User:Moondyne/Sandbox

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be very dangerous. So "Billy" had a little on each, and on yet another one which he rather fancied himself. As he journeyed about the country he heard other people's opinion as to what had a good chance of pulling the race off, and backed their fancy as well. By the time the race came off Billy found that out of the twenty-two runners he had backed twenty-one of them; so that his chagrin can well be imagined when the twentysecond horse—which he had allowed to "run loose"—won fairly easily! I can by no means vouch for the truth of the story, but I do know that it was always related when any one wanted to make old"Billy" angry.

Tom Box, the wicket-keeper for Sussex, and for a good many years for the England Eleven as well, was in his day probably the best that had yet appeared. Like most of the wicket-keepers of that time, he"set himself" to look after the off-balls, and allowed the leg ones, to a great extent, to look after themselves. Indeed, with the exception of Wenman, I don't think there was any wicketkeeper particularly noted for taking balls on the leg side before the advent of Tom Lockyer. Box, like all the old wicket-keepers, stood nearly upright, though close to the wicket. Besides being so fine a wicket-keeper, he was also a splendid bat, with a fine upright style, and many large scores are to be found attached to his name in the old matches.

MR"FELIX."

29

Box began his career early and played for nearly thirty years. He was at one time proprietor of the famous Brunswick cricket-ground at Brighton, and also kept the Egremont Hotel in that town. He was a smart - looking man, below the middle size, with a florid complexion and light hair and whiskers. Poor"Tom" died with awful suddenness while working the telegraph in the Middlesex and Notts match at Prince's ground in 1876, the game being abandoned in consequence of this sad event, I believe.

Mr N. Felix (whose real name was Wanostrocht), like so many of the celebrated old-time cricketers, did not come into notice till comparatively late in life. Bom in Surrey and residing in Kent, his name was familiar in both counties. It is as a member of the far-famed old Kent Eleven that he is best known. He was a beautiful bat (left hand), being especially noted for his brilliant cutting, more particularly in the direction of cover-point (with the right leg in his case advanced). Mr Felix was undoubtedly one of the very finest exponents of this stroke ever seen. I have seen no batsman from W. G. Grace downwards who could excel him in this particular. Being a left-handed bat, he had ample opportunities of indulging in this favourite hit of his, as most of the bowlers in those days did not change sides of the wicket when bowling to a left - handed man; and as they bowled round

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the wicket in most cases with a break from leg, a batsman like Felix had only to wait for a slightly over -tossed ball to punish it severely. He once told me that he learnt this stroke by suspending a ball from the ceiling with a piece of string and hitting it with a bat as it swung towards him (an old-fashioned method practised by many enthusiasts anxious to improve their batting in those days). The defensive play of Mr Felix was of the"forward" order. He made many large scores, and was of great assistance to the Gentlemen in their matches against the Players. He was also a good left under- hand bowler. He played Mr A. Mynn twice for the Championship of England at single wicket, but was defeated on each occasion. It is to this celebrated cricketer that we owe the invention of the modem batting- gloves. He is also said to have been the inventor of the catapulta. For many years he kept a school at Blackheath. He was an excellent artist. The picture of the old All -England Eleven (of about 1850) was done by him. He was a most agreeable man, and devoted a great deal of time to the study and improvement of cricket during the whole of his career. He was a little man, and rather stout.

Of his friend and fellow -player, the great Alfred Mynn, perhaps I can say no more than has been said already. Mr Mynn was without doubt the most popular cricketer of his day. When I played

THOMAS BOX

From the Collection of Mr A. J. Gaston, Brighton.

MR ALFRED MYNN.

31

with him towards the end of his career he was always the centre of attraction on every cricketfield, and the spectators would crowd about him when he walked round the ground like flies round a honey- pot. His immense popularity threw even the superior abilities of Pilch and Parr into the shade. He was beloved by all sorts and conditions of men, and he in return seemed to think kindly of every one. He had an affectionate regard for his old fellow -players who had fought shoulder to shoulder with him through his brilliant career, and there are many players who were just becoming known to him in his latter days who could bear witness to the kindness and encouragement he showed to them. As a bowler he was very fast, with a most stately delivery, bowling level with his shoulder. As a batsman he was a fine powerful hitter. He played a driving game, setting himself for this and not cutting much. Against fast bowling he was magnificent, and against slow of an inferior quality he was a great punisher. Against the best slow bowling of the day he did not show to so much advantage. He had not that variety of play which enables a batsman to deal with this sort of bowling to the best advantage. His pluck and gameness were something wonderful, and were shown in every department of the game. He had an iron constitution which nothing seemed to upset. He liked good living, and seemed especially

