Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/348

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340
CRICKET.

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