity; for Mr. Hornby and I were so tickled at the absurdity of the run attempted that we settled down and played correctly.
Mr. Hornby's scores have been very large. He has exceeded 100 as many as eight times in one year, and more than once has scored over 200 runs in an innings. He scored 104 in the Gentlemen v. Players match in 1873, against the bowling of J. C. Shaw, Alfred Shaw, Emmett, Willsher and James Lillywhite; and 144 in the same match, against Mycroft, Morley, Emmett, Ulyett and Barratt, in 1877; and at the end of the season of 1881 took first place in batting honours, being well ahead of both amateurs and professionals. Three times in 1881 he scored over a hundred in an innings for his county, the highest being 188, against Derbyshire.
No finer fieldsman ever donned flannels: in his best days he was most brilliant at coverpoint or longleg, and never seemed to tire. He has captained the Lancashire Eleven to many a glorious victory, and he is almost idolised by them.
His best batting years:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1870 | 8 | 338 | 132 | 42.2 |
| 1872 | 10 | 314 | 80 | 31.4 |
| 1873 | 17 | 586 | 64 | 34.8 |
| 1877 | 26 | 764 | 144 | 29.10 |
| 1879 | 20 | 606 | 64* | 30.6 |
| 1881 | 37 | 1531 | 188 | 41.4 |
| 1882 | 49 | 1383 | 131 | 28.11 |
| 1890 | 30 | 672 | 75 | 22.12 |
​George Howitt was born at Old Lenton, Nottinghamshire, 14th March, 1843. His height was 5 ft. 8½ in.; weight, 10½ st. He was a very successful fast left-hand, round-arm bowler, with a good break from the leg. Now and then he would put in a real beauty which would test any batsman's defence. In 1868, he got me out for a brace of "ducks" at Neath, in the match United South v. Twenty-two of Cadoxton Club, when he was playing for the Twenty-two. He moved to London about 1860, and afterwards played for both Middlesex and Nottinghamshire. He was an indifferent batsman; but he has the credit of winning a very exciting match by one wicket for Middlesex and Surrey v. England at the Oval in 1868, which was played for the benefit of Julius Caesar. He was last man in, and skied a ball very high to Charlwood at long-on, which everyone expected that player would hold; but for once about the safest pair of hands in England failed, and the ball fell to the ground.
Thomas Humphrey was born at Mitcham, Surrey, 16th January, 1839. His height was 5 ft. 5 ins.; weight, about 10 st. Humphrey's style was very free, and he could play forward as well as back. He had great patience, and his cutting was equal to Caffyn's in his best days. As a fieldsman he was first-class anywhere, especially at long-leg or long-on, and he was always a willing worker; 1,000 runs during the season was a common thing with him. I remember my father and a clergyman friend travelling up to Swindon solely to see Humphrey and Jupp batting. When they arrived on the ground the pair were in together, and they kept together until my father and his friend were compelled to return home. "What do you think of them?" I asked my father before he left. "Wonderful!" said he; "but, do you know, I should like to see someone else before I go."
​About the last time I played with Humphrey was in the Grimsby match in 1876. He had gone off in his play then, and generally batted late in the innings; but as two or three of the eleven had not turned up when we were ready to begin, I said, "Put on your pads, Tom; you may as well come in with me." We were not out at luncheon time; and an hour or so afterwards the absent members were seen making their way to the ground, running at top speed. They had seen Humphrey batting from a distance, and concluded he must be last man in, and they did hot want to lose their innings. When they got into the field and saw 80 runs for no wicket, they sat down and laughed heartily. And one or two of them laughed even more heartily next day, for it was well on in the third and last day before their turn came! It was the match in which I scored 400 not out.
Roger Iddison was born at Bedale, Yorkshire, 15th September, 1834. His height was 5 ft. 8 ins.; weight, 12 st. He played his first match at Lord's, 9th, 10th, 11th June, 1862. for The United All-England Eleven v. The All-England Eleven. He was a first-rate batsman, and met with great success as a lob-bowler; and he was a good fieldsman at point. G. Freeman and he were the founders of the United North of England Eleven in 1869.
John Jackson was born at Bungay, Suffolk, 21st May, 1833, but his parents soon after removed to Nottinghamshire. His height was 6 ft. o¼ in.; weight, 15 st. He was one of our great bowlers, and by some thought superior to Wisden and Willsher. He was much faster, and change of weather or wicket made little difference to him. He bowled like a machine, well within his strength, and had a beautiful delivery. His batting was above the average, but not first-class. He belonged to the All-England Eleven, played for ​the North and Nottinghamshire, and was at his best between 1856 and 1866.
Henry Jupp, the Surrey crack and mainstay for so many years, was born at Dorking, igth November, 1841. His height was 5 ft. 6½ in.; weight, about 11 st. Very few profesionals have so good a batting and fielding record. Between the years 1865 and 1876, he scored over 100 in an innings a great many times, and an aggregate of 1,000 runs during the season was of common occurrence with him. He had wonderful defence and patience; but if anything he was a little too steady, blocking balls six inches off the wicket rather than risk his wicket by hitting. His 216 for Players of South v. Fourteen Gentlemen of South, in 1865, though not against first-class bowling, was a very fine performance; for he was in a whole day, and did not give the slighest semblance of a chance from beginning to end. There were 78 singles in it. The year 1869, when he scored over 100 runs in an innings five times, was one of his best. In 1874 he did a very fine and exceptional performance for Surrey v. Yorkshire at the Oval: going in first in both innings, and being not out at the end of each; his scores being 43 and 109.
He was about the safest catch in the long field I ever saw, and in his younger days covered an immense amount of ground. When we played together for the United South, I could always depend on him for a catch, and I bowled many a ball for that purpose when I knew he was in the long field. What I liked about his fielding was his pluck. No catch seemed impossible to him, and trying for everything, he brought off now and then some of the most remarkable catches ever seen on a cricket-field. He could keep wicket at a pinch, and bowl also. His services were invaluable to me in my Australian tour; but we never could depend on him if ​we had to travel by water, for he was a wretched sailor.
It is an old story, but will bear repetition, how Jupp and Southerton tried to get me in a fix when the ball bounded into an opening of my shirt while I was running in the Gloucestershire v. Surrey match at Clifton College in 1878. Townsend and I were batting, and had run three when the ball lodged there, and after we had run three more, Jupp and Southerton collared me. "We don't know how many runs you mean to run, sir; but you might give us the ball." "No, thank you; take it out for yourself, Jupp," I said, laughing. "You don't get me out in that way! "
He had rather a liking for a glass of champagne, but objected to dilution. When the United South played Walsall on a certain occasion, I was the guest of Mr. Russell, a great supporter of the game. He invited the professionals of the team to look in upon him in the morning, when he would crack a bottle or two before they began the day's play. Jupp turned up with the others, and when asked to have seltzer with it said, "No, thank you, sir; I have always found champagne good enough by itself!"
His best batting years were:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1866 | 64 | 1557 | 165 | 24.21 |
| 1869 | 37 | 1299 | 170 | 35. 4 |
| 1874 | 35 | 1275 | 154 | 36.15 |
| 1876 | 39 | 983 | 92* | 25.8 |
Rev. Charlton George Lane was born at the Parsonage, Kennington, Surrey, 11th June, 1836. His height was 6 ft.; weight, 12½ st. He was one of the most brilliant amateur batsmen of his time, playing in a fine free style, and possessing great hitting powers. He might be called a "model" batsman for correctness of style. In 1860 he played in the First Eleven of ​England v. Next Fourteen, and he represented the Gentlemen v. Players in 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, and 1861; and he was one of the veteran players in the Centenary match of the M.C.C. in 1887. He was a very fine field anywhere. He pulled in the Oxford Eight v. Cambridge in 1858 and 1859.
James Lillywhite, jun., was born at West Hampnett, Sussex, 23rd February, 1842. His height was 5 ft. 7 ins.; weight, at his best, 11 st. 7 lbs. He was in his twenty-first year when he appeared at Lord's, playing for Sussex v. the M.C.C., and he improved every year afterwards, and very soon was acknowledged to be one of the best bowlers of the day. He was a nephew of William Lillywhite, the great bowler, and a worthy successor in accuracy of pitch, straightness, and ease of delivery. He bowled left-hand, mediumpace, and never seemed to tire; and earned the title of "The Young Nonpareil." He was a fair left-hand batsman, and scored the century once or twice for his county. He was a member of the team I took to Australia, and has been there several times since.
His best bowling years were:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1866 | 841 | 463 | 894 | 73 | 12.18 |
| 1872 | 936 | 442 | 1244 | 94 | 13.22 |
| 1873 | 1010 | 441 | 1377 | 101 | 13.64 |
| 1875 | 833 | 339 | 1209 | 88 | 13.65 |
| 1876 | 990 | 547 | 1315 | 91 | 14.41 |
John Lillywhite, a son of William Lillywhite the great bowler, was born at Hove, Brighton, 10th Nov., 1826. His height was 5ft. 5in.; weight, 11st. His powers were worthy of the tuition his father bestowed on him, and he became a good all-round player. As a batsman his hitting was very good, and he was an excellent field also. At first he bowled fast round; but afterwards he changed to medium-pace, and became more effective.
​Ephraim Lockwood was born at Lascelles Hall, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, 4th April, 1845. He was one of the best all-round players of his time; batting with success, and fielding with great certainty. He was not a brilliant batsman, nor particularly free in his style; but what he lacked in that respect he made up in patience and carefulness. His bat was always in the way of the ball, and he had few superiors in watching and timing all kinds of bowling on a rough and kicking wicket. He could hit anywhere, his cutting being particularly fine; and he had one peculiar stroke which I used to consider a mis-hit for a long time. Off slow bowling, he made what seemed a half-hearted hit just over the bowler's or mid-ofFs head, but which did not go far enough for long-field to reach. Time after time a catch seemed likely to come off; but the fieldsman was always a yard or two short, which was very tantalizing, and I was compelled to conclude that the hit, though not pretty to look at, was intentional, especially as he scored by it every time. On a wet or dead wicket he was seen at his best; then he could watch the ball for any length of time; keeping up his wicket with a very straight bat, and putting on the runs at a fair pace when others failed to score.
He bowled round-arm, with a high delivery, varying from medium-pace to slow, and when the ground was heavy got a fair amount of spin on the ball. He batted well for the Players for many years; but particularly in 1874, 1875, 1876, and 1877. In 1874 he scored 67 not out and 48 at the Oval, and 70 in the first innings at Lord's. In 1875 he scored 67 in the second innings at Lord's; in 1876 he scored 70 at Prince's; and in 1877 he scored 97 and 20 at the Oval; and on each occasion he went in first. But I remember we got him out for a brace of ducks at the Oval in 1873.
He captained the Yorkshire Eleven for some years; ​but he lacked firmness in that position, pretty much owing to his desire to please everyone. Occasionally bowlers presumed on it, and more than once a member of the eleven refused to bowl when the wicket was not suitable, or the batsman had got set. The Yorkshire v. Gloucestershire match at Cheltenham, in 1876, was a case in point. On the second day, when I had scored close upon 300 runs, Lockwood had some difficulty in getting one or two of his bowlers to have a third or fourth trial. His pleadings were responded to with "I don't feel up to it," and his good-nature caused him to give way. Tom Emmett was a bright exception, and blurted out, "Why don't you make 'em? Aint you captain?" "Why don't you, yourself?" said the offending bowler. "You're as much afraid of the big 'un as I am!" Tom snatched up the ball rather impetuously. "Get out of the way!" said he; "and look out in the long-field. I'm going to finish his innings!" Tom's heart was bigger than his head, or rather his heart was truer than his arm; for he favoured me with three monstrous wides to begin with, and laughing was general all over the ground.
Lockwood's best batting years were:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1871 | 21 | 612 | 89 | 29.3 |
| 1871 | 1261 | 108 | 31.21 |
| 1871 | 38 | 1060 | 109 | 27.34 |
Tom Lockyer was born at Croydon, Nov. 1, 1828, and made his first appearance at Lord's in 1850, playing for Surrey v. M.C.C. His height was 5 ft. 10½ in.; weight, 12 st. He was a valuable addition to Surrey, and scored largely at times. He earned a great reputation as a wicket-keeper; taking the ball with equal ease and certainty on both sides of the wicket. When he visited Australia he astonished everyone there, ​and it was generally admitted that he was the best wicket-keeper of his day.
George Lohmann was born at Kensington on the 5th June, 1865. His height is 5ft. 10¼in.; weight, 12 st. 6lbs. I have little hesitation in saying that no cricketer has attracted more attention in cricket circles during the last two or three years than Lohmann, and that Surrey is mainly indebted to his exceptional performance with the ball for its very high position among the counties any time in the last four years. His rapid success has been almost phenomenal; and to-day he has no superior as a bowler. Since he first represented his county, in 1884, his bowling has been the theme of admiration in England; and very good judges in Australia have said he is the best bowler that ever visited them. He has the enviable and exceptional power of rising to the occasion; and the better the company, the better he performs. He is rapidly developing into a first-class batsman. In the field he is good anywhere, his quickness being almost electrical; and the amount of ground he covers, especially at short-slip, is something remarkable. He rarely allows anything to pass him, and nearly everything possible in the way of a catch he brings off.
GEORGE LOHMANN.
BOWLING.
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1885 | 1264 | 592 | 2030 | 142 | 14.42 |
| 1886 | 1715 | 809 | 2425 | 160 | 15.25 |
| 1887 | 1634 | 737 | 2404 | 154 | 15.94 |
| 1888 | 1649 | 783 | 2280 | 209 | 10.190 |
| 1889 | 1614 | 646 | 2714 | 202 | 13.90 |
| 1890 | 1759 | 737 | 2998 | 220 | 13.138 |
BATTING.
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1887 | 33 | 843 | 115 | 25.18 |
| 1890 | 43 | 832 | 57 | 19.15 |
Mr. Alfred Percy Lucas was born in London, February 20th, 1857. He is indebted to H. H. Stephenson for his early coaching at Uppingham and the foundation of a batting style that has been the admiration of every first-class player. At school, in 1874, he had the exceptionally fine average of 50.1 for 14 innings. He represented Cambridge against Oxford in 1875, and continued to do so until 1878; and, by right of residence, he played for Surrey in 1874 and most years down to 1882. The year after saw him playing for Middlesex, the county of his birth, and his form that season in county matches and for the Gentlemen v. Players was equal to anything he had shown previously. Of late years he has played for Essex. He has also represented England against ​Australia, and was a member of Lord Harris's team which visited Australia in 1878-79.