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to enjoy his supper. I have often seen him eat a hearty supper of cold pork and retire to bed almost directly afterwards! A curious custom of his was taking a tankard of light bitter beer to bed with him to drink during the night. "My boy," he once said to me when he saw me taking a cup of tea, "beef and beer are the things to play cricket on!" He was a fine single-wicket player, and was never beaten. His batting and bowling were both eminently adapted for success at single wicket, as he got nearly all his runs in front of the wicket, and his bowling was rather on the"short" side and not easy to drive. His height was 6 feet i and his weight 20 stone.

John Wisden, one of the best all-round cricketers I ever saw, was in my young days one of the most familiar figures on a first-class cricket -field. He was for years one of the mainstays of Sussex, and did an immense deal of bowling for the All- England Eleven in its early days, and afterwards became secretary to the United Eleven at its formation in 1852. Wisden was the best fast bowler I ever saw for so small a man. His height was said to be 5 feet 4^4 inches, but I should not think he stood even as high as that. When I knew him he would weigh perhaps a little under 10 stone. He was a remarkably good-tempered little fellow, with a most comical expression of face. He was a grand bowler, with, I think, the easiest delivery I ever saw. In

"FELIX" (MR NICHOLAS WANOSTROCHT).

From the Collection of Mr A. J. Gaston, Brighton .

JOHN WISDEN.

33

the days when the bowler was compelled to bowl level with the shoulder, Wisden was always spoken of as being remarkably"fair." Indeed I think he never gave the umpire any trouble as to the doubt* fulness of his delivery at any time. He had a great command of "pitch," was very straight, and likely to slick a batsman out even on a good wicket, however well set, as his ball came in quick off the pitch, and he bowled many shooters. The most remarkable performance he ever did with the ball was the one already alluded to in the North and South match, where he clean bowled all io wickets of the South. As a batsman he was first-rate. He played with a beautifully straight bat, which he appeared to hold very lightly, but nevertheless he could hit hard and clean. In 1849 he scored exactly 100 in the Sussex and Kent match, and in 1855 his score of 148 for Sussex v. Yorkshire was much talked about. There is no doubt that if Wisden had had less bowling to do he would have been still more famous as a batsman. He was clever at making the oldfashioned"draw" between the right leg and the wicket. For so good a batsman he appears to have earned "spectacles" a great number of times. He played the famous Tom Sherman three times at single wicket, and defeated him on each occasion, and once when playing with three others at single wicket he bowled out his four opponents for no runs. He was once the victim of a bad piece of

c

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luck when playing for England v. Sixteen of Oxford University. Wisden was caught off a no-ball on this occasion, and not having heard it "called" was on his way to the pavilion and had his wicket put down. Poor"Johnny" was terribly chaffed about this for a long time afterwards. In 1848 he and George Parr became joint proprietors of a ground at Leamington, which they had laid down, and on which many good matches were played. "George" always bought the horses which were required to do the rolling and mowing, and some curious specimens they were. Parr used to tell people that he always liked to give about "fifty" for one of these animals (meaning shillings 1 ). Wisden was one of the first of the All -England players who quarrelled with Clarke, and when the United was formed he became its secretary. He fulfilled this office in a most efficient manner, being always a particularly keen man of business. He was a remarkably good pedestrian, and he and I have had many a long walk together in the winter season. He was also very fond of a day's shooting.

The name of James Grundy deserves to be bracketed with that of Wisden as an all-round man. For many years he did great execution both with bat and ball. He was one of the bestplucked men I ever saw on a cricket - field, and could generally rise to the occasion, either to keep runs down or to obtain them, when necessity re

GENERAL PLAN OF FIELD FOR MR ALFRED MYNN'S FAST BOWLING.

"¢5

10 «

6

11

It will be noticed that point is placed much more forward, and coverpoint more square, than is the case at the present day when a fast bowler is on.

I.

Bowler.

5. Cover-point.

9 *

Long-stop.

2.

Wicket-keeper.

6. Mid -off.

10.

Long-leg.

3 Point.

7. Short-leg.

11.

Mid-on.

4 *

Short-slip.

