Page:Seventy One Not Out.pdf/41

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FULLER PILCH.
23

wicket, scoring 100 runs in one of his innings against the Sheffield crack. Pilch was a Norfolk man by birth, but receiving £100 a-year to live in Kent, he took up his abode there in 1835. He was a tall man, just over 6 feet, and was powerfully made. He was exceedingly good tempered, and very kind to all young players with whom he came in contact. He was a remarkably quiet man, with no conversation, and seemed never happier than when behind a churchwarden pipe, all by himself. Wenman was a tall man, about Pilch's height, but more bulky. After Pilch he was undoubtedly at one time the best batsman in the country; although not possessing Pilch's elegant style, still he was by no means a clumsy bat. He played back much more than most players of his day. For hitting all round the wicket, I think he was even slightly superior to Pilch. He was also a first-rate wicket-keeper. He played for more than a quarter of a century for the famous Kent Eleven.

I played one more match with the All-England in 1850, and that was all. In the following year I played in every match. I think I took part in over forty matches this season, which was a very long one, our last match being played at Brighton on the 13th, 14th, and 16th (Sunday intervening) of October.

It took me a long time to get used to batting