His batting was free and correct, and he had great patience. He made the most of his height, and came down on the ball with great force; and he was particularly strong in driving. We invariably went in first together, and had many a long and profitable partnership. In the field he was very quick, and brought off many a grand catch in the long-field: one in particular for England v. Australia, which Bonnor hit tremendously hard and low, was as fine as anything I have ever seen. He was a good change bowler, medium-pace round-arm, and when he had a wicket to suit him did good work.
His best batting years were:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1876 | 27 | 816 | 105 | 30.6 |
| 1877 | 24 | 832 | 115 | 34.16 |
| 1879 | 17 | 423 | 70 | 24.15 |
| 1881 | 25 | 612 | 142 | 24.12 |
| 1882 | 22 | 707 | 145 | 32.3 |
| 1883 | 20 | 664 | 97 | 33.4 |
The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton was born in London on the 7th February, 1857. He is the youngest member of a distinguished family of eight brothers who have all more or less made their mark in the cricket world, and in the world of sport generally. The Hon. C. G., the eldest, was considered second to none of his time; the Hon. Edward, the seventh, born in 1855, was equally good; and the subject of my sketch, though last, was certainly not least; indeed, he had few superiors with the bat, and he was one of our best amateur wicket-keepers. I say was, for, unfortunately, though he is many years my junior, and still possesses all his old skill, professional duties have kept him out of the cricket field for years. He was very successful for Cambridge ​University, the Gentlemen v. Players, England v. Australia, and for Middlesex.
As a batsman he had a most commanding and beautiful style, and scored at a very fast pace aga111st.all kinds of bowling. I remember hearing some one remark that his style was the champagne of cricket, and I thought it hit the nail full on the head. He has done mariy fine performances with the bat chief of them, to my mind, being his 181 in the memorable partnership with Mr. I. D. Walker for Middlesex v. Gloucestershire, at Clifton in 1883. His wicket-keeping was always firstclass. There was no fuss or show about it, and I have rarely seen him knock the bails off unless there was a possible chance of stumping. He was very quick, and took the ball on both sides with equal ease and certainty. His best batting years were:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1876 | 15 | 383 | 83 | 25.8 |
| 1877 | 21 | 611 | 101 | 29.2 |
| 1878 | 19 | 476 | 72 | 25.1 |
| 1879 | 24 | 688 | 102 | 28.16 |
| 1880 | 13 | 378 | 47* | 29.1 |
| 1883 | 8 | 555 | 181 | 69.3 |
| 1884 | 16 | 417 | 103 | 26.1 |
The Hon. Charles George Lyttelton, now Lord Cobham, was born at Hagley Park, Stourbridge, on 27th October, 1842. His height was 6 ft. 2 ins.; weight, about 13 st. He was at his best when I appeared in first-class cricket, and I was delighted with his free, hard-hitting style. His cutting in particular was most brilliant, and the ball travelled with startling rapidity after it left the bat. There were no boundaries at the Oval in those days, and the sound of the ball hitting the palings was heard all over the ground with a clearness and distinctness that told of the force and skill put into the hit. He is senior member of a distinguished family which ​has been a power in the cricket world. At Cambridge he was very successful with bat and ball, and he represented his University in the single and double contests at tennis, winning both. He threw the cricket-ball repeatedly over 100 yards, and was fairly successful as a bowler, bowling round-arm, medium-pace, and lobs; and he was above the average as a wicket-keeper. He was chosen to represent the Gentlemen in his 18th year, and played for them for six years, bowling, batting, fielding and wicket-keeping with great success. The M.C.C. elected him on their Committee in 1874, and he was chosen President in 1888.
Mr. Percy Stanislaus McDonnell was born at Kensington, London, on the 13th November, 1860. He made his first appearance in England with Murdoch's team in 1880, and created a great impression as a batsman and field, which he fully maintained in subsequent visits. As a dashing batsman he has had no equal in any Australian Eleven, and it is not too much to say of him that on a bad wicket he might win any match by the wonderful way in which he can force the game. In the early part of his innings he is rather too eager to score, but once he gets set all kinds of bowling are treated alike. His fine score of 103 out of the first 158 runs for Australia v. England at the Oval in 1884 was a very dashing effort on a good wicket; but his 82 out of 86 against the North of England at Manchester in 1888, on a slow treacherous wicket, which enabled his side to win the match, was one of the grandest efforts ever witnessed. He hits hard all round and keeps the ball low, and his driving is particularly fine. In the field he is exceptionally smart, and has a good return. He captained the sixth Australian team in 1888, and managed the eleven with excellent judgment.
​His batting averages in England, in eleven-a-side matches, were:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1880 | 18 | 418 | 79 | 23.4 |
| 1882 | 52 | 900 | 82 | 17.16 |
| 1884 | 52 | 1225 | 103 | 23.29 |
| 1888 | 6l | 1393 | 105 | 22.51 |
Marton McIntyre was born at Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, 15th August, 1847. His height was 5 ft. 11ns.; weight 12½ st. Nottinghamshire, like Yorkshire, has been singularly fortunate in nearly always having first-class bowlers; and in 1871, when McIntyre was at his best, it had occasion to be proud of him. He bowled fast round-arm, with a very high delivery, and when he had a wicket to suit him was quite unplayable, and frightened timid batsmen as much as ever Tarrant did. If the wicket were at all fast, and a little bit fiery or rough, his cart-wheel delivery caused the ball to get up with startling quickness, and the batsman's fingers and body were visited as often as the wicket. An occasional shooter came along, and altogether it was a lively time while it lasted. McIntyre beamed and smiled at the results; though he was always ready to apologise when an exceptionally hard knock came.
He first represented the Players in 1871. Very few first-class bowlers paid much attention to batting twenty years ago, but McIntyre was one of the exceptions; for he had good defence, and his hitting was clean, hard, and low.
He was very good-tempered, too; and whenever he committed a slight mistake it was a very difficult thing to reprove him. Once, if not twice, during my Australian tour, the hospitality of our friends on the other side was too much for him, and he stayed up later than he should have; although I had given strict orders that every one should retire early, so that we might win ​our match next day. I learned one morning that he had been out late, and made up my mind to speak sharply. He appeared on the ground in good time, smiling as usual, although he had got a hint of the storm brewing. "Good-morning, sir!" said he, before I could get a word out, "McIntyre has just been talking to himself, and won't let it occur again." What could I say after that? I certainly could not improve upon it. However, it was a very hot day, and the wicket suited him, and he both batted and bowled well.
Mr. Joseph Makinson was born at High Broughton, Manchester, 25th August, 1836. His height was 5 ft. 6¾ ins.; weight, at his best, about 10 st. My first experience of his powers was in the South Wales match against Surrey in 1864, and a hot one it was. In the first innings he scored 86 run out; in the second, 36 not out; and when Mr. John Walker was batting with him we had a most lively time of it. He was in his 28th year at the time, and was very quick on his legs, running up the pitch and converting a good-length ball into a half-volley; and he seemed to be able to hit to every part of the field. He was a magnificent field anywhere, and a very fast bowler. I met him a great deal in the United South matches at Broughton, and in later years at Manchester in connection with the Gloucestershire and Lancashire matches in fact, scarcely a year has passed in which I have not met him; for he is an enthusiastic lover of the game, and is just as happy playing the part of spectator now as he was when he took an active part in the game twenty years ago.
In his 21st year, playing for the Undergraduates at Cambridge against the Gentlemen of Cambridge with Arnold and Reynolds, two professional bowlers, he scored 126 out of a total of 311; his cutting, driving, and leg-hitting being most severe and accurate. In the same ​match he captured eight of the Gentlemen's wickets first innings, and three out of the five taken in the second, when the Gentlemen gave up the match. The year after, for the same team, against the Professionals of Cambridge, he scored 136 out of a total of 364, against the bowling of Buttress and Reynolds; and in June, 1860, playing for the Broughton Club, Manchester, he gave the All-England Eleven an illustration of what the best of our amateurs could do against their crack bowlers—Jackson, Willsher, Tarrant, and Hayward—scoring 104 out of a total of 180; and bowling successfully as well. Another fine performance was his 64 not out for the Gentlemen against the Players at the Oval in 1864; his bowling being fairly successful in the same match.
He identified himself very closely with the Broughton Club, and worked heart and soul in its interest. The members appreciated it, and presented him with a gold watch and chain, with the following inscription: "Presented to Joseph Makinson by his fellow-members of the Broughton Club, as a mark of their pride in him as a cricketer and their affection for him as a friend." That occurred some thirty years ago, and he is still very proud of it; for when I saw him last I said, "Let me have a look at the watch I have heard so much about, Makinson;" and out it came, and the interesting story in connection with it. The members of the Broughton Club were certainly the gainers by his enthusiasm; but first-class cricket suffered by his enforced absence, for he did not play so often as lovers of the game desired.
Mr. Frederic Peel Miller was born at Clapham, Surrey, 29th July, 1828. His height was 5ft. 6½ in.; weight, 11 st. He was a most brilliant hitter, and scored largely; and he was one of the finest fieldsmen at long-leg or cover-point of his time. And he could bowl also; round-arm and slow underhand. In the Gentlemen v. ​Players' matches he was very successful, and he was an ardent supporter of the game after he gave up playing. His figure at the Oval in all important matches was very well known, and many a chat I had with him about the rise and progress of the game.
We are mainly indebted to him for Vols. I. to IV. of Fred. Lillywhite's Scores and Biographies. He spent a very large sum of money collecting materials for them; but in publishing them did not get the support his unselfish efforts so richly deserved.
Mr. Richard Arthur Henry Mitchell was born at Enderby Hall, near Leicester, on 22nd January, 1843. His height was 6 ft. 2 ins.; weight, about 13 st. His tall, commanding figure was well known in the cricket-field, and his vigorous hitting and scientific defence were well worth copying. He was a good change fast round- arm bowler, and an excellent fieldsman at point. At school, college, Lord's and the Oval, he did very well, and was paid the compliment of being asked to play for the Gentlemen in his 19th year. He did not play for them, however, until 1862. In 1863, in one of those matches, he scored 76 and bowled also; in 1865 he scored 53 and 33 in the first match, and not out 44 in the second. I met him often then at Lord's and the Oval, and occasionally at Canterbury, but not so frequently after he was appointed to a mastership at Eton.
Mr. William Octavius Moberly was born at Shoreham, in Sussex, 14th November, 1850. His height was 5 ft. 10 in.; weight, 12 st. 7 Ibs. From 1876 to 1881 he was one of the most brilliant batsmen in England, his large scores for Gloucestershire against first-class bowling being made in perfect style. For that county he had an average of 40 runs in 1876, 39 in 1880, and 39 in 1881, and scored over 100 runs in an innings two or three times. He was a splendid hitter all round, and always kept the ball well down; his late cutting ​in particular being equal to anything I have ever seen. He reminded me of the Hon. C. G. Lyttelton in his best days when he made that hit. You saw the flash of the bat when he made it, and a second or two afterwards the ball had reached the boundary.
Undoubtedly he was the finest batsman I can remember at any University who was unfortunate enough not to be chosen to play in the great match of the year; but the Oxford Eleven of his time had so many good men that it was difficult to know whom to leave out, and of course he did not display the fine form then which made him so valuable to Gloucestershire.
He was a magnificent field and safe catch, and was always ready to go anywhere. In the absence of our regular wicket-keeper, he put on the pads and gloves cheerfully, and did good work at it, although I knew he had no great liking for the post. When the bell rang he was one of the first to appear in the field, and he was always ready when it was his turn to bat. He was appointed one of the masters at Clifton College in 1876, which prevented him from playing much until the latter part of the season, or representing the Gentlemen against the Players. He was also a very fine football player.
Fred Morley was born at Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, 16th December, 1850. His height was 5 ft. 9 in; weight, 10½ st. For years the names of Morley and Alfred Shaw were before the public as the renowned Nottinghamshire pair, and there can be little doubt that they were a wonderful and effective combination. Morley bowled very fast left round-arm, had a fair break both ways, and generally kept a good length. On his day, on an indifferent wicket, his ball on the leg-stump, breaking to the off, was a difficult one to play, and I had to cry beaten to him more than once. His county had the best of his services, and he served it well. The ​Players also were much strengthened by his bowling, and in more than one match he and Shaw were their mainstay. That memorable match in which the Australians made their first appearance at Lord's, on the 27th May, 1878, will come to the minds of cricketers how Spofforth and Boyle, on the treacherous wicket, slaughtered the M.C.C. 'batsmen, and Shaw and Morley retaliated on the Australians.
He was a very poor bat, and a very indifferent fieldsman. His name was invariably last on the batting list, and when he made a run the crowd cheered him heartily. In the field he was anything but a safe catch; but give him a chance of running a man out when he had the ball in his hand and was about forty or fifty yards from the wicket, and he rarely failed to do it, so accurate and fast was his throwing.
He accompanied the seventh English team to Australia in 1882-3, but was unfortunate enough to meet with an injury to his side when the steamer which took them out collided with another. It turned out to be a more serious injury than was at first thought, and he was never the same man afterwards, and both Nottinghamshire and England lost one of the very best fast bowlers of his time.
His best bowling years were:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1874 | 977 | 437 | 1493 | 111 | 13.50 |
| 1875 | 1257 | 608 | 1676 | 114 | 14.80 |
| 1877 | 1726 | 839 | 2021 | 148 | 13.97 |
| 1878 | 1953 | 1654 | 2311 | 191 | 12.19 |
| 1879 | 1361 | 676 | 1551 | 146 | 10.91 |
| 1879 | 1717 | 867 | 2077 | 174 | 11.163 |
| 1879 | 1051 | 541 | 1297 | 115 | 11.32 |
Mr. William Lloyd Murdoch was born at Sandhurst, Victoria, 18th October, 1855. His height is 5 ft. 10 ins.; weight, 13½ st. Without doubt he is the best batsman that ever represented Australia, and ​we can all remember his fine innings of 153 not out in 1880, at the Oval, against the finest bowling of England. When he first came to us he had not the command of the bat he showed in after years, nor did he possess the free, scientific style which we like to associate with him at his best. He always possessed good and sound defence, and could hit well all round; but his particular hit was stepping out and driving hard and low to the off, a stroke which yielded him many a boundary figure. Like many of us, he is getting on in years and has lost the dash of ten years ago, but he is still a good bat, a safe field, a good wicket-keeper, and one of the best captains that ever led an Australian eleven into the field.