8. Long-slip.

J. GRUNDY.

35

quired. His bowling may be described as fast medium, with just a little break-back. He bowled very straight, and could drop the ball on a cheeseplate all day if so minded. Indeed, this was the class of bowlers to which he belonged. He bowled "at the wicket," always endeavouring to beat the batsman himself, and not bowling for catches; so it may easily be imagined how successful he was when anything peculiar in the ground helped him. I sometimes used to think he did not"feed" the batsman enough, and would tell him to give him one to hit occasionally, to which Jemmy invariably replied, "Nay, I shan't 1 I shall gi'e him a good 'un: if he wants to hit me let him come and do it!" He possessed a nice easy delivery, and never tired. As a batsman he had excellent defence, and being always very cool and collected, could often keep his wicket up "till further orders," when required to do so. He rendered great service to his county (Notts) for many years, as indeed he did for all the elevens which he represented. Like Palmer the great Australian cricketer, Grundy was for some time much more successful as a bowler than as a bat; but after a time, like the celebrated Australian, he improved as a batsman almost beyond recognition. Grundy was engaged at Lord's in 1851, and remained there for very many seasons. He was about the middle height, and through his erect carriage looked taller than he really was. He was a strongly built man.

36 I COMMENCE MY PUBLIC CAREER.

had a fresh colour, and always looked"spick and span" when in the field. He was exceedingly good company, and always ready with a song when called upon.

The word"brilliant" may be used very appropriately when describing the batting of my fellowcountyman Julius Caesar. He was one of those hard clean hitters whom it is so delightful to watch. Although only about 5 feet 7 inches,"Julie" was very powerfully made. He may be described as "a big man in little room." He had a wonderful knack of timing the ball, which had a great deal to do with his success as a batsman. He was not much of a cutter,—those who set themselves for a driving game seldom are,—still he had a good hard cut past cover-point, which he often made use of. The ondrive was his best hit, and he was also noted as a leg-hitter. He appeared at Lord's in 1850, and I believe was engaged by Clarke for the All-England Eleven about the end of the following year, with which he remained until Clarke's death, and continued to play under the captaincy of George Parr, when he succeeded to Clarke's office."Julie" was a first-rate boxer, and exceedingly fond of the noble art. He was of a peculiarly nervous temperament, and, laughable as it may appear, was always afraid of sleeping in a room by himself at a strange hotel, for fear some one might have died in it at some time or other. When playing, I have frequently

JULIUS CjESAR.

37

shared a double-bedded room with him, and when sound asleep have often been awoke by his calling out that he was sure the house was on fire! Poor "Julie" seemed to have a fixed idea that every hotel must be burnt down sooner or later, and always refused to be put higher than the first floor. I shall never forget once sharing the same room with him at Hereford. The streets were very quiet, it being almost morning. All at once I could hear a drunken man come staggering along, bawling something out by way of a song, as I thought."Julie," however, who was half asleep, felt sure that some one was calling out"Fire!" He at once called out to me, but I pretended to be asleep. "Billy, the confounded place is on fire; can't you hear 'em calling out?" he shouted. I only replied by a feeble snore. "Julie" could stand it no longer, but jumped out of bed, rang the bell violently, rousing the whole house, calling me a fool all the time, and asking me if I wanted to be burnt to death! Another peculiar fancy of"Julie's" was, that whenever he happened to get a small score, he thought that he should at once be left out of the Surrey Eleven. He was very confident that this would happen just before he played his magnificent innings of in for Surrey v. Cambridgeshire in 1862. Of course nothing was further from the committee's thoughts than leaving him out; but, as I said before, "Julie" was of a very peculiar temperament, always

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being very elated when successful and terribly dejected after getting a small score. Both"Julie" and George Parr used to make a point of taking a certain amount of liquor before retiring to rest when they were in the thick of the cricket season. Once, it is said, they each agreed to lessen the quantity by half. They were both unsuccessful with the bat on the following day, but they nevertheless agreed to give their new regime another trial on the following night; but, alas! the result was the same as on the previous day—viz., small scores in both cases.

"George," said"Julie" to the famous leg-hitter as he came into the pavilion without having troubled the scorer,"it is evident that we must take in our "˜ usual quantity ' to-night." "Right you are, my lad!" promptly replied"George"; "and we'll make up for what we went short of last night and night before as well!" "Julie" was a very good shot and fond of the sport, but he had a sad experience on one occasion. When out shooting he happened to accidentally let off his gun in getting over a stile or through a hedge, and one of the keepers who was with the party was shot dead. Poor"Julie" was in a terrible way, and I believe his mind never got over the shock till the day of his death. Caesar was a native of Godaiming, where I believe his family had long resided. There is a match on record where twelve Caesars played another eleven at the time when Julius was a young man. It is many years now since

GEORGE ANDERSON.

