the ball, and that century-scoring exceeded everything yet recorded. In matches of all kinds, individual innings of a hundred runs was scored close upon three hundred times; and over two hundred was scored twelve times. Very little was thought of the first figure now, unless in first-class cricket; and the increase in the number was owing more to the improvement in the grounds than to any decadence of bowling. By the end of the season I had scored over 200 runs once, and over a hundred twelve times: the greatest number of centuries I have ever scored in one year. Nine of them were in firstclass matches. Jupp exceeded the hundred three times in first-class matches; and, in my estimation, played finer cricket that year than he ever played before or afterwards. Thirty-seven completed innings for an average of 36.15 was a wonderful improvement on the professional batting form of 1862, and showed how the game had advanced.
Shrewsbury was considered good enough to represent his county; but no one was surprised that he failed to do much the first year. It takes more than one year's experience to master, or even fight successfully against, first-class bowling, as I found to my cost when I began to play in the great matches; and a very successful colt may be a very indifferent county representative for some time. The same may be said with regard to Mr. W. W. Read.
Another and fine all-round cricketer commenced his brilliant career that year, and made his mark very quickly in first-class matches. I refer to Mr. A. G. Steel, whose performances with both bat and ball have been the admiration of the thousands who have had the pleasure of witnessing them. I shall have occasion to speak at some length about him farther on; but I cannot help saying here, that I never envied a county the possession of any cricketer so much as I envied Lanca-