His highest scores in first-class matches have been:
| Feb. | 1882. | For New South Wales v. Melbourne | 321 |
| May | " | For Australian XI. v. Sussex | 286* |
| Jan. | 1884. | For Australian XI. v. Combined Australia | 279* |
| Aug. | " | For Australian XI. v. England | 211 |
| Dec. | 1883. | For New South Wales v. Victoria | 158 |
| July | 1890. | For Australian XI. v. Sussex | 158* |
| Sept. | 1880. | For Australian XI. v. England | 153* |
| Dec. | 1878. | For Australian XI. v. Eighteen of Victoria | 153 |
| June | 1884. | For Australian XI. v. Cambridge University | 132 |
| Aug. | 1890. | For Australian XI. v. Cambridge Past and Present | 129 |
| May | 1882. | For Australian XI. v. Orleans Club | 107* |
And his batting averages for the Australian Elevens in England, in eleven-a-side matches:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1878 | 24 | 319 | 49 | 13. 7 |
| 1880 | 18 | 465 | 153* | 25.15 |
| 1182 | 56 | 1711 | 286* | 30.31 |
| 1884 | 45 | 1378 | 211 | 30.28 |
| 1890 | 62 | 1459 | 158* | 23.33 |
Mr. Charles A. Newhall, of Philadelphia, was a long way the best fast right-hand bowler who has yet appeared in America, and is a member of the family of ​that name which has given the Gentlemen of Philadelphia a good position in the cricket world. I met him at Philadelphia in 1872, and was much impressed with his pace, length, and break from the off. He was quite as fast as Freeman, and made the ball come quickly off the pitch. On a good wicket many of his balls kept low, and on a bumpy one he was most dangerous and very successful.
In the match, Gentlemen of England v. Twenty-two of Philadelphia, played at Philadelphia in September, 1872, he bowled grandly, and with Mr. Meade, a fast left-hand bowler, at the other end, gave us the closest and most exciting match of the whole trip. Mr. Meade and he made a strong combination and required a lot of playing, and on their form that day would have puzzled the finest batting eleven in England. Mr. Newhall took 10 wickets for 69 runs; Meade, 6 for 52; and they bowled unchanged in both innings. Mr. Newhall was just as successful against Parr's team in 1859, an d Willsher's in 1868.
He was a fair bat, but not up to the form of his younger brother Dan, who was quite first-class. Dan had fine defence and could hit well all round, and was a splendid field.
Mr. Timothy Carew O'Brien was born at Dublin on November 5th, 1861, but received his cricket education in England. He played for Middlesex in 1881, but it was not until 1884 that he began to make the fine reputation he has since earned as a first-class batsman. In the latter year he played for Oxford University, and had an average of 25 runs for 15 completed innings; but he failed sadly against Cambridge University, at Lord's, the match in which he hoped, and everyone expected, he would do something out of the common. He certainly did something out of the common, for he gained his spectacles, much to his chagrin. The year ​after, however, he scored 44 and 28 in the same match, and had the fine average of 27.16 for 42 completed innings in first-class cricket. He had even a finer average in 1889 31.11 for 25 innings and to-day he is as good as he ever was.
His defence is good, but it is his free, dashing style that has made him so great a favourite. He is a poor beginner, and looks anything but at home the first over or two; but once he gets set, he is irresistible against all kinds of bowling. A half-volley, long-hop, or good-length gives him no trouble then, and there is no stopping him. His grand scores of 92 and 100 not out for Middlesex v. Yorkshire, at Lord's, in 1889, will never be forgotten, especially the latter. It was equal to anything ever hit on that ground, and was made in one hour and 20 minutes. The Yorkshire bowlers were all treated alike, and the spectators could hardly sit still for excitement and admiration of the grand display, which enabled Middlesex to win the match a few minutes before time.
He is a good field and safe catch, and always ready to go anywhere and everywhere. So far, he has not had much opportunity of showing the bowling skill he possesses, although he can bowl both right-hand and left, and is always practising when a wicket goes down. He thinks it rather hard luck that he cannot get the Middlesex captain to believe in his powers, but consoles himself with the thought that a prophet has little honour in his own country; and with having got me out on one occasion at Cheltenham when the regular bowlers had failed. He has played for the Gentlemen v. Players, and was one of Mr. Vernon's Australian team in 1887-88.
Mr. Cuthbert John Ottaway was born at Dover, Kent, 20th July, 1850. His height was 6 ft.; weight, 12½ st. He was a brilliant batsman at school, scoring repeatedly for Eton over 100 runs in an innings, and having an average of 70 for it in 1869. And he was just ​as successful for Middlesex in 1876, scoring over 100 in an innings against Surrey and Nottinghamshire that year, and averaging 89 for the whole season. He was one of Mr. Fitzgerald's Eleven which went to America in 1872; and though he did not score heavily, yet he was very successful in his wicket-keeping. He rarely played forward; but his back play was almost perfect, and he had great patience. Nothing would tempt him to hit out if cautious and safe play were necessary, and few batsmen could play an uphill fight or a defensive innings more perfectly. He represented the Gentlemen first in 1870, and for two or three years afterwards, but was not so successful for them as in other matches.
As an all-round athlete he had few equals, taking first honours in racquets, tennis, and football.
Mr. George Eugine Palmer was born at Albury, New South Wales, on 22nd February, 1860. His height was 5ft. 10ins.; weight, 12 st. He bowled rather above medium pace—might be called fast—and had a very easy action. He was very straight, kept a good length, and did most damage with his break from the off; but now and then he put in a beautiful leg-twister which was very difficult to play. The leg-break was rather a pet weakness of his, and he got hit severely at times by overdoing it. If he had stuck to his off-break he would have shown better results; for he had a rare command of the ball on that side. He was as good a batsman as anyone in the 1886 team. His best bowling performances in England, in eleven-a-side matches, were:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1880 | 710 | 342 | 892 | 80 | 11.12 |
| 1880 | 1185 | 511 | 1731 | 138 | 12.75 |
| 1880 | 1241 | 466 | 2131 | 132 | 16.19 |
| 1880 | 1416 | 564 | 2328 | 106 | 21.102 |
BATTING.
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1886 | 52 | 1028 | 94 | 19.40 |
The year 1881 saw him in his very best form, doing good work for his county, and carrying his bat right through the innings for 107 for Oxford v. Cambridge. Altogether he was batting five hours for his score, and it was owing to his fine defence and great patience that Oxford won the match when it was regarded as a certainty for Cambridge.
For Kent he has saved and won more than one match by the same patience and sound defence, and there is no more reliable bat in the eleven. When Mr. Patterson has made up his mind to save a match nothing will tempt him to risk anything. The years 1884 and 1885 were notable ones for him in that respect, and on two or three occasions he and that fine and enthusiastic player the Rev. Richard Thornton Thornton staved off defeat and gained an unexpected victory. Last year (1890) he was very successful, and had the very fine average of 50.2 for 8 innings. His 123 not out against Nottinghamshire, at Trent Bridge, was his principal score, and it was a wonderful performance, considering that he had only two or three night's practice before the day of the match.
He bats in very correct style, but his strong characteristics are patience and fine judgment in accommodating himself to every kind of wicket. On a sticky wicket he is almost as safe as on a fast, true wicket. He is also a very reliable field anywhere, but more especially in the long-field; and he can bowl medium-pace with fair success at times.
​Mr. Thomas Sherwin Pearson was born at Barwell, Leicestershire, 20th June, 1851. His height is 6 ft. 2 in.; weight, 13½ st. For a player who did so well for Middlesex he was very unfortunate in not being chosen to represent Oxford v. Cambridge, and the same reason may be given for it that was given in Mr. Moberly's case an exceptionally good lot were in residence at the time, and some one had to stand out. However, he had the satisfaction of representing his University in tennis contests, being one of the champions in 1875.
He is a good batsman, and makes some good scores by sound, free hitting. He is also a fair change slow round- arm bowler, with a very high action; and on more than one occasion he did good work for Middlesex when the regular bowlers had failed; and he has brought off some remarkably good catches, fielding at point.
Edmund Peate was born at Holbeck, near Leeds, 2nd March, 1856. He was, undoubtedly, one of the very best slow bowlers of his time. That is the opinion held by very good judges in Australia and England, and we have only to look at his results with the ball to see the truth of it. He bowled left-hand, round-arm, had a very easy action, kept a beautiful length, and varied his pace with good judgment. When the wicket was at all difficult, he was quite as puzzling as anyone; and he had a fair amount of break from leg: but now and then he put in a very nasty ball which came with his arm, and it was all the more difficult because it was unexpected.
He first played for his county in 1879, and before the season was over he had taken rank with the very best bowlers in England. Every year added to his fine reputation; and no matter the company he played in he came through the ordeal most successfully. In England and Australia he was the wonder of ​English slow bowlers for years, as his splendid results will show:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1880 | 1312 | 580 | 1168 | 138 | 12.12 |
| 1881 | 1638 | 731 | 2088 | 162 | 12.144 |
| 1882 | 1853 | 868 | 2466 | 2144 | 11.112 |
| 1883 | 1376 | 665 | 1753 | 120 | 14.73 |
| 1884 | 1575 | 777 | 1868 | 137 | 13.87 |
| 1885 | 1699 | 903 | 1945 | 115 | 16.105 |
| 1886 | 980 | 542 | 1027 | 70 | 14.47 |
He was not a good field, and he did not trouble himself much about his batting average; but he made rather an amusing remark in the memorable and sensational match England v. Australia, at the Oval, in 1882, when Spofforth and Boyle bowled with such extraordinary results in the second innings of England. Mr. C. T. Studd, rather strangely, was down on the list as tenth man, and Peate was eleventh. Ten runs were wanted to win, and it was not considered an impossible task if Peate could only keep up his wicket or allow Mr. Studd to have the bowling. However, Peate hit out at the first or second ball and made two runs off it; then tried it again off the next ball, and was clean bowled. On being remonstrated with for his rashness and want of judgment, he said: "Very sorry, gentlemen, but I could not trust Mr. Studd." Not a bad remark, considering that Mr. Studd had made a hundred runs against the same bowling a month or so before!
Robert Peel was born at Charwell, Yorkshire, on the 12th February, 1857. His height is 5 ft. 6 ins.; weight, 11 st. He first played for his county in 1882, when he was in his 25th year. Peate and Bates were at their best then, and Emmett was still a power in the eleven, or Peel would have represented Yorkshire even before that date, for it was well known that his bowling abilities only required development to become first-class. The year ​after he showed considerable improvement, and at the end of the season he took a good position amongst firstclass bowlers. Four years later he was admitted to be one of the best all-round players in the Yorkshire Eleven, and, indeed, was considered worthy of a place in any eleven. To-day he is still well to the front, and has lost none of his skill with bat or ball. He played with great success in Australia, and has been even more successful against the Australians in England.
What I like about Peel is his plucky, willing, cheerful way, and on that account I would as soon have him on my side as any man in England. Never a grumble comes from him, and he is ready at a moment's notice to go anywhere in the field. Now and then a bowler begs to be let off, alleging that he is either a little bit tired or that the end does not suit him. Peel is never tired, at least he never admits it, and he does not care whether he bowls up-hill, down-hill, with the wind or against it. He bowls left-hand, round-arm, slow medium, keeps a very good length, and breaks principally from leg, but occasionally he puts in a very fast one which comes with his arm. And he is not afraid of sending up a lofty toss to the off to tempt the batsman to hit. Of late years he has been very successful; and he is undoubtedly the best professional left-hand batsman in England at the present time.
His best years in first-class cricket so far have been:
BOWLING.
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1888 | 1648 | 830 | 2091 | 171 | 12.39 |
| 1889 | 1229 | 479 | 2054 | 118 | 17.48 |
| 1890 | 1552 | 714 | 2239 | 172 | 13.3 |
BATTING.
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1887 | 33 | 835 | 91 | 25.10 |
| 1890 | 44 | 817 | 83 | 18.25 |
​Mr. Henry Perkins, the secretary of the Marylebone C.C., was born at Sawston, Cambridgeshire, December 10th, 1832. His height was 5ft. 8½ ins.; weight, 11 st. 7 lbs. He played for Cambridge University v. Oxford in 1854, and was captain and manager of the Cambridge County Eleven from 1858 to 1864. As an all-round player he performed very well for years, but 1859 was ms best, when he was in his 27th year, his results being exceptionally good. At the end of that season he could show the very fine batting average of 33.25 for 51 completed innings; total number of runs scored, 1,708. Average and aggregate number of runs were thought highly of then, for grounds were far from perfect, and the ball had to be very carefully watched. He was just as successful with the ball that year, and in one match, against a strong University eleven, on Fenner's ground, carried everything before him, taking 9 wickets for 35 runs.
His defence was good and he could hit very hard, driving particularly well to the off and on. He bowled fast underhand lobs, and fielded his own bowling smartly. But he could field well anywhere, and earned a good reputation at mid-off and in long-stopping.
He was elected secretary of the M.C.C. in 1877, and the old club has flourished greatly under his charge. When he took office the number of matches played annually did not exceed 60; last year as many as 160 were played.
Henry Phillips was born at Hastings, Sussex, on the 14th of October, 1844. His height was 5 ft. 4 ins.; weight, 9 st. 7 lbs. To the best of my recollection, he is the smallest first-class wicket-keeper who has yet appeared. In many respects height is a decided advantage in that post; but Phillips has proved that in wicket-keeping, as in batting and bowling, height is not everything. His cat-like activity and quickness quite made up for his short reach, and his ​performancesances compared favourably with the very best of our wicket-keepers. I have seen him fail to touch a ball that such players as Mr. Bush, Finder and Lockyer could have reached with ease; but then I have seen him sprint from the wicket to short-leg, and bring off a catch which I very much question if either of those players could have got to.
He was as plucky as he was quick, and faced fast bowling with a cheerful face and a stout heart; but it was against slow bowling that he did his remarkable performances, and created his reputation as long ago as 1872. For Sussex v. Surrey on the 20th June of that year, he stumped 5 and caught 5; for Sussex v. Yorkshire, 2oth August, 1874, he stumped 3 and caught 4; and for the United South in 1875 he stumped 3 and caught 7 against Twenty-two of Chelmsford; G. F. Grace, Lillywhite and myself the bowlers. He did good work for his county a great many years, and he was fairly successful for the Players v. Gentlemen in 1871 and 1873.