From Photo by J. Yeoman, Bedale.

GEORGE ANDERSON.

39

poor "Julie" passed away, but his name still lives in his native county and in many a little out-of-the-way comer in various parts of England which he visited with the All-England Eleven. He had a brother Fred, a very fair player, a great big strong fellow, who for some years officiated as turnkey in one of the London jails.

I now come to the two Georges—Anderson and Parr. The former has been truly described by Mr Daft as "one of the finest men Yorkshire ever produced." Anderson was in my earlier days one of the greatest batsmen who hailed from the "shire of broad acres." Anderson is best remembered as a great hitter; but he had an excellent defence as well, and when set it was indeed a treat to see him bat. He was one of the best men I ever saw at playing a hitting game on a sticky wicket. Often when others could do nothing on a pitch of this description,"George" would go in and make a good score. I once remember his knocking up 43 out of a total of 80 odd (10 of which were extras) when we played an All- England match against twenty-two at Manchester in 1854, the next highest score being 8 on the side of All- England. Box, by the way, was hurt in this match, and as H. H. Stephenson was required to bowl, the task of wicket-keeper devolved upon myself. I was very glad when the game was over, as we had nothing to give away. We won by 36 runs eventually. I managed to stump one and

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catch another, but was in mortal fear of "making a hash of it," especially when Old Clarke was bowling, in which case I should undoubtedly have had a good blowing up from him. George Anderson, too, once made 32 out of a total of 66 (9 of which were extras) for All-England v. Twenty-two of Reading, Willsher and H. H. Stephenson being next highest scorers with 5 each! On another occasion he scored 25 out of 46 at Lincoln, Daft being the next highest with 6! I could quote many more instances of how this great batsman has "come off" when others were unable to score, but the few I have mentioned will serve to show what an invaluable man he was on a side. What a fine strapping fellow "George" was, to be sure! Six feet high in his stockings. He had quite a military appearance when in ordinary dress. He nearly always wore a suit of "heather mixture." I saw a gentleman only the other day dressed in this kind of tweed, and the figure of George Anderson as he was forty years ago rose before my mind immediately. I look on his portrait as I write, and feel that it is impossible to think of him as an old man. " George" and myself are now the only survivors of Clarke's Famous Eleven."George" was liked by everybody. I do not think he ever made an enemy in his life. I should very much like to see him once again, but as we live so far apart I fear my wish will not now be realised in this world.

4i

CHAPTER IV.

THE LION OF THE NORTH.

I have now come to one of the best-known names in the whole history of cricket. In 1845 a match was played at Lord's,"North v. M.C.C., with Pilch." In the ranks of the North there appeared a young player from Nottinghamshire, only just nineteen years of age, named George Parr. He was said to have been discovered at his native village of Radcliffeon-Trent by William Clarke in the previous year. Clarke had given him a trial in a match got up by himself on the newly formed Trent Bridge ground, "Players of Notts v. Gentlemen of the County, with Mynn, Pilch, Box, Dean, and Hillyer." Young Parr had played with the Players and had made a creditable score of 20 against the bowling of Mynn and Hillyer, so on the strength of this performance, and on his reputation in village matches, he appeared at Lord's on the present occasion. The young player, who was to become a world's wonder in after-years, made one run only in his first match at

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THE LION OF THE NORTH.

Lord's. There is, I am told, an implicit belief existing in his native village that George Parr scored heavily in this match, the story going that when he got to Lord's some of Clarke's London friends told him that he had brought the "wrong Parr" with him (they expecting to see Butler Parr, another noted Notts player, but not related to "George"), and that Clarke replied that they would soon see whether it was the wrong Parr or not after he had been in a bit, and that"George" fulfilled this prediction by making a big score. But, alas! for the truth of the story, the score-book declares that"George" had only one innings and was bowled by Hillyer for one run. Parr's only other feat worth recording in 1845 is his making 31 and 17—being not out in both innings—for his County v. Kent. In June of the following year he again appeared at Lord's in a match played in honour of Mr Felix. The match was Pilch's side v. Mr Felix's side. Parr played for the latter and scored 11 and 59, the second being the top score of the match. This, I have heard, was a very fine innings, obtained as it was against the bowling of Hillyer, Martingell, Sewell senior, and the veteran Lillywhite. "George" appeared three times more at Lord's in 1846—once for the North v. M.C.C., again for England v. Kent, and finally for the Players against the Gentlemen; but in none of these matches was he very successful. His first Gentlemen and Players match was a remarkable one. The

GEORGE PARR.

