Page:Seventy One Not Out.pdf/39

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I COMMENCE MY PUBLIC CAREER.

to slow. His style of play was forward, like that of Pilch. Guy was a straight, well-proportioned man, slightly over medium height. He filled the post of long-stop very cleverly about the time of which I write.

My next match was England v. Kent at Canterbury. This was a close match, England obtaining the victory by 15 runs. For Kent the two top scorers in both innings were Fuller Pilch and E. G. Wenman. I had often seen these two famous batsmen play before, but never saw them to better advantage than on this occasion, although they were now both getting towards the end of their career. There have been few, in my opinion, to surpass Pilch as a batsman with style and effect combined. His attitude at the wicket was perfect, keeping both legs very straight. The portrait in the picture of the Sussex and Kent match best represents him at the wicket: the one in the 'Cricket-Field' makes him appear to stand too wide. He played forward a great deal, and his bat went down the wicket like the pendulum of a clock. He not only utilised his forward play for defensive purposes, but scored from it very frequently as well. His best hit was one in front of cover-point. I do not think any one ever excelled him in this stroke. He was a powerful driver when the ball came to him, but did not leave his ground much. He twice defeated Tom Marsden for the Championship of England at single