As a batsman he was very steady, but did not hit much or score heavily; although he rather astonished the Australian Eleven in 1884, when he scored in against them for his county off the bowling of Spofforth, Palmer and Giffen, and with Mr. Wyatt, who scored 112, put on 182 runs for the eighth wicket.
Richard Pilling was born at Bedford, on July 5th, 1855, and made his first appearance for Lancashire in 1877. He very quickly showed that he had no superior as a wicket-keeper in England, and gained hosts of admirers for his quick, neat, and quiet style. Very few stand so close to the wicket as he does, and he is equally effective on both sides. For his county, the Players v. Gentlemen, and English teams in Australia, he has done excellent work; but after 1883 ill-health prevented him from appearing so often as the cricketing public desired, and of late years he has played very little at all. He will ​take rank with our great wicket-keepers as being equally good against all kinds of bowling. He bats in very good style, and once or twice has made runs for his county when they were badly wanted.
George Pinder was born at Ecclesfield, near Sheffield, 15th July, 1841. His height was 5 ft. 111/2 ins.; weight, 121/2 st. He was one of the best of our professional wicket-keepers, with a quiet, neat style; and on the leg side against fast bowling exceptionally good. Freeman and Emmett were at their best when he kept wicket for Yorkshire, and the work he did was quite enough to have ruined most hands; but he never flinched: and I question if any one can show a finer record to the bowling of these two bowlers. It should be remembered that Yorkshire has never been without good fast bowlers, and I am at a loss to understand how his hands served him so long and well. In the year 1866, for the All- England Eleven v. Eighteen of Birkenhead, he stumped one and caught eight off the bowling of J. C. Shaw and Luke Greenwood: and he was just as good against slow bowling; for the year after, for the same Eleven v. Twenty-two of Arnold, he caught one and stumped ten, nine of them off Tinley's lobs. He was a fair bat, with good hitting powers, but weak defence; and he could bowl lobs at a pinch, and used to do it with the pads on. I suppose he had got so used to the pads, that wearing them had become second nature to him! He appeared for the Players once or twice, but did the best of his cricket for his county and the All-England Eleven.
Thomas Plumb was born at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, 26th July, 1833. His height was 5 ft. 10 in.; weight, 12 st. As a wicket-keeper he was not considered quite up to Lockyer or Pooley's form, although I cannot account for it; possibly it was owing to his connection with Buckinghamshire, whose position as a ​county was not first-class. I am inclined to believe if he had had greater opportunities for displaying his powers, or if he had been connected with a crack county, he would have taken quite as high a position as either of the famous pair I have just mentioned. Anyhow, I am convinced that he was a great deal better than he was thought, and about the best wicket-keeper of his time against fast bowling. His style was quick and neat, without the slightest show; and while as keen as anyone, he never kept knocking off the bails uselessly as I have seen others do. He stood up to Freeman and Howitt without flinching, and his certainty in taking their bowling, especially on the leg side, was a treat of its kind. And if evidence were wanting of his proficiency against slow bowling, it can be found in the United All-England Eleven matches v. Twenty-two of St. Helen's and Twenty-two of Yeadon, in August, 1867. In the former he stumped seven and caught four; in the latter he stumped seven and caught one, principally off Iddison's underhand slows; and I remember what an excellent catch he made off Silcock's bowling, when he got me out in the second innings of the Gentlemen v. Players' match at Lord's in 1869. He was a very fair batsman as well, and made many a good score for the United Eleven, and in other matches.
Edward Pooley was born at Richmond, Surrey, 13th February, 1843. His height was 5 ft. 6 in.; weight, about 10½ st. He was a brilliant wicket-keeper, and did splendid work for Surrey. He was worth his position in the eleven for his batting and fielding, but after Lockyer retired he became indispensable to them for his wicket-keeping alone. As a batsman he was a fine free hitter, and many a time made a good score when it was badly wanted. He could bowl lobs at a pinch, but they could not be ​considered first-rate, and I know on several occasions they were very severely handled. When Southerton was bowling and he wicket-keeping they were an effective combination, and he brought off some remarkable catches.
His best stumping records were also made with that bowler, although, rather strangely, one of the, if not the finest, was when they were opposed to each other in 1868 he playing for Surrey, Southerton for Sussex. In that match he stumped four and caught eight! For the United South Eleven he was just as successful, keeping up his wonderful form until his hands gave way. Afterwards he rather shied at fast bowling, although, when compelled to, he would face it as pluckily as any man living.
It was intensely amusing to watch him go out to inspect the wicket in later days, and then return and say: "First-rate wicket, sir; slow bowling is sure to come off to-day." After he had done it two or three times it became rather a standing joke in the eleven, and no matter how slight the inspection of the wicket before a match, someone was sure to remark: "A slowbowler's wicket to-day, Pooley."
Once or twice he was thought to have been too eager in appealing to the umpire for a decision, and was accused of trying to entrap the batsman. My experience of him never showed that; and if he had exceeded the laws I should have certainly put it down more to keenness to win than a desire to overreach. He was always on the alert to stump or run out a batsman if he moved his foot before the ball was dead, but the batsman had only himself to blame if it came off; and if a mistake had been made, the umpire was more to blame than Pooley.
Mr. Octavius Goldney Radcliffe was born at North Newhton Rectory, Wiltshire, on the 20th of ​October, 1860. His height is 5 ft. 8½ ins.; weight, 11 st. 7 lbs. He has the entire credit of having taught himself, and in the full sense of the word may be called a self-made player. Until he was 17 years of age he played little or no cricket, but after that he cultivated the game with great perseverance, and he is now one of the most punishing and dangerous bats in England. His defence is excellent, and he can play all the correct strokes characteristic of a good batsman; but he has two strokes of his own which have puzzled many a bowler. A ball well up on the off-side and breaking away from him, he drives over cover-point's head; if it is breaking into him, he pulls it perfectly square to leg. How on earth he makes the latter I know not. He scores very rapidly, and made sad havoc of my brother E.M.'s lobs on one occasion at Thornbury, actually scoring 53 in three overs—four balls to the over.
He is a good change bowler, with a big break from the off, and only wants practice to become first-class; and he is a very good field and safe catch. So far his fine performances have been made for Gloucestershire, which he has represented since 1886; but he has represented the Gentlemen against the Players, and performed brilliantly once or twice against the Australians. He played for Somersetshire in 1885.
For Gloucestershire his best years have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1886 | 22 | 590 | 104* | 26.18 |
| 1889 | 24 | 568 | 101* | 23.16 |
Mr. Walter William Read was born at Reigate, Surrey, on the 23rd November, 1855. His height is 5 ft. 11½in.; weight, 14st. 5 lbs. He will stand out as one of the great batsmen of the age. For excellent defence and vigorous hitting he has had few equals; and to-day, though in his 36th year, his form is almost up to his best ​years. As far as I can learn, he had no special training, but his innate love for the game and unwearied perseverance brought him rapidly to the front. He was tried by the Surrey Committee at the early age of 17. His defence was excellent then; and great things were predicted of him when he reached the years of manhood. He always played with a straight bat, and, as the years went on and strength came, his hitting powers improved rapidly. For quick scoring he has few equals, and there is no one the cricket-loving public watches with greater delight.
The very first over he is on the alert for a loose ball, and I do not envy the bowler when he has got well set. Like most of our great batsmen, he has his pet hits. A long hop on the off-side is his especial delight. He makes no attempt to pull it to the on, as one or two powerful hitters do, but steps back with his right foot, and smites terrifically hard between point and mid-off. He plays every ball clean and hard, however good the length of it, and on the leg-side he is exceptionally strong in placing. Of late years he has fielded close in, but he is also good in the long-field; and it is an open secret that he can keep wicket fairly well, and bowl lobs at a pinch. In 1881, for Surrey v. Yorkshire, at Huddersfield, he kept wicket while Yorkshire scored 388 and did not give a single extra.
He first represented his county in 1873, an d was at the head of the averages in 1875. The year 1877 saw him representing the Gentlemen against the Players, and, with the exception of 1878 and 1879, not a year has passed in which he has not played a great part in all matches of importance.
To give every three-figure innings he has made would take too much space, so I confine myself to those scored from 1884 to 1890, when he was undoubtedly seen at his best:— ​
| May 26, | 1884. | For Surrey v. Leicester | 162 |
| Aug. 11, | " | For England v. Australia | 117 |
| Aug. 25, | " | For Surrey v. Gloucestershire | 135 |
| May 11, | 1885. | For Surrey v. Essex | 143 |
| May 28, | " | For Surrey v. Derbyshire | 123 |
| June 15, | " | For Surrey v. Essex | 214 |
| June 29, | " | For Surrey v. Sussex | 163 |
| July 2, | " | For Gentlemen v. Players | 159 |
| July 13, | " | For Surrey v. Sussex | 101 |
| Aug. 3, | " | For Surrey v. Nottinghamshire | 135 |
| Aug. 6, | " | For Surrey v. Derbyshire | 109 |
| June 24, | 1886. | For Surrey v. Cambridge University | 114 |
| Aug. 5, | " | For Surrey v. Derbyshire | 115 |
| Aug. 23, | " | For Surrey v. Gloucestershire | 120 |
| Aug. 26, | " | For Surrey v. Leicestershire | 157* |
| Sept. | " | For South of England v. Australians | 102* |
| June 9, | 1887. | For Surrey v. Oxford University | 118 |
| June 16, | " | For Surrey v. Lancashire | 247 |
| June 20, | " | For Surrey v. Cambridge University | 244* |
| July 28, | " | For Surrey v. Derbyshire | 145 |
| Aug. 22, | " | For Surrey v. Kent | 100 |
| May 28, | 1888. | For Gentlemen of England v. Australians | 109 |
| June 4, | " | For Surrey v. Essex | 129 |
| June 7, | " | For Surrey v. Yorkshire | 103 |
| June 22, | " | For Gentlemen of Surrey v. Parsees | 132 |
| June 25, | " | For Surrey v. Oxford University | 338 |
| Aug. 9, | " | For Surrey v. Sussex | 171 |
| July 18,&c., | 1889. | For Gentlemen of Surrey v. Gentlemen of Philadelphia | 105, 130 |
| Aug. 8, | " | For Surrey v. Middlesex | 115 |
Batting Averages, from 1875 to 1890.
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1875 | 8 | 247 | 98 | 30.27 |
| 1876 | 14 | 588 | 106 | 42 |
| 1877 | 11 | 399 | 140 | 36.3 |
| 1878 | 12 | 278 | 80 | 23.2 |
| 1879 | 6 | 123 | 53 | 20.3 |
| 1880 | 12 | 306 | 93 | 25.6 |
| 1881 | 29 | 931 | 160 | 32.3 |
| 1882 | 34 | 884 | 117 | 26 |
| 1883 | 33 | 1573 | 168 | 47.22 |
| 1884 | 43 | 1256 | 135 | 29.9 |
| 1885 | 42 | 1880 | 163 | 44.32 |
| 1886 | 43 | 1825 | 120 | 42.19 |
| 1887 | 34 | 1615 | 247 | 47.17 |
| 1888 | 39 | 1414 | 338 | 36.10 |
| 1889 | 32 | 805 | 115 | 25.5 |
| 1890 | 46 | 1169 | 94 | 25.19 |
In 1883, 1886, and 1888, Mr. Read was at the top of the first-class averages.
​John Maurice Read was born at Thames Ditton, February 9th, 1859. His height is 5 ft. 11 in.; weight, 11 st. 8 lbs. He first played for Surrey in 1880, when he was twenty-one years of age, and it is safe to say that no member of that famous eleven has done better service for his county in the last ten years. In county matches, for The Players v. The Gentlemen, for England v. Australia, and for English Elevens in Australia, he has done grand work with the bat and as a fieldsman; and he is as good to-day as he ever was. Nor is he to be despised as a change-bowler.
His batting is free and vigorous, and once he gets set he is a most difficult man to get out. His style is slightly marred by a tendency to pull occasional balls; but his pluck is equal to any emergency, and in more than one representative match, for England v. Australia in particular, he has stopped what looked like disaster. I cannot praise his fielding too highly. He has no superior and few equals in the long-field to-day, and he will stand comparison with most of the giants of the past; in fact, he is fit to go anywhere and in any company, and has about the safest pair of hands in England. His best batting years have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1885 | 33 | 37 | 186* | 34.15 |
| 1886 | 39 | 1364 | 186 | 34.38 |
| 1887 | 38 | 908 | 71 | 23.24 |
| 1888 | 31 | 786 | 109 | 25.11 |
| 1889 | 25 | 847 | 136 | 33.22 |
| 1890 | 40 | 829 | 135 | 20.29 |
Mr. Henry Waugh Renny-Tailyour was born at Missouri, in India, gth October, 1849. His height was 5 ft. 10 in.; weight, 12½ st. For years he was one of the finest batsmen in England against second-class bowling, and he still retains much of his old skill. His hitting was magnificent, and he scored very rapidly. ​He was tried several times in first-class matches, but rarely came off. Why he should have failed there, is a mystery to me; for he must have had occasional good balls to play in his long scores against second-class bowling; and it has always been a theory of mine that a player who can score over 100 runs in an innings as often as he has done, whatever the quality of the bowling, is good enough to play in any eleven. I should have liked to have seen him play oftener in first-class matches than he did. He played a good innings once or twice for Kent; but his finest performances were for the Royal Engineers. A score of 100 was not unusual with him; and in one match in 1875 he scored 285 not out. His average for his regiment in 1875 was a very fine one indeed: 21 innings played, average 50.
He was a fine field either at long-leg or coverpoint, covering a great amount of ground, and picking up and returning the ball very quickly and accurately. He played for the Gentlemen in 1873 and for a year or two afterwards.
Mr. Arthur William Ridley was born at Hollington, Newbury, in Berkshire, 11th September, 1852. His height was 6 ft. 4 in.; weight, 13 st. He was a good all-round man, and worth his place in any eleven, either for batting, slow underhand bowling, or fielding. For Eton v. Harrow he scored 117 runs in a single innings; and he was very successful at Oxford also, representing that University against Cambridge in 1872, 1873, and 1874, and bowling on each occasion with great success. He also played for Hampshire, Middlesex, and in the Gentlemen v. Players' matches. For the Gentlemen he scored consistently well, especially in 1876 at Lord's, when he made 103, against A. Shaw, Morley, and Emmett, in a free, sound style. His driving was particularly good; and he played forward with great ​freedom, his height and reach enabling him to get well over the ball. His slow lobs were about the finest of their kind; and as he was exceptionally smart in the field, he brought off now and then a very smart catch when he was bowling. He threw his heart into every department of the game, and his play all round was characterised by dash and brilliancy.