From the Collection °f Mr A . J- Gaston, Brighton .

GEORGE PARR.

43

Gentlemen required 2 runs to win when Mr Walter Mynn came in last man, and the runs were obtained amidst the greatest excitement. The betting had been at the start 2 to 1 on the Players. Though Parr played in several other matches of importance this season, he did nothing wonderful except making 51 for a mixed team of Notts Gentlemen and Players (with Mr A. Mynn given) v. England at Southwell. A violent cold caught in this match prevented him from taking part in the first three All -England matches started by Clarke this year. These first three matches played by this afterwards famous organisation were at Sheffield (where they were defeated) and at Manchester and Leeds, where they won. The following year Clarke made a good number of these matches and Parr played in them, and his performances in these contests placed him in the front rank of English batsmen. In his first match with the All- England he scored 100 v. twentytwo of Leicester, and followed this up by making 78 not out at York v. eighteen, and 64 at Manchester, also against eighteen in the field,—being top scorer of the match each time. He scored consistently well in 1848; an4 I can well recollect that about this time he was talked of as the man who would succeed Pilch as the first batsman in England. Young men, as is generally the case in such instances, already began to declare that the Nottingham man was even now a finer bat than the great

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THE LION OF THE NORTH.

Kent cricketer had ever been. I distinctly remember asking my uncle what his opinion was on the subject, and he unhesitatingly gave the verdict in favour of Pilch, and he was also of an opinion that Parr's success would not last. However, at the time I joined the All-England Eleven in 1850 there is no doubt that Parr was the most dangerous bat in England. He gave one the impression that he was able to deal with all kinds of bowling on all kinds of wickets. When one has said that he played thoroughly sound cricket, one has given a general outline of the play of George Parr. He certainly played a different game to any one who had preceded him, using his feet and going out to drive straight balls far more than any one else. His style of defence was "low down" both in playing forward and back, and in this he presented a strange contrast to Pilch. When in attitude at the wicket he bent his left knee and arched his back a good deal; still he did not crouch down so low as some other players we have seen. He cut hard and well in front of the wicket, with the right foot advanced, but required a ball a good way from the wicket to make an effective cut. His late cut was a hard chop striking the ground at the same time as he struck the ball. This stroke was the best he had, barring of course his leg-hitting. He drove hard and well, and often left his ground to do so. As a leg -hitter he will always be best

HIS LEG-HITTING.

45

known. The great secret of his success in this respect was that he hit more balls to leg than any one else. There is no doubt whatever that we have seen as fine leg-hitters as Parr, but never one who hit so many balls in that direction. His method was to reach out with the left leg straight down the wicket, bending the knee, and to sweep the ball round in a sort of half-circle behind the wicket. He would sometimes make a lofty square leg-hit; but even this was done in a different manner to the hits of Mr Mitchell, Oscroft, Carpenter, and others. There seems to be an idea sprung up of late years that Parr was in the habit of hitting straight balls to leg, but this is a mistake. In Parr's day it would have been considered decidedly bad form to have even pulled a short ball round in that direction, and to have attempted to make a deliberate leg-hit from a ball on the wicket would have been unpardonable. In none of the old books which give a description of Parr's play can I find any mention whatever of this now supposed habit of his, and I must certainly say I never saw him do it. For instance, John Lillywhite's Annual for 1866, in the hints on the game, advises young gentlemen, in italics, not to hit straight balls to leg, as"nothing can be worse cricket"; and shortly afterwards gs on to say,"There is no doubt that George Parr was the finest leg -hitter ever known." It is true that he ran it very fine,

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THE LION OF THE NORTH.

especially with a ball breaking in from leg, and when bowling against him I used always to remember this, knowing that if he hit round to leg and missed the ball I should most likely bowl him off his pads. I was attempting this when he hit me over the tavern at Lord's in the England and United match in 1860. This ball pitched outside his leg-stump and did not break in at all as I meant it to do, and it was promptly hit out of the ground. I bowled very well in that match and got "George's" wicket both times. George Parr never received any"coaching" at cricket. He had a natural gift for batting excelled by no one. He always played with a straight bat, and with a certain amount of wrist-work, but his body seemed so to smother his hands as it were (especially in his back-play) that this was not particularly noticeable.

"George's" was a well-known figure on the old cricket - fields, and easily spotted out amongst his fellow-players. He was rather over medium height, with round shoulders and powerful arms. He stooped slightly and limped somewhat in his walk, seeming to have a fagged and tired appearance. He had a florid complexion, large blue eyes, auburn hair, and thick chestnut-coloured moustache and whiskers. The portrait of him which appeared in"˜ Bailey's Magazine' many years ago is the exact image of him. He was a very queer - tempered man, but

THE OLD CRICKET-GROUND. RADCLIFFE-ON-TRENT.

