The morning call., 1893-05-31
WILLIAM GILBERT GRACE.
Exploits of a Famous Cricketer and
BatSman.


BatSman.
Where can there be found lover of
Eugland's national game who has not
heard OF the famous cricketer, William
Gilbert Grace?
Grace as batsman had no equal. His
wonderful record speaks for itself. He
has faced the greatest bowlers of the age.
and indeed the trundlers who found little
difficulty in cutting short the innings of
remarkable batsmen felt decidedly ner-
vous when called upon to try their han
and aim at the wickets when the latter
were guarded by William G. Grace.
short account of this famous crick-
eter's life cannot fall to interest both
young and old crlcketers and particularly
the latter, many of whom have seen him
before the stumps during his palmy days.
Grace was born July IS, 1884, at Down.
ney, small village in the suburbs of
Bristol. England. He may be said TO have
been bred at cricket. His father was a
eapital batsman, his mothers brother. AL
fred PocOck. was one of the best all
round players IN the West of England. and
his elder brother. E. NJ. Grace, was noted
twenty odd years ago for his wonderful
| batting. He made his first appearance for
his native county (Goucestershire when
only nine years old. carrying out his bat
and contributing to the one-inning victory
| of his team. At IL years OF age he scored
30 for the same county In n match in which
his brother, Edward Mills. contributed $50
runs, and, In partnership with his uncle,
put on 126 for the first wicket.
In 1864 when only is years of .ge,
he commenced his career in first
class matches at Lords Ground, London.
with a fine tnaine of so, md in the same
year he scored ITO and Sc. not out, in a
| match. His career since has been marked
| by succession of brilliant batting feats
such as no other cricketer has ever per-
/ formed. Space will not permit of full
| account of his exploits yea, by year, and II
mist suffice to say that the best bnwlers
had TO own him az their master. and ac-
knowledge that they never met batsman
! like him, who hit away the well .pitched
balls. placing them as he liked. His ex-
traordinary scores. obtained against the
best bowling, proved how safely he could
defy all attack He comblned-and the
spectator knew not which to admire mos
accurate defense and vigor Gus hitting
with, what Is still more extraordinary.
successful placing" The battling of the
celebrated crcketer was perhaps more re-
markable in 1876 than in any other season
In ali the annals OF cricket no one had pre-
VlouSly made more thau 27S runs in first
class inning. W. G. Grace exceeded tina,
contribution twice III eight days in 1876
Masking 344. without a chance, for the
Marylehone Club against Kent. Angus
18th and 18th. 1876. and 3lS not out, fol
| Gioucestershire galnst Yorkshire, August
! 18th and 18th, it being rather curious co.
| Incidence that the long stand in eacb game
should have been made by w. G. and the
sixth batsman. The month of August,
1876, was marked by the highest run. gst-
| ting n his whole career, as on two of the
/ ,f<,r.r trex a -
| the 344 aud the 3lS he had made 1T for his
native county against NottInghamshire.
! Alfred Shaw md Morley mad been knocked
all over the field. so Selby was called upon
as change His first ball was hit BY
Fred Grace to long-leg for Z, and in the
same over w. G. hit him in the same drec-
ton for g. but in attempting it second
time he was caught on long-on, rather
square. W. G. Grace made 400, not out. in
| 1872 hours. for the United South of Eng
land Eleven against twenty-five of
Grimsby. at Grimsby, England, in
July, 1876. this being the highest indi-
vidual score ever obtained against odds.
Respecting this last mentioned inuing, in
which he had no fewer than ifteen bowl
ers opposed to him. he gave no chances
whatever on the first and second days he
was batting. but on the third day, after be
had scored $50 runs, he gave two easy
chances-one to shor-slip, the other one TO
Il
times performed the exceptional feat oil
making two separate centuries in first
class match. scoring 40 and not out 1Ol
for the South az the Thames against the
North. at Canterbury, in 1868; 101 and not
oul 103 for characteristic against Kent,
q. Clifton. In 1887; and 14S and 153 fol-
| Worcestershire against Yorkshire, al
Clifton. in 1888. He was one of the
heIoes In batting partnership that stood
as tho record in frst-class matches I'D t.
asst August. having In conjunction with B.
B. Cooper, made 2S2 runs for the frs:
wicket In the match between the Gentle
men and Players of the South, at The Oval
in 1869. The highest individual inning
ever hit In match between the Gentlemen
and Players is the 271 BY W. g.. at Brighton
in 1871 Altogether he has PLAYED nc
fewer than thirteen centuries for the
Gentlemeb. w. G. formed one of team
! of English amateurs that visited this
teams of professionals and amateurs that
played in Australia during the cricket
season there Of 1874 and 1S91.92 His
faculty for run-gettng has sur
passed that of any crcketer of the
past or present, and Is proved by the fact
that during the twentv-nlne seasons he ha:
scored So. 76S ruua In 93S innings of first.
class matches. thus averaging 4127 runs to
an inning. He has achieved "the GEN.
tury"-that Is, scoring 100 runs or upward
In an inning-as many as 149 times, his
highest being the not-out 400 above men.
toned. Ninety-three of these centuries,
including scores Of 3i4, 31S, 26S, 261, 224
221, 217, 215 and 2l5. have been in first
class matches. William Gilbert Grace has
also proved effective as n bowler. his de.
livery being slow TO medium pace round
arm. He did not bowl in any tirst-class
matches in 1864, but his analysis OF the
past twenty-eight seasons shows that he
has obtained 1880 wickets at an average
cost of 1850 runs each. His best bit oil
bowling secured an unexpected victory In
a minor match in 1868. when he captured
10 wickets for runs. although the side
wanted only 10 to win. He was always an
excellent fisd, being sure catch, cover
ing great deal of ground, and being al
accurate and long thrower to the wicket
| During his long career. he has been very
handsomely r-munerated for his cricket.
ing services. Following the example oil
his elder brother and father no en- altered thu
medical profession and tonk his degree OF
MD. at Edinburgh July 9, 1879, and jour.
neyed from the Scottish capital that night
for the purpose of taking part in a cricket
match. Two years previously public
meeting had been held for the purpose OF
making the necessary arrangements fnl
the formation of Grace Testimonial fund
in recognition of the great and wonderful
ail-r0und crieketing abilities displ,yod