Mr. Alexander Butler Rowley was born at Manchester, 3rd October, 1837. His height was 5 ft. 11 ins; weight, 11½ st. He was a very fine batsman, with a free style, hitting severely to all parts of the ground; and some of his scores were made very rapidly and against the best professional bowlers of the day. Business engagements, unfortunately, interfered with his cricket; and although he appeared for the North v. South, his county, and other important matches, he was seen very little in the south after 1861. He bowled left-hand, slow round-arm, with a good break, and now and then met with great success. I have met him a great deal at Old Trafford and at the Oval, and occasionally at Hastings, but more as a personal friend than a cricketer; and his geniality and hospitality have always been worthy of the reputation which Lancashire county gentlemen have so well and deservedly earned.
He is the third member of a family of seven brothers who created a position in the cricket world very little short of the Walkers and Lyttletons. As joint Hon. Secretary of the Lancashire County Club with Mr. Swire, the year of its formation, he did excellent work, and he was elected President some years later.
Mr. Edmund Butler Rowley, the fourth brother, was almost as good, and represented Lancashire for many years. He was a fine batsman and a good field. His batting was characterised by vigorous hitting, and against second-class bowling he scored very rapidly. He played for the Gentlemen v. Players in 1862: and ​for the Gentlemen of Lancashire v. Gentlemen of Yorkshire in 1867 he ran up a fine score of 219.
H.H. Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein was born at Windsor Castle, April 14th, 1867. He is the only member of the Royal Family who has yet shown anything approaching first-class cricket form, although H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and other members have always taken great interest in our national game.
Prince Christian Victor was in the Wellington College Eleven in 1883, '84 and '85, and was captain the last year. He repeatedly made large scores there, and on one occasion got 230 not out in a school match. He went to Magdalen College, Oxford, in January, 1886, and was the reserve man on the list to represent his University against Cambridge. He was at Sandhurst in September, 1887; and entered the King's Royal Rifles in 1888. After he left school and college, he played a great deal and scored the century several times; but last year his form for the Royal Rifles was superior to anything he has yet shown. He is a good wicket-keeper, and shows great pluck in that position.
William H Scotton was born at Nottingham, 15th January, 1856. He first represented his county in 1874 5 but it was not until 1879 that he began to play regularly in the eleven. At that time he had the reputation of being a good left-hand batsman, with strong defence and fair hitting powers. To-day he would be described as a good batsman, with strong defence and no hitting powers. Many a batsman has longed to make 100 runs in an innings, and one or two can boast of having done it within the hour. Scotton has a record of a different kind; he can boast of having made 123 runs in eight hours and a quarter, and of having batted for an hour, on more than one occasion, without scoring at all.
​He has been a very useful man with the bat for his county, and has broken the heart of many a bowler. I must confess to siding with a freer style; but once or twice, when a rot had set in, and runs were wanted badly, I wished from the bottom of my heart that Scotton, or a batsman of his type, had been opposite me. When England played Australia at the Oval in 1886, he and I batted first, and put on 170 runs before we were parted. We had been batting three hours and three-quarters, and Scotton's share was 34. At one stage of the innings he was in an hour and seven minutes without scoring. One cannot imagine what the crowd would have done if two Scottons had been batting at the same time.
Whatever may be said about Scotton's style of batting, there cannot be two opinions about his being worth a place in the Nottinghamshire or any eleven. The fact of his having been chosen to represent England proves it. Besides, he has scored 100 in an innings oftener than most players imagine, and on two occasions has exceeded 200 runs for the M.C.C.; and he has also shown well up in the first-class averages for years. He has been to Australia on three occasions; and represented the Players against the Gentlemen as long ago as 1880. For a left-hand batsman, he plays very straight; but he has no particular hit. He is an excellent field and safe catch anywhere; and a fair left-hand, roundarm, medium pace practice bowler.
ALFRED SHAW.
On a good wicket, when batting against him, I did not find it difficult to play the ball; but I had to watch him carefully, and wait patiently before I could score. Some days he was irresistible; and there can be little doubt that for the M.C.C. and his county few bowlers have done such good service. He had wonderful stamina, in some seasons bowling as many as 8,000 to 10,000 balls; and he was a very fine fieldsman as well. He was on the bowling staff of the M.C.C. in 1865, '66, and in '67, and again from 1870 until he gave up first-class play; and he captured 10 wickets in an innings for that club against the North in 1874.
His best bowling years were:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1867 | 885 | 435 | 957 | 96 | 9.93 |
| 1870 | 1171 | 645 | 1289 | 103 | 12.53 |
| 1871 | 1404 | 755 | 1467 | 98 | 14.95 |
| 1872 | 1006 | 498 | 1109 | 92 | 12.5 |
| 1873 | 1317 | 630 | 1638 | 128 | 12.102 |
| 1874 | 1461 | 722 | 1729 | 131 | 13.26 |
| 1875 | 1741 | 1022 | 1499 | 161 | 9.50 |
| 1876 | 2546 | 1470 | 2515 | 178 | 14.23 |
| 1878 | 2522 | 1512 | 2084 | 196 | 10.124 |
| 1879 | 1575 | 924 | 1259 | 134 | 9.53 |
| 1880 | 1994 | 1231 | 1525 | 177 | 8.109 |
James Coupe Shaw was born at Sutton-in-Ashfit Nottinghamshire, 11th April, 1837. His height was 5 ft. 9 in.; weight, 12 st. Very few bowlers have a ​better record. In first-class matches, he was most successful, doing good work between 1865 and 1875. The year 1867 was one of his best, when he took 450 wickets in all matches, and delivered very little short of 10,000 balls. He bowled fast left-hand, with a high delivery, and at times was very difficult to play. There was not the spin in his bowling that made Freeman's so difficult, but he brought his arm from behind with a very quick action, making it difficult to see; and if you were at all careless, the ball was on you before you expected it. More than once he beat me in that way; and one year in particular, 1871, he got me out first ball or first over in the first innings of two important matches. He used to tell of them with glee in after years, although he was compelled to put in 41 But I had it hot the second." The first time was at the Oval, July 31st and August 1st and 2nd, 1871. I was out l.b.w. to him first ball in the first innings; in the second I scored 268. The second time was at Brighton, 14th, 15th, and 16th August, in the Gentlemen v. Players' match, for John Lillywhite's benefit, the same year. He bowled me third ball in the first innings with a lovely break from the off; in the second I scored 217. My experience of him was that at first he tried all he knew to get me out, but that after I got set he repeatedly gave me a ball to hit, for no other purpose than to get me to the other end "so that he might have a try at somebody else." And over after over he bowled a ball rather wide on the off-side, in the hope of getting me caught; giving as his reason for doing it, "It ain't a bit of use my bowling good 'uns to him now; it is a case of I puts the ball where I please, and he puts it where he pleases."
He was a very poor bat, although more than once he kept up his wicket when runs were badly wanted and allowed others to score. An instance of it occurred in the ​year 1872, for Nottinghamshire v. Gloucestershire, when I was in Canada with Mr. Fitzgerald's team. Gloucestershire scored 317 first innings, my brother Fred making 115 not out and E. M. 108. There were nine of the Notts men out for a little over 200 runs, and Daft was playing an uphill game to save the "follow" as steadily and pluckily as he ever played in his life. Very little faith was put in Shaw's batting powers; but for once he rose to the occasion—although it was well known he had not gone to bed at orthodox hours the night before and kept his bat in front of everything until Daft made the requisite number. I should say J. C. Shaw holds the record in England for going in last man. He was in the Players' Eleven v. Gentlemen in 1871 and a year or two afterwards, and bowled with effect every time he played for them. He has also taken all ten wickets in an innings.
Mordecai Sherwin was born at Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, 26th February, 1851. His height is 5 ft. 9½ in.; weight 17 st. 4 lbs. He is one of the best wicket-keepers in England at the present time. His pluck has been tried against all kinds of bowling, and it has never failed him. Hard work he likes, and hard work seems to like him; for his big, burly figure has been seen behind the stumps in first-class cricket for fifteen years, and his powers to-day show no abatement. For so heavy a man he is surprisingly active, and the player who thinks he can steal a short run on account of it is hugely mistaken. He can sprint from the wicket as quickly as a more slenderly-built man, and he is always on the alert for any attempt of the kind. He takes the ball as well on the leg-side as on the off; and he has a wonderfully safe pair of hands for a catch.
From 1876 to the end of 1889 he has a very fine record for his county, having caught 254 and stumped ​93; his most successful year being 1887, when he caught 39 and stumped 11. When it is remembered that he captained his county that season, the record becomes all the more remarkable, for few players can take that responsibility on their shoulders and play up to their best form. I need hardly say that he has represented the Players v. Gentlemen and England v. Australia, and that in these matches he has been very successful.
He is not a good bat, but when runs are wanted at a pinch, he sometimes makes them. He was one of the English team that visited Australia in 1886-7.
Arthur Shrewsbury was born on the 11th April, 1856, at New Lenton, near Nottingham. His height is 5 ft. 8 in.; weight, 12 st. 2 lbs. It used to be said of Shrewsbury that he was a worthy successor of R. Daft, who helped materially with the bat to gain Nottinghamshire its very high position amongst the counties between 1860 and 1879. By his doings in later years, Shrewsbury has more than confirmed it. Daft's fine performances have been equalled, and it may be safely said of Shrewsbury that no professional has ever wielded a bat with such excellent results.
It is a great many years since he first appeared for his county. As far back as 1875 he represented it, and captivated the critics by his admirable style of play and great coolness. Greater things were expected of him yearly, but somehow they did not come. Bit by bit he built up his great reputation; but it was not until 1885, when he was in his thirtieth year, that he was seen at his best. Two or three years previously he scored over 200 runs in an innings (twice for his county), batting in a way that was worthy of the highest praise; but in 1885, from the beginning to the end of the season, his form was consistently good, and he could show the fine average of 54.7 for fifteen completed innings. He ​tinued his successful career in 1886; and in 1887 his results with the bat far outshone every professional display since the game began.
The year 1888 was a blank one for him in English cricket, owing to his absence in Australia; but 1889 saw him well to the front again. To-day he has lost none of his skill.
He has represented the Players against the Gentlemen since 1876, and his batting has been a tower of strength for them. In conjunction with Alfred Shaw and Jas. Lillywhite, he has taken a team to Australia four times, and on every occasion batted splendidly. On his return from Australia, in December, 1888, a very handsome testimonial was presented to him by the noblemen, gentlemen, and residents of the town and county of Nottingham, in acknowledgment of his great ability as a cricketer, and manly, straightforward bearing in private life.
His style is too well known to demand a lengthy description. Great patience and coolness are his chief characteristics. You can never tell by his manner or play whether he has just scored his first run or his hundredth. Good balls are carefully watched by him to the end of his innings, however long it may be; and loose ones are freely punished. His defence is admirable, and his fine wrist-play enables him to play the ball firmly away from his wicket, and he rarely allows a ball to pass. His hitting is as safe and scientific as his defence. He times the ball most accurately, gets well over it, and risks nothing in the way of lofty hitting. On good or bad wickets he is equally at home, and more than once he has shone conspicuously when the rest of the team had collapsed. Of late years he has fielded chiefly at point; but it is not so very long ago since he could have been placed anywhere. His best years with the bat have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1876 | 25 | 593 | 118 | 23.18 |
| 1882 | 20 | 533 | 107 | 26.13 |
| 1883 | 38 | 1117 | 98 | 29.15 |
| 1884 | 32 | 908 | 209 | 28.12 |
| 1885 | 20 | 1130 | 224* | 56.10 |
| 1886 | 33 | 1404 | 227* | 42.18 |
| 1887 | 21 | 2653 | 267 | 78.15 |
| 1889 | 14 | 522 | 104 | 37.4 |
| 1890 | 38 | 1568 | 567 | 41.10 |
His Three-figure Innings in First-class Matches.
| June, | 1876. | For Notts v. Yorkshire, at Trent Bridge | 118 |
| May, | 1877. | For Players of the North v. Gentlemen of the South, at Oval | 119 |
| August, | 1882 | For Notts v. Surrey, at Oval | 207 |
| June, | 1884. | For Notts v. Sussex, at Brighton | 209 |
| August | " | For Notts v. Surrey, at Oval | 127 |
| March, | 1885. | For England v. Australia, at Melbourne | 105* |
| July, | " | For Notts v. Middlesex, at Lord's | 224* |
| July, | " | For Notts v. Gloucestershire, at Trent Bridge | 137 |
| July, | " | For North v. South, at Manchester | 101 |
| August, | " | For Notts v. Derbyshire, at Derby | 118 |
| June, | 1886. | For Notts v. Gloucestershire, at Moreton-in-Marsh | 227* |
| July, | " | For England v. Australia, at Lord's | 164 |
| July, | " | For Players v. Gentlemen, at Oval | 127 |
| October, | " | For England v. Fifteen of South Australia, at Adelaide | 100 |
| March, | 1887. | For England v. Victoria, at Melbourne | 144 |
| March, | " | For Non-Smokers v. Smokers, at Melbourne | 236 |
| June, | " | For Notts v. Middlesex, at Lord's | 119 |
| June, | " | For England v. M.C.C. and Ground, at Lord's | 152 |
| June, | " | For Notts v. Lancashire, at Trent Bridge | 130 |
| July, | " | For Players v. Gentlemen, at Lord's | 111 |
| July, | " | For Notts v. Sussex, at Brighton | 101 |
| August, | " | For Notts v. Gloucestershire, at Clifton | 119* |
| August, | " | For Notts v. Middlesex, at Trent Bridge | 267 |
| August, | " | For Notts v. Sussex, at Trent Bridge | 135 |
| Dec. | " | For England v. Victoria, at Melbourne | 232 |
| March, | 1888. | For England v. Sixth Australian Team | 206 |
| May, | 1889. | For Notts v. Sussex, at Trent Bridge | 104 |
| May, | 1890. | For Notts v. Sussex, at Trent Bridge | 267 |
| June, | 1890. | For Notts v. Lancashire, at Trent Bridge | 117 |
​Mr. John Shuter was born at Thornton Heath, Surrey, on the 9th.February, 1855. His height is 5 ft. 6 in.; weight, 11 st. As a public school boy he acquired a great reputation, and before he had completed his twentieth year he had played for Kent by right of residence. But it was in 1877 that he identified himself with the county of his birth. Surrey has had no warmer supporter, and few more brilliant batsmen and fieldsmen. He is a safe field anywhere; and can get runs in any company, and makes them in a way that delights the spectators. His hitting is brilliant all round, and in forcing the game he has few equals. His defence is good and sound, but it is his dashing, rapid scoring that charms every one; and he is a rare good man at a pinch. Every one who has had to do with the captaining of a team knows how difficult it is to get some players to hit out and risk their wickets in the hope of achieving a win. I have never had to ask Mr. Shuter twice to make a bid for victory. He can grasp the situation as quickly as any one, and is invariably equal to it.