HIS PECULIARITIES.

47

one of the easiest to get on with if one knew his peculiarities; but one had to make up one's mind never to take offence at his remarks."If you'd bring what little brains you've got to the wicket with you, you might p'raps get a few runs!" he once remarked to one of his eleven who had got out with a wild stroke. The player to whom this remark was addressed merely replied, "I had 'em all there yesterday, * George,' but what about yours?" At this".George" laughed heartily, for on the day before, the one without the brains had made a good many more runs than his captain.

"George" used to bowl lobs veiy fairly. I once remember his getting a well-known batsman out with them, who feebly played one into point's hands.

"That's d—d fine bowling to get anybody out with and no mistake 1" the batsman remarked as he passed "George" on his way to the pavilion.

"And d—d fine hitting too!" was "George's" prompt rejoinder.

Parr was an excellent captain—never a better I should say; he always played to win and would permit no"slackness" in the field. Rather curiously, he did not believe in having any batting practice on the day of a match. He has often told me he much preferred batting against a righthand bowler than a left, which is not the case with most batsmen. Parr's long and brilliant career is

4 8

THE LION OF THE NORTH.

known to most lovers of cricket, and to go through it here would only be to go over ground where others have been before. He gave up first-class cricket before my return from Australia in 1871, and died in the village in which he was born, and where he learnt his cricket, in 1891.

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CHAPTER V.

A CRICKET SEASON OF NEARLY HALF A CENTURY AGO, AND SOME PLAYERS WHO TOOK PART IN IT.

Returning to the year 1851, our first All-England match was a curious one. We played at Lord's v. fifteen of the M.C.C. and Metropolitan Clubs. The fifteen only scored 95, but this was enough to beat us by an innings and 18 runs. In our first innings we made 30 and in the second 47, of which I scored 23 and Box 15. The first seven wickets of England fell for 7 runs, and if an easy catch given by myself had been taken we might not have reached double figures. Wisden was run out, but allowed to continue his innings as his bat was knocked out of his hand by one of the fielders, which caused him not to be able to reach his ground. He was, however, genuinely enough run out shortly afterwards. J emmy Dean obtained most of our wickets.

Our next match was at St Ives v. twenty-two, and this again we lost. The twenty-two scored 55 and 75, and the All-England 36 and 64. No one reached

D

50

CRICKET HALF A CENTURY AGO.

double figures in our first innings. The Twenty-two had the assistance of the renowned Billy Buttress of Cambridge, one of the cleverest bowlers and one of the most eccentric characters that ever played cricket.

"Billy" was bom at Cambridge in 1827, being one year older than myself. He was a medium -paced bowler with a tremendous break from leg. I never saw a man in my life able to get more work on the ball. There were some good batsmen who dreaded to play against him. W betide the batsman who got playing forward to one of "Billy's" that was not right up to him! Sometimes the batter would simply play the air, and the ball went into the slips; but what more often happened, he generally assisted it there with the edge of his bat, where short-slip anxiously awaited it. He once bowled me out round my legs when hitting to leg at a ball; and 1 have seen him get other wickets in this manner."Billy" played an immense lot of cricket with the twentytwos to which we were opposed. He was a most useful man for these matches too. It was bad enough to have to play against him with only eleven in the field; but one had to have all one's wits about when he had the help of twenty-one fielders."Billy" was a good ventriloquist, and could imitate a cat to the life. He had a stuffed one which he used to take about with him and secrete under a railway-carriage seat sometimes. When the compartment became full of passengers"Billy"

ALL-ENGLAND MATCHES.

51

would commence"mewing" and cause no end of commotion, especially when the stuffed cat was discovered."Billy" was a lamplighter by profession. He died at the early age of forty-one.

Our next match saw us again defeated by fourteen of Sheffield. The fourteen was a very strong one, including T. Hunt, G. Chatterton, H. Sampson, G. Anderson, Sam Baldwinson, &c. Hunt was a famous single-wicket player—said to have played more of these matches than any other man. He defeated G. Chatterton, Charley Brown, and Cris Tinley at single wicket, and challenged Wisden, but this match did not come off. If it had I should have been inclined to back the Sussex player. Hunt was a fine punishing bat and fast bowler. He was killed by a train near Rochdale while walking on the line. Chatterton was a big hitter and excellent wicket-keeper. At Stocktonon-Tees we won our first match, chiefly owing to the fine bowling of Clarke and Wisden.