Surrey has done wonders under his leadership. Matters were not too rosy when he undertook the captaincy, but it did not take long to prove to the Surrey Committee that they had got the right man in the right place. He has the eleven well under his command, and he has the gratification of knowing that Surrey has to thank him to a great extent for its high position to-day. He played for the South v. North in 1878, for the Gentlemen v. Players in 1879, and most years since. His best years with the bat have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1882 | 32 | 832 | 93 | 26 |
| 1883 | 32 | 805 | 108* | 25.5 |
| 1884 | 36 | 968 | 125 | 26.32 |
| 1885 | 34 | 841 | 135 | 24.25 |
| 1887 | 27 | 871 | 111 | 32.7 |
| 1888 | 33 | 834 | 95 | 25.9 |
MR. J. SHUTER.
His batting was characterised more by hard hitting than sound defence, and occasionally he shut his eyes when he hit. He strenuously denied it; but we caught him napping beautifully in one match—M.C.C. v. Surrey. I was fielding at point when he hit a ball very hard that struck the ground a yard or two in front of me, ​which I caught on the bound. I tossed it up, and said, "That 's a hot 'un, Jim!" then chucked it to the bowler. To my surprise, Southerton walked away, and was indignant when long-slip said, "You're not out, Jim!" Pooley whistled to him to return. "Keep quiet, Pooley," I said, "and we'll have the laugh at him." The match was a foregone conclusion, or we should not have carried the joke out; but to his dying day Southerton would not admit that it was other than a genuine catch.
His umpiring powers were rather hazy also. He was umpiring in the Castlemaine match of our Australian tour, when I hit a ball which the fieldsman caught, but fell over the ropes with it. It was four under and five over. "How's that, umpire?" "Not out," said he: "it was out of bounds when he caught it." "Then I must have five runs for it," I said; but he would not allow more than the single we had run, and for the life of him he could not see it must either be out or five runs. I did not say much at the time; for I should not have been surprised if he had changed his mind and given me out. All the same, there were not many better-hearted players than Jimmy Southerton. His best bowling years in first-class cricket were:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1867 | 996 | 361 | 1522 | 112 | 13.66 |
| 1868 | 1039 | 328 | 1976 | 151 | 13.13 |
| 1869 | 1371 | 505 | 2081 | 133 | 15.86 |
| 1870 | 1863 | 696 | 3069 | 210 | 14.129 |
| 1871 | 1612 | 636 | 2358 | 151 | 15.93 |
| 1872 | 1458 | 487 | 2019 | 167 | 12.15 |
| 1873 | 1386 | 671 | 1833 | 132 | 13.117 |
| 1874 | 1200 | 583 | 1523 | 127 | 11.126 |
| 1875 | 1522 | 737 | 1810 | 137 | 13.29 |
Mr. Frederick Robert Spofforth was born at Balmain, near Sydney, on the 9th September, 1855. His height is 6 ft. 3 ins.; weight, 12 st. 2 lbs. First-class bowlers have come and gone with the Australian Elevens, but to my mind not one of them has come up ​to the standard of Spofforth, who visited England with the first team in 1878. I first met him when I took a team out to Australia in 1874, but I little thought then that he was to stir the whole cricket world some four years later. We can all remember the impression he made in the memorable match against the M.C.C. and Ground the first year he came to us, and how before the season was over he challenged the best of our English players for first place. Right well he proved his title to the name of "demon" bowler which had been given him on the other side. He came with every team down to 1886, and maintained his great reputation in all of them.
His style has been described many times: right-hand, round-arm, a high delivery and fairly fast, with a break from both sides, but chiefly from the off. He was most successful with his medium-pace balls, which, when he was in form, he could pitch where he liked. Whether he broke six inches or two feet, so wonderful was his command of the ball that if it beat the batsman it invariably hit the wicket. His very fast ones were generally yorkers, which were delivered without any apparent alteration of pace. Length and accuracy were his great characteristics, and it used to be said of him that, if he were allowed to pour water on a space six inches square on a dry and hard wicket, he would bowl out the best eleven in England for a very small score. Though he has not played much of late years, I believe with practice he would prove as effective as ever. His performances must speak for themselves. The following are confined to eleven-a-side matches played in England for the Australian Elevens:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1878 | 717 | 264 | 1198 | 108 | 11.10 |
| 1880 | 240 | 82 | 396 | 46 | 8.28 |
| 1882 | 1592 | 700 | 2282 | 188 | 12.26 |
| 1884 | 1544 | 649 | 2642 | 216 | 12.50 |
| 1886 | 925 | 372 | 1528 | 89 | 17.15 |
​Mr. Allan Gibson Steel was born at Liverpool on the 24th September, 1858. His height is 5 ft. 8 in.; weight, about 11 st. 7 lbs. It is very difficult to arrive at a proper estimate of his abilities as a cricketer. Before he had completed his sixteenth year he had played well enough to warrant the prediction that he would do as well as any one since the game began. Unfortunately, professional and other duties have interfered very much with his cricketing career; for while he has performed most brilliantly with bat and ball, he has not been able to develop his powers to the extent everyone sincerely wished he would. For weeks and months he would be unable to play in first-class cricket; and then suddenly he would appear in some great match, and astonish everyone by his brilliant form.
From the time he first represented Cambridge University in 1878, his form was indeed remarkable. He was in residence there until 1881, and it maybe safely said of him that no more brilliant player ever represented either eleven in the Inter-University matches since they were first instituted. During the four years he represented Cambridge v. Oxford he played 6 completed innings, scored 182 runs; average, 30.2; and bowled 317 overs for 342 runs, 38 wickets; average, 9.
He played for the Gentlemen v. Players when he was but nineteen years of age, and nearly every time he appeared afterwards he was very successful. Lancashire, too, was strengthened by his fine play; but that eleven has also had to bear with his occasional presence. For England v. Australia he has come off on more than one occasion. He was eminently successful for the Hon. Ivo Bligh's team which visited Australia in 1882-3. In all matches he played 18 completed innings, scored 551 runs; average, 30.11; and bowled 800 overs, 390 maidens, 999 runs, 152 wickets; average, 6.87.
He bowls slow medium pace, round-arm, breaks both ​ways, and varies his pace and length with excellent judgment. In fact, you rarely get two balls alike from him; and if there is a weak spot in your batting, he seems to find it out before he has finished the first over. He does not in the least mind being hit; but he is a very clever or lucky batsman who can do it more than once in the same over without giving a chance.
His batting is also first-class. He hits very clean everywhere; balls the slightest bit loose being hit to the boundary. I do not believe he has ever been troubled with nervousness at any period of his innings; anyhow, I shall not readily forget the unceremonious way in which he treated the Australian bowling at Lord's for the M.C.C. and Ground in 1884 immediately he took guard. He lost no time in getting well set that innings, and Spofforth, Giffen, Palmer and Cooper had a most unenviable time of it.
His best batting years have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1879 | 20 | 553 | 93 | 27.13 |
| 1880 | 22 | 496 | 118 | 22.12 |
| 1881 | 28 | 834 | 106* | 29.22 |
| 1882 | 26 | 739 | 171 | 28.11 |
| 1883 | 12 | 370 | 68 | 30.10 |
| 1884 | 25 | 967 | 148 | 38.17 |
| 1886 | 10 | 418 | 83 | 41.8 |
His best bowling years have been:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1878 | 1223 | 447 | 1542 | 164 | 9.66 |
| 1879 | 943 | 432 | 1120 | 93 | 12.4 |
| 1880 | 925 | 400 | 1205 | 92 | 13.9 |
| 1881 | 1257 | 537 | 1683 | 125 | 13.58 |
H. H. Stephenson was born at Esher, Surrey, 3rd May, 1833. His height was 6 ft.; weight, 11 st. 12 lbs. He was a first-rate bat, good wicket-keeper, and very successful fast round-arm bowler a combination of qualities rarely met with in the cricket field, and to ​it Stephenson owed a great deal of his success. The power of his bowling lay in making the ball break back from the off. He belonged to the All-England Eleven, and was captain of the first team that went out to Australia in 1862. After he gave up playing he proved to be one of the best coaches of young players, and since he went to Uppingham he has brought out a great many first-class cricketers.
Mr. Andrew Ernest Stoddart was born at South Shields on the 11th of March, 1864. His height is 5ft. 10½ in.; weight, 12 st. 4lbs. He was very little known in the cricket world until 1885, and then only in connection with the Hampstead Club. However, before that season was over he was chosen to represent Middlesex, and his progress since has been phenomenally rapid. He is one of the most brilliant amateurs we have at the present time, his batting, bowling and fielding being first-class. As a rule he scores very rapidly, and already he holds the record for the highest individual score in an innings: 485, for the Hampstead Club v. Stoics, at Hampstead on the 4th August, 1886. It was not a first-class match by any means, but it was a wonderful bit of scoring. His 151 for England v. M.C.C. in the Centenary Match in 1887 was a finer effort, and was made against Barnes and Flowers.
He is a brilliant out-field and a very safe catch. I take credit for having introduced him as a bowler, but I have been rather amused by his remarks when he gets hit: "All right, hit away," said he; "but it 's all your fault, W. G., and I wish I had never bowled a ball in my life!"
So far his batting results in first-class matches show:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1886 | 23 | 640 | I16 | 27.19 |
| 1887 | 28 | 799 | 151 | 28.15 |
| 1889 | 33 | 817 | 78* | 24.25 |
| 1890 | 44 | 845 | 115 | 19.9 |
​Mr. George Strachan was born at Prestbury, near Cheltenham, 21st November, 1850. His height was 6 ft. 1 in.; weight, 13 st. He was a good bowler and batsman: but it was by his brilliant fielding that he made his reputation; and there can be little doubt that at long-leg or cover-point he had few equals in his own time. Good judges have said that no one has excelled him since at those positions, and I am inclined to agree with them. For a man of his height he was about the quickest starter I ever saw, and the way he got over the ground was a lesson to lazy fieldsmen. Many a batsman, having hit a ball in the direction of cover-point, started to run, being ignorant of his wonderful quickness and great reach, and feeling certain he could never get to it; but not only did he get to it, but picking it up with surprising quickness, he had it into the wicket-keeper's or bowler's hands like a flash and seconds before the batsman had reached his crease! At Cheltenham College, where he was educated, they tell of a smart bit of fielding which he did when the M.C.C. played the College Eleven one year. He was bowling to George Hearne, who stepped back and pulled him twice between the wicket and mid-on. The third ball was bowled in the same place, and Hearne pulled it again; but Mr. Strachan moved a yard or two when he saw him make up his mind to hit in the same way, and brought off a remarkable catch yards from the wicket.
As a batsman he had sound defence, and hit freely. He represented Gloucestershire, Middlesex, and Surrey. For the Gentlemen v. Players in 1872 he met with marked success as a bowler, and in the same match at the Oval in 1875 he took five wickets in 21 balls, off which no runs were scored; but he never came off for them in batting, although his fielding was always brilliant.
​Mr. Charles Thomas Studd was the most brilliant member of a well-known cricketing family, and from 1881 to 1884 had few superiors as an all-round player. His batting and bowling were very good, and for Cambridge University, Middlesex, Gentlemen, Players, and England v. Australia he was successful with both. He gave up playing at an early age, and was a great loss to the game; for he was one of the finest of our young players. His style of batting was free and correct, and he scored largely and rapidly against all the best bowlers of his time. He bowled medium-pace, round-arm, with a machine-like delivery, and had a fair break from the off.
His best years were:
BATTING.
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1881 | 25 | 799 | 113 | 31.24 |
| 1882 | 38 | 1249 | 126* | 32.33 |
| 1883 | 29 | 1193 | 175* | 41.4 |
| 1884 | 15 | 398 | 141* | 26.8 |
BOWLING.
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1881 | 957 | 426 | 1284 | 79 | 16.20 |
| 1882 | 1564 | 768 | 2027 | 128 | 15.107 |
| 1883 | 1445 | 651 | 1957 | 112 | 17.53 |
| 1884 | 714 | 297 | 1120 | 54 | 20.40 |
George Tarrant was born at Cambridge, 7th December, 1838. His height was 5 ft. 7 in.; weight, 9 st. 7 lbs. He was not much of a batsman; but he was a very fast round-arm bowler, and, for so little a man, astonishingly strong. There was no measured, stately walk to the crease in his delivery. He was all over the place like a flash of lightning, never sparing himself, and frightening timid batsmen. He was the terror of twenty-twos when he played for the ​All-England Eleven, some of his long-hops bounding over their heads, causing them to change colour and funk at the next straight one. He died at the early age of 31.
Mr. Charles Inglis Thornton was born at Llanwarne, Herefordshire, 20th March, 1850. His height is 6 ft.; weight, 13 st. No more sensational hitter or enthusiastic lover of the game has ever appeared on a cricket-ground. He played for Eton v. Harrow in 1866, 1867, and 1868; scoring 46 not out and 7 first year, 35 and 47 second, 44 and 13 third. In the first innings of the 1868 match he commenced his hitting by sending a ball over the bowler's head and over the old pavilion at Lord's into the garden beyond.
At Cambridge, where he was much esteemed, he did a wonderful bit of hitting for his University in June, 1871, his most successful year for the eleven. Playing against the Gentlemen of England, he scored 74 at a great pace. Mr. D. Buchanan, one of the best amateur bowlers of that time, bowled the first over to him, and a hot one it was. The first ball was hit for 6, the second and third for 4 each, and the fourth for 6. I was playing in that match, and not being the bowler, could afford to laugh heartily.
The same year, at the Oval, playing for the Gentlemen of South v. Players of South, he scored 31 in 16 minutes first innings, and 61 in 47 minutes second. One hit of the 61, off Southerton's bowling, travelled a great distance, right over the old racquet-court, which used to be situated by the present entrance gate, and into the road beyond. An uncommon and amusing incident occurred in the same match. In the first innings of the Players, Thornton was put on to bowl at the beginning of it a compliment, I should think, never paid him before or since. Of course it was underhand grubs he bowled, and he obtained three or four wickets for a very small number of runs. The captain of the Players, ​not to be outdone in originality, put on H. H. Stephenson to bowl grubs when the Gentlemen commenced batting; but the result was sadly different. The same year for Gentlemen v. Players at Brighton, John Lillywhite's benefit, he had only eight balls bowled to him, off which he scored 34—7 fours and 1 six. But his finest performance was at Scarborough, fifteen years later, for Gentlemen of England v. I Zingari, when he scored 107 not out, Mr. A. G. Steel being the bowler most punished. There were 8 sixes, 12 fours, 2 twos, and 7 singles in his score; one of the sixes off Steel went right out of the ground, over the high houses, and into the square beyond. Unfortunately this hit could not be measured; but it was thought by those who witnessed it to be the largest he ever made. There is no waiting to get set in his batting. The first over is invariably as sensational as the last, and right sorry are spectators and players alike when he leaves the wicket.
He was chosen President of Cambridge University Cricket Club in 1872, and was closely identified with the old Orleans Club. Of late years he has taken a very prominent part in arranging matches in connection with the Scarborough Festival, and no one is more heartily welcomed there.
It is difficult to find out the exact distance of his greatest hits, but the following can be relied on: In 1878, in a minor match, in which he scored 188 not out, two of the hits travelled 140 yards before they touched the ground. At Brighton he hit a ball which travelled 168 yards before it pitched, the distance being measured by the Rev. J. Pycroft. At Canterbury, in a North v. South match, he hit one off W. M. Rose 152 yards, which was measured by W. de Chair Baker; and at the Orleans Club, off Boyle, the Australian, he hit one the same distance, which was measured by Rylott and ​Wild. But he must not be judged in the light of a sensational hitter only; for he has scored over 100 runs in an innings repeatedly, some of them against first-class bowling. He is also very good in the outfield, and has thrown a cricket-ball 106 yards.
R. C. Tinley was born at Southwell, Nottinghamshire, 25th October, 1830. His height was 5 ft. 8 ins.; weight, 10 st. He will be best remembered as the successor of Clarke as a slow underhand bowler to the All-England Eleven. He used to bowl fast round with indifferent success, but was more successful with his slows. He was an excellent fieldsman at point; but as a batsman he was given to slogging, and had very little defence.
Mr. Frank Townsend was born at Clifton, Bristol, 17th October, 1847. His height is 6 ft.; weight, 12 st. Very few cricketers have done so well for their county. He represented Gloucestershire the first match it played in 1870, and he has continued to do so for twenty years. From 1870 to 1874 he batted in 25 innings for his county, and averaged 27; in 1876 he played 10 innings, and averaged 30; in 1880 he played 12 innings, and averaged 25; in 1885 he played 18 innings, and averaged 23; and in 1889 he played 21 innings, and averaged 17. Three times he has scored over 100 runs in an innings for his county, and in the twenty years I have mentioned he batted in 236 innings and scored 4,261 runs.
He represented the Gentlemen v. Players in 1874 and 1875; but school duties prevented him from continuing in these matches, and he did not appear in them so often as his undoubted abilities entitled him to. In local matches, for the Clifton Club he has scored over 200 runs in an innings more times than I can remember, and he has always taken great interest in the success of the County Club.
​As a batsman he is a magnificent hitter, especially in driving and leg-hitting, and he always contrives to keep the ball well down. His defence is sound, and he plays the ball with firmness. He has a peculiar habit of flourishing his bat; but he plays very straight, and comes down on shooters with surprising quickness.
He was a good lob-bowler for years, and his right hand has lost little of its cunning to-day. As a rule he bowls slow, with a good curl from leg; but now and then he puts in a fast yorker, which often proves effective. Half his success has been owing to the smart fielding of his own bowling; and now, as years ago, he is a magnificent field and safe catch anywhere. He has a springy, elastic action in the field; and he goes after the ball in leaps and bounds. He was fielding at long-leg when Gloucestershire played Yorkshire, at Sheffield, on a certain occasion. Yorkshire spectators are invariably free and outspoken, and in this match they kept applauding the way he got over the ground and saved the runs. One extraordinary effort, in which he had to run a long distance, and brought off a magnificent, and what seemed an impossible, catch, roused their enthusiasm, and they unanimously dubbed him the "india rubber gentleman!"
No more genial or popular cricketer has ever played; and he has been ever ready to express an opinion on the game, or listen to one. All classes of cricketers have been tempted by his pleasant face to ask questions of him. But he had a curious experience on one occasion, when we played Lancashire. He was standing outside the hotel—in cricket costume, I believe—having a quiet cigar before starting for the ground for the day's play, when he was accosted by a seedy-looking individual.
"Good-morning! governor, be you an Australian?" asked the seedy one.
"Not quite that," replied Mr. Townsend.
​"Well now, be you a Canadian? "
"Try again," said he.
"You ar'n't one of them foreigners they call Aboriginals, be you? "
"Not even that," he replied, laughing.
"Now I knows what you be, governor; you're what I 've been often called—a nondescript! "
Mr. Charles Thomas Biass Turner was born at Bathurst, New South Wales, on November 16th, 1862. He is 5 ft. 9½ ins. in height; weight, 12 st. 3lbs. He takes rank with Spofforth; indeed, very good judges consider that it is a toss-up between them for first place amongst Australian bowlers. Anyhow, he was nicknamed the "terror"; and against certain batsmen he richly deserves it. His pace is above medium, but not very fast; but, with the exception of Freeman, his ball comes quicker oft the pitch than any bowler's I have met. That peculiarity, added to his break from the off, makes him a most dangerous bowler. He alters his pace without showing it, is very fond of a yorker or fast straight one, and on a sticky wicket is unplayable. He is a really good fieldsman, full of pluck, and never seems to tire; and he is fast becoming a dangerous batsman. His doings in 1888 and 1890 were first-class, and it is safe to predict that he has a great future before him.
Bowling performances in eleven-a-side matches in England:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1888 | 2589 | 1222 | 3492 | 314 | 11.38 |
| 1890 | 1651 | 724 | 2725 | 215 | 12.145 |
MR. J. J. FERRIS, MR. C. T. B. TURNER.
But he will be remembered best for his great score of 404 not out, in a School contest at Clifton College in 1868, made in six hours on three successive afternoons. It was the first time 400 runs in an innings had ever been scored by any cricketer, and it was thought wonderful and phenomenal at the time, though against very moderate bowling. He was in great batting form for his college all that year, scoring over 100 runs three times; and at the end of the season showed an average of 70 for nineteen innings. For five seasons he played for his college; but his last, 1868, when he captained them, was his best, and no more popular captain ever led a college eleven to victory.
At Oxford he was successful also, playing for Oxford v. Cambridge in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, and captaining the eleven the last two. He represented the Gentlemen first in 1871, and most years down to 1886. The year 1883 was his best in these matches, when he scored 107 against Peate, Barlow, Barnes, and Ulyett. His batting was characterised by great steadiness and patience; but immediately the bowling got loose, he hit very hard, his driving of an over-pitched ball in particular being a treat to witness. He was one of the Hon. Ivo Bligh's team which visited Australia in 1882-3.
Geore Ulyett was born at Pitsmoor, near Sheffield, 21st October, 1851. His height is 5 ft. 10½ in.; weight, 14 st. With the exception of Emmett, Ulyett has been the most prominent player in the Yorkshire eleven any time during the last fifteen years. He was one of the best all-round professional cricketers in 1875, ​he is one of the best to-day. Whether as a batsman, bowler, or fieldsman, he has been worthy of a place in any eleven, and very few players have so fine a record. He was at the head of the batting averages of his county some years in succession. He was almost as successful with the ball; and he is still a brilliant fieldsman anywhere.
He represented the Players v. Gentlemen in 1876, and he represents them still. Indeed, it would be difficult, even to-day, to choose a representative eleven of any kind without including him. And I should think he has played oftener out of the United Kingdom than any player. He first visited Australia in 1876 with Lillywhite's team; went out again with Lord Harris's eleven in 1878; and was also a member of Shaw's team in 1881-2. On each occasion he was at the head of the batting averages in eleven-a-side matches, and showed the very fine results of: 1876, average 48.6; 1878, average 34; 1881, average 39.2.
He is very popular with all followers of the game; and his clean and vigorous hitting commands the admiration of everyone. He hits well all round, and scores at a great pace, and invariably bats first man; and when he has got well set, the quality of the bowling makes little difference to him. As a bowler he has been very successful at times, and on a kicking wicket almost unplayable. He bowls fast round with a high delivery, and gets a good deal of break from the off. Now and then he makes the ball rise very quickly, and he has to be very carefully watched. His performance with the ball for England v. Australia, in the 2nd innings at Lord's, July 22nd and 23rd, 1884, was a very fine one: 39 overs, 23 maidens, 36 runs, 7 wickets; and the way he caught Bonnor off his own bowling in that innings has never been surpassed. The year 1890 showed that he had lost little ​of his form a very exceptional thing, considering that he is now in his 4oth year. His best years with the bat have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1878 | 46 | 1347 | 109 | 29.13 |
| 1881 | 36 | 1197 | 112 | 33. 9 |
| 1882 | 56 | 1542 | 138 | 27.30 |
| 1883 | 51 | 1572 | 84 | 30.42 |
| 1884 | 45 | 1334 | 146* | 29.29 |
| 1885 | 46 | 1337 | 91 | 29.3 |
| 1887 | 39 | 1487 | 199* | 38.5 |
| 1890 | 53 | 1093 | 107 | 20.33 |
Mr. George Frederick Vernon was born in London, 20th June, 1856. He was educated at Rugby, and was captain of the eleven in 1875. After he left school he became a prominent member of Middlesex and the M.C.C., and continued to do grand work for both with the bat and in the field until last year, when, to the great regret of everyone, he gave up first-class cricket. The 100 he has scored repeatedly for both, and in a dashing way that has often astonished the best bowlers of the present time. He has also done well for the Gentlemen against the Players, and has been chosen in these matches as much for his magnificent fielding as his batting.
He is one of the quick scorers, and for low, clean, hard hitting has few equals: in fact, like McDonnell, the famous Australian, he might win a match by himself at any time, whatever the condition of the ground. Against weak bowling he has made some fine scores, and he holds the record, in conjunction with Mr. A. H. Trevor, for longest partnership 605 made for Orleans Club v. Rickling Green, in 1882. He has no superior in the out-field for quickness and certainty, and he has brought off many a fine catch.
He was a member of the seventh team which visited ​Australia in 1882-83, and took out a team of his own in 1887-88. He also took out a team of amateurs to India in October, 1889.
Mr. Isaac Donnithorne Walker was born at Southgate, 8th January, 1844. His height was 5 ft. 11½ ins.; weight, at his best, about 13 st. He was, without doubt, one of the finest amateur batsmen I ever played with or against, and an earnest and most enthusiastic supporter of the game. It looks rather strange to me to write of him in the past tense, for it seems only the other day that he was playing in first-class cricket with all the dash and brilliancy of his youth, though the years had silvered his head. His batting style was a model of ease and power. He stood very erect, played with a straight bat, and his hitting was clean and vigorous. One hit of his always came off, and puzzled his opponents sadly. A half volley on the off he drove over cover-point's head, and it invariably travelled to the boundary. I can only remember three other players who hit in that peculiar way—Mr. Massie, of Australia; Mr. A. J. Webbe, of Middlesex; and Mr. Radcliffe, of Gloucestershire; but neither does it so successfully as Mr. Walker did. Another peculiarity of his was batting without pads. I know he is about as plucky an athlete as you will find in a day's journey, and I daresay he thinks, with one or two other players I know, that if a player cannot protect his legs with his bat he does not know how to use it; but, all the same, I have seen him put on pads to Freeman's bowling.
It would require more room than I can spare to recount half of his great innings. Repeatedly he has scored over 100 in an innings, and more than once over 1,000 runs during the season in first-class matches. His 165 in the Gentlemen v. Players' match at the Oval in 1868, in his 25th year, will undoubtedly be considered his finest performance; for it was made ​against Willsher, James Lillywhite, jun., and Silcock, and was one of the most brilliant innings he ever played. The quality of his batting will be understood when I say there were 2 sixes, 3 fives, 17 fours, and 10 threes in it. It was a rare display, and he was in consistently good form all that year; for in first-class matches he played 19 innings and had an average of 34.
If evidence were wanting of the power of his play in later years, no better illustration can be had than his fine display for Middlesex v. Gloucestershire in the return match at Clifton, in August, 1883, when he was in his 40th year. The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton and he scored 226 in an hour and three-quarters, and while they were together put on 324 runs; Mr. Walker scoring 145, Mr. Lyttelton, 181. I have rarely witnessed a better exhibition of batting. True, after they had both scored 100, we bowled them balls to hit, and placed the field accordingly; but the remarkable part of the display was, that neither made a mistake until the finish, and their hitting at the end of the innings was as clean and hard as at the beginning—certainly a remarkable show of strength and condition for a veteran.
Mr. Walker was also a very good lob bowler, and as captain of Middlesex was much esteemed by his fellow-members. He is a great supporter of the game, and has always taken special interest in the doings of his old school, Harrow. Indeed, it is no secret that since he gave up first-class cricket, and for some time before, he has been in the habit of going down once or twice a week to coach the Harrow boys. He was also a good racquet player, and champion of his school. I might say a great deal more about this, the youngest, and not the least remarkable member of this famous family; for he has been a power in the cricket world, and no finer or truer cricketer ever breathed.