We next played a drawn game against twenty-two of Newcastle. We scored over 300, the veteran Clarke knocking up a fine score of 72, another veteran of the team, Alfred Mynn, making 52. On the other side Harry Wright, a well-known Yorkshire player, scored a grand 65 run out. Our next match was at Thirsk, and a most exciting one it was, we winning eventually by 9 runs only. Wisden bowled grandly in this match, taking 14

52

CRICKET HALF A CENTURY AGO.

wickets for 35 runs in the second innings. After playing several other matches, which are not worth recording here, Clarke took his eleven to Lord's to play fourteen of the M.C.C. This match excited a good deal of interest. The match was drawn— considerably in our favour it must be said. Tom Box and myself were in (with but 5 other wickets down), and we only wanted 1 run to win when time was called! There had been a good deal of betting going on amongst the spectators throughout the game, and there was a tremendous row at the finish. The fourteen of M.C.C. included some well-known men, such as Mr A. Haygarth, Mr C. Morse, Sir F. Bathurst, Mr W. Nicholson, H. Royston, old Tom Sewell, Jemmy Dean, and Jemmy Grundy.

Mr Haygarth was a player of the"stone-wall" type, and when once set was almost impossible to be got rid of. He had not much "hit," but possessed a wonderful defence. He assisted the Gentlemen on many occasions against the Players. He is well known as the compiler of"˜ Cricket Scores and Biographies,' a work which must have been an endless trouble and expense, and for which all old cricketers who have gone through it must feel truly grateful to the compiler. Mr Haygarth was rather tall and thin, and of a very dark complexion.

Mr Morse was a big tall man and a great hitter. He did not play much in first-class matches, but

"¢ <£>

GENERAL PLAN OF FIELD FOR WILLIAM CAFFYN'S MEDIUM PACE BOWLING.

9

"¢ 5

10 *

11

1. Bowler.

2. Wicket-keeper.

3. Point.

4. Short -slip.

5. Cover-point.

6. Mid-off.

7. Long-slip.

8. Long-stop.

9. Short-leg.

10. Long-leg.

11. Long-on.

MATCH AT SLEAFORD.

53

made many large scores for I Zingari, which had not been long formed before the time of which I write. This was a club composed entirely of amateurs who toured about playing other elevens. Mr Morse was best known as "Esrom" (Morse spelt backwards).

My next match was one I played against the All-England, being selected for fourteen of Surrey. This was unfinished. I represented the Players against the Gentlemen at Lord's, which match was easily won by the former. I scored 48, being second to J Guy, who compiled a beautiful innings of 65. Sixty -five was considered a large score at Lord's in those days. The wickets there were generally bad. They possessed only a very small roller, which we christened "the 2-ounce 'un." We had a very close match this year at Sleaford in Lincolnshire—the All -England v. twenty -two of that town. The wicket was a difficult one on this occasion, and the twenty -two had the assistance of Billy Buttress, who bowled extremely well. We ultimately lost the match by 10 runs. We had a dinner given to us at the hotel on one of the evenings we were there, to which a great number sat down at an immensely long table. After dinner churchwarden pipes were the order, and when all were lit up, on looking down the table we resembled a regiment with drawn swords. We had some excellent singing, I remember, after dinner.

54

CRICKET HALF A CENTURY AGO.

This match at Sleaford became an annual thing, and we all looked forward to it with pleasure and left the place with regret. I ought to mention that in this particular match there was not a double figure in our first innings, nor was there in the second venture of the twenty-two. I played for South v. North twice this year, once at Lord's and once at the Oval; both matches were won by the North.

I took part in a memorable match this year at the Oval—Surrey v. Notts. This was the first match ever played between these two famous counties, which were to become such keen rivals in afteryears, and I am proud to think that I took part in this game. Both these counties had a great history behind them, even as far back as 1851; and both had, as events turned out, a great history in the future. We have records of cricket-matches played both in Surrey and Notts soon after the middle of the eighteenth century. Neither county was nearly so strong in 1851 as they were a few years later. Still on the present occasion they were two powerful elevens who met to do battle in this their first encounter. Notts were, without Cris Tinley, otherwise they had their full strength. The match created a great deal of interest, and was a very pleasant one both for players and spectators. As will be seen by the score, Surrey were victorious by 75 runs.

SURREY v. NOTTS

55

SURREY.

FIRST INNINGS*

SCORE.

SECOND INNINGS. SCORE.

J. Caesar, b Nixon .

o

st Brown, b Tinley

0

T. Sherman, run out

6

st Brown, b W. Clarke

0

G. Brockwell, b Grundy .

x 4

b W. Clarke

a

W. Caflfyn, c S. Parr, b W. Clarke

• 9

st Brown, b W. Clarke

W. Martingell, b Nixon"¢

z

1 b w, b Tinley .

a 3

N. Felix, c Guy, b Nixon

4

b Grundy

xo

J. Chester, b W. Clarke .

42

c Brown, b Tinley

x 4

T. Lockyer, c G. Parr, b Grundy

14

run out ...

ao

C. H. Hoare, b Grundy"¢

5

b Grundy .

• 5

J. Heath, not out

0

1 b w, b Grundy .

1

D. Day, b Grundy"¢

z

not out

z

Extras

4

Extras

6

Total

zao

Total

zo6

NOTTS.

FIRST INNINGS. F. Tinley, c Caesar, b Day

SCORE.

5

SECOND INNINGS. SCORE, c Felix, b Sherman . 0

J. Guy, b Sherman .

"¢

0

b Martingell

x 5

G. Parr, b Day .

"¢

z

b Sherman .

a 3

Butler Parr, b Sherman"¢

"¢

4

c Hoare, b Sherman"¢

16

J. Grundy, b Day .

"¢

6

c and b Sherman

x 3

S. Parr, b Day .

"¢

zo

b Sherman"¢"¢"¢

3

C. Brown, b Sherman

"¢

x 3

b Sherman .

7

G. Butler, not out .

"¢

3

run out

5

T. Nixon, c Felix, b Day .

â–

1

c and b Martingell

9

A. Clarke, b Day

"¢

0

not out

0

W. Clarke, b Day .

"¢

0

c Lockyer, b Sherman .

4

Extras ....

"¢

5

Extras"¢

9

Total

â–

48

Total

104

In this match the veteran William Clarke and his's&n Alfred are to be found playing together for Notts; and, strange to relate, when this same match took place on the same ground exactly forty years later, we again have an instance of a father and son

56 CRICKET HALF A CENTURY AGO.

representing Nottinghamshire in the persons of Richard Daft and H. B. Daft.

In the 1851 match two celebrated wicket-keepers were seen, Tom Lockyer and Charley Brown. Lockyer was undoubtedly the finest wicket-keeper who had yet appeared, and in my opinion he has never been excelled to the present time. He was the first to adopt the modem attitude for wicketkeeping, and almost the first to take balls cleverly on the leg-side. Few wicket-keepers had hitherto even attempted to trouble about these balls. Lockyer was a big, strong, loosely made man, nearly 6 feet in height, and with tremendously long arms. His reach was something wonderful. The catches I have seen him make on the leg-side have been little short of miraculous. He was also wonderfully good at taking a ball and putting the wicket down like a flash of lightning, even when it was badly thrown in. He was just as good against fast bowling as against slow, which is more than can be said of many celebrated wicket-keepers, some preferring one and some the other. Lockyer was also a fine bat, being a strong and powerful hitter, and many large scores will be found attached to his name, even against the best bowling of the day. He was one of those plucky hard-working cricketers who never know when their side is beaten; and often, when his fellow-players were at their wits' end to separate two batters, would pull off his pads and

TOM LOCKYER.

57

gloves and go on to bowl himself, frequently with Success. Indeed"Tom" was by no means a bad bowler (rather fast round) had he had more opportunity of developing it. He never knew what it was to give in. Hard knocks had no apparent effect on his nerves. I once remember his having a very bad split finger, and he had a large sort of tin thimble made, and into this he thrust two of his fingers together and kept wicket in this way for several matches, having, of course, the gloves altered on purpose to suit this contrivance. Tom was very queer- tempered at times, but it was soon over, when he became as cheery as possible again. For cricket in cold weather he had a sort of flannel jacket made, very short, almost like a waistcoat with sleeves in fact, which gave him a most peculiar appearance. This garment he had for a greater number of years than I can possibly remember. Julius Caesar used to declare that it must have come out of the Ark! "Tom" had a glorious

career, and no name stands higher in the list of great cricketers which his county produced.

Of the old wicket-keepers Charley Brown, if he had been of a less excitable and eccentric temperament, would in my opinion have ranked second to Lockyer. His natural quickness and his clever way of taking a ball which rose over the top of the wicket were astonishing. He was as quick as lightning and as clever as a monkey. When any one