​His best batting years were:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1868 | 19 | 651 | 165 | 34.5 |
| 1869 | 18 | 540 | 90 | 30 |
| 1870 | 22 | 820 | 179 | 37.6 |
| 1873 | 17 | 586 | 64 | 34.8 |
| 1876 | 28 | 796 | 94 | 28.12 |
| 1877 | 27 | 787 | 95 | 29.4 |
| 1883 | 23 | 750 | 145 | 32.14 |
| 1884 | 24 | 674 | 83 | 28.2 |
Mr. John Walker, the eldest brother of this celebrated cricketing family, was born at Palmer's Green, Middlesex, 15th September, 1826. His height was 6ft. 2 ins.; weight, about 15½ st. The first time I met him was at the Oval in 1864, when he played for the Surrey Club against South Wales Club. I can remember now the impression his tall, strongly-built figure made upon me as I watched him make his 44 by vigorous hitting. He was then in his 38th year. My brothers Henry and E. M. had often talked to me about the family reputation, and I was pleased when he hit our bowling all over the field, as I desired to see him score. He was just as successful with the ball on that occasion, for he took six wickets for 39 runs with his slow bowling in the first innings, and we were defeated by 7 wickets. I was fortunate enough to score 38 in the second innings, and was greatly pleased when he uttered a word or two of praise, although I had to thank him for getting me out in both innings. But, of course, he had made his reputation as a player and generous supporter of the game long before that. His first appearance at Lord's was in June, 1846, for his University. In 1852 he scored 58 in the Gentlemen v. Players' match, the highest score on the Gentlemen's side, and bowled also. In 1861, against the Players he scored 48 and 22, and was again the highest scorer ​for his side; and in 1862, in the same match, he scored 98 and 10, the former score being the highest made on either side. At Southgate, where he lived for many years, he formed the Southgate Club, which became a very strong one, owing to the all-round proficiency of himself and his younger brothers. Mr. Walker has been closely identified with the Marylebone and Surrey Clubs for years.
Mr. Russell Downithorne Walker, another member of the famous family, was born at Southgate, Middlesex, 13th February, 1842. His height was 5 ft. 8½ ins.; weight, 13 st. He possessed the family hitting powers, and could play steadily when wanted. His quickness of eye and wrist-power were remarkable, and one hit was unique and exceptional; indeed, I cannot remember anyone but himself attempting it. If he were bowled a long-hop to leg, and it bounded high, with indescribable quickness he would hit it over his shoulder sufficiently hard to make it go over long-stop's head. I used to think it a fancy stroke, but changed my mind when I saw how repeatedly and effectively he brought it off. Where he got the quickness to do it, I do not know: possibly his racquet training at Oxford may account for it. He was champion at that there in 1861-2-3-4. In later years he showed the same quickness at tennis, and I have watched him with infinite pleasure in the court at Lord's, when he gave some of his fine displays against very much younger players, who fancied they had rather an easy undertaking before them. He had the power of being able to disguise his play, and you might look for a very long time into his eyes before you could find out where he meant to place the ball.
As a batsman, he met with great success in important matches; but his finest effort, to my mind, was his 92 in the second innings of the Gentlemen v. Players at ​the Oval in 1865, when I made my first appearance in the same match. It was a splendidly hit innings, the highest in the match; and as he took four of the Players' wickets for 55 runs in the first innings, two for 47 second, and caught out two others as well, the performance may be considered an exceptionally good one. He was a good slow round-arm bowler, and one of the best changes I ever met, frequently obtaining wickets when others had failed.
Mr. Vyell Edward walker was born at Southgate, Middlesex, 2oth April, 1837. His height was 5 ft. ii in.; weight, 13, st. He represented the Gentlemen v. Players when he was but 19 years of age, and was chosen to represent England when he was 21, and took all ten wickets in the first innings; and scored 20 not out first, and 108 second, for England v. Surrey, when he was 22. In the year 1860 he was paid the compliment of being chosen in the First Eleven of England v. Next Fourteen. He was one of the most brilliant fieldsmen of his day, his fielding at point being very fine. He bowled underhand lobs, not quite so accurately as Clarke; but what he lacked in accuracy, he almost made up by his wonderful fielding. His sprinting powers up the pitch, or to mid -on and mid -off were exceptional, and he seemed to divine where the batsman meant to place the ball. As a batsman he possessed good defence and fine hitting powers, and scored at a great rate.
MR. V. E. WALKER.
Six out of the seven brothers have played for Gentlemen v. Players from 1852 to 1877, the exception being Mr. Alfred Walker, the second brother, who was born in 1827. He was a very fast underhand bowler of the old school, with a good curl from leg, and as good a bowler of that style as has been seen. On the rough wickets, which were very common in those days, he did great execution, and probably one of his performances is unique; for he obtained all the wickets except one in both innings, and he himself threw down that batsman's wicket from his own bowling!
The Southgate Club first played regularly in 1855; down to 1877 it played 192 matches, of which Southgate won 133, lost 27, and 32 were unfinished: one-day matches were decided first innings. All the seven brothers took part in three matches, and would have done in several more had not illness or accident prevented.
Alexander Watson was born at Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, 4th November, 1846. His height is 5ft. 6½ in.; weight, 10 st 10 lbs. Scotland has reason to be proud of him as a cricketer, and it was a fortunate day for Lancashire when he crossed the border to accept an engagement with the Rusholme Club. He learned his cricket as a member of the Drumpellier Club, well known as Colonel Buchanan's team, and was even more successful with the bat than the ball. His first good match was against the All-England Eleven at Glasgow, when he was about 18 years of age. At that time he bowled fast round, with little or no break. Mr. D. Buchanan, who was in the habit of taking an eleven of the Free Foresters to Scotland, was the first to notice his exceptional abilities, and advised him to moderate his pace and cultivate break, which he promptly did. A two years' engagement with the Edinburgh ​Caledonian Club enabled him to develop his bowling powers. Two years later he took up his residence in Manchester, and from 1872 down to the present Lancashire has had no harder worker or more conspicuous bowler.
He has rarely been far from the top of the first-class bowling averages, and the amount of wear and tear he has gone through has been something remarkable. When he bowled first for the county his pace was slower than it is to-day, and very often the batsmen ran out and hit him. He quickly put an end to that by increasing the pace without sacrificing much of his break from the off. He keeps a very good length, and the ball travels very low after it pitches; and he can go on like a machine for hours. Very few bowlers have the knack of delivering shooters so often, and he is very quick in finding out a batsman's weakness. Unfortunately, his reputation has suffered by a slight suspicion in his delivery. He is an excellent field at short-slip, rarely allowing anything to pass that he can touch, and he used to keep wicket in a very efficient way; and he can bat too. His best bowling performances have been, for the North of England v. Australians on May 31st, June 1st, 1886, when he bowled 27 overs, 18 maidens, 12 runs, 6 wickets; and for Lancashire v. Sussex, at Manchester on the 3rd of July, 1890, when he took 5 wickets for 7 runs first innings, and 4 wickets for 6 runs second.
His best bowling years have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1873 | 279 | 92 | 446 | 48 | 9.14 |
| 1876 | 534 | 248 | 650 | 51 | 12.38 |
| 1877 | 1089 | 548 | 1233 | 96 | 12.81 |
| 1878 | 535 | 280 | 586 | 49 | 11.47 |
| 1880 | 881 | 455 | 946 | 84 | 11.22 |
| 1881 | 879 | 512 | 812 | 69 | 11.53 |
| 1882 | 924 | 495 | 953 | 76 | 12.41 |
| 1883 | 940 | 463 | 1135 | 96 | 11.79 |
| 1886 | 1188 | 701 | 1109 | 99 | 11.20 |
| 1887 | 1532 | 937 | 1482 | 100 | 14.82 |
| 1889 | 850 | 438 | 1139 | 90 | 12.59 |
| 1890 | 1041 | 561 | 1331 | 81 | 16.35 |
​Mr. Alexander Josiah Webbe was born in London on the 16th January, 1855. His height is 5ft. 8 in.; weight, about 11½ st. He might almost be called a veteran; for he has been before the public as a first-class player for more than 17 years. He earned a great school reputation at Harrow, strengthened it by his doings at Oxford, and in 1875, when he first represented the Gentlemen, he played most brilliantly. His fine score in the second innings, against the Players, at Lord's that year will not readily be forgotten for the sound defence and great patience he exercised in compiling it. I have had the pleasure of an enjoyable and profitable partnership with him on two or three occasions since; but I do not believe he has ever played more brilliantly than he did then, when he was in his 21st year, and was almost a stranger to first-class professional bowling. Morley, A. Shaw, and Hill were at their best, but we put on 203 runs before we were parted; his 65, as well as I can remember, being faultless.
Very few know how successful he has been with the bat. Year after year he has been well up in the averages, and to-day, though he is in his 37th year, he is as sure and effective as ever. The year 1887 was far and away his finest. On the 5th of August that season he scored 192 not out against Kent, and a week later 243 not out against Yorkshire. In the second match the wicket was very fiery, and Hunter, the wicket-keeper, had to stand back to the fast bowlers. Ball after ball went over Mr. Webbe's head, but his nerve and patience never deserted him.
When Mr. I. D. Walker gave up the captaincy of the Middlesex Eleven, Mr. Webbe took up the responsibility, and ever since he has worked with hands and head to speed its interests. That he has succeeded everyone will admit, just as freely as it will be admitted ​that he is still one of the most dangerous batsmen in England.
His style cannot be called graceful, for his position at the wicket is more crouching than upright, but that does not prevent him playing with a straight bat, or scoring at a great pace. No one watches the ball more carefully, and his quiet way of placing it without any show is a striking contrast to the vigour of his hitting. Rarely does he allow the ball to pass the bat. With a quick turn of the wrist he places it without seeming effort, and as he gets well over it, it travels low and safely. The quality of the wicket makes little difference to him, for he is nearly as safe and effective when it is wet and sticky as when it is dry and fast. He is an excellent field close in, but has done many brilliant things in the long-field also.
His best batting years so far have been:
| | Completed Innings. | Runs. | Most in an Innings. | Average. |
| 1875 | 26 | 696 | 120 | 26.20 |
| 1876 | 23 | 723 | 109 | 31.10 |
| 1877 | 25 | 651 | 100 | 26.1 |
| 1878 | 24 | 588 | 118 | 24.12 |
| 1879 | 23 | 532 | 122 | 23.3 |
| 1880 | 21 | 660 | 132 | 31.9 |
| 1882 | 22 | 660 | 108* | 30 |
| 1885 | 24 | 667 | 82 | 27.19 |
| 1887 | 26 | 1244 | 243 | 47.22 |
| 1890 | 35 | 995 | 134 | 28.15 |
Frederic Wild was born at Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, 28th August, 1847. His height is 5 ft. 9 in.; weight, 12 st. He was a good all-round player. When he made his first appearance at Lord's in 1869, for Nottinghamshire v. M.C.C., he clean-bowled me middle, stump when I had made over 120 runs and was well set, and; Alfred Shaw; J. C. Shaw, and Wootton had almost given up hope of getting my wicket; and he scored 13 and 54 in the same match. For ​Nottinghamshire he batted well for many seasons, particularly in 1875, when he was at the head of the averages. In 1872, against Gloucestershire, at Trent Bridge, he scored 104 an innings freely hit and correctly played. His hands could not stand very well the hard work of wicket-keeping, or he would have done better for his county in that position: at long-leg or cover-point he was very quick. He represented the Players on one or two occasions, played for the All-England Eleven, and was on the staff of the M.C.C. for many years.
Edgar Willsher was, without doubt, one of the greatest bowlers we have had. He was born at Rolvenden, in Kent, 22nd November, 1828. His height was 5 ft. 10½ in.; weight, about 11 st. He learned to bowl at a very early age, played for his county in his 19th year, and appeared at Lord's in 1852. He batted and bowled left-hand, and helped considerably to spread the reputation of the All-England Eleven. His bowling was fast roundarm, twisting in from the leg, and he has been known to bowl as many as 20 maiden overs in succession. Like A. Mynn and one or two others he walked quietly up to the crease when delivering the ball, and yet was able to bowl fast.
Willsher was past his best when I began playing; but his results for some years afterwards, when he was over forty years of age, will show what a grand bowler he must have been some years previous:
| | Overs. | Maidens. | Runs. | Wickets. | Average. |
| 1866 | 551 | 263 | 653 | 50 | 13.3 |
| 1868 | 1003 | 529 | 1123 | 114 | 9.97 |
| 1869 | 811 | 409 | 920 | 68 | 13.40 |
| 1870 | 941 | 495 | 1083 | 84 | 12.75 |
| 1871 | 752 | 420 | 938 | 73 | 12.62 |
John Wisden was born at Brighton, Sept. 5th, 1826. His height was 5ft. 4½ in., and his weight for some time after he commenced to play did not exceed 7 st. ​However, like the majority of first-class cricketers I have known, or read of, improvement in play is invariably accompanied by increase of weight and strength, and he was at his best in 1850, in his twenty-fifth year, when he weighed about 11 st. He bowled very fast when he began, but was slower in 1850, and more successful. The 15th and 16th of July of that year were memorable days for him. Playing for the North v. South, he clean-bowled all ten wickets in the second innings. It was a first-class match, which made the feat all the more remarkable. A very good authority who witnessed the performance told me that he kept up his break from the off from one to two feet right through the innings. He was infected with the success of Clarke's slows, and not unfrequently took to that kind of bowling when his round-arm failed. As a batsman he played very straight and was most patient.
William Alfred Woof was born at Gloucester, July 9th, 1859. He was tried for the Gloucestershire Colts in 1878, and bowled so well that he was chosen to play for his county in one or two of the matches the same season. The year after he was engaged on the Old Trafford Ground at Manchester; but securing an engagement at Cheltenham College in 1880, he again played for Gloucestershire, and has done so every year since. He showed great improvement the next year or two, and I obtained him a position on the staff of ground-bowlers at Lord's in 1882, where he continued for some years. He returned to Cheltenham College as their coach, and is there still.
Without doubt he is one of the best slow left-hand bowlers at the present time, and on a sticky wicket as good as anyone. He has great command of the ball, and has a good break from leg; and now and then, without a change of action, he can put in a puzzling one which comes with his arm and gets quickly off the ​pitch. For Gloucestershire he has been invaluable for years, and, with myself, has had to bear the brunt of the bowling. He has also played for the South v. North. He is a very good field close in, and makes runs occasionally.
Mr. William Yardley was born at Bombay, 10th June, 1849. His height was 5 ft. 11½, ins.; weight, 12, st. He was, without doubt, one of the most brilliant amateurs of his or any time, batting in excellent style, and scoring freely and quickly against all kinds of bowling. For his University, Cambridge, he was very successful, scoring 100 in the second innings against Oxford, at Lord's, in 1870, and 130 in 1872. He was the first to score 100 runs in University contests, and he is the only player who has done it twice in these matches. Altogether, in the three years he played for Cambridge v. Oxford, he scored 259 runs for 5 innings, average 51.4; and for the Gentlemen v. Players, considering the quality of the bowling against him, he was quite as successful, scoring 435 runs for 12 innings, average 36. He played for Kent in 1868, and occasionally for some years afterwards. He was not a good bowler; but he could bowl fast round-arm with his right and lobs with his left; and fielded with great dash and certainty at cover-point. He won the Racquet Championship for Cambridge v. Oxford in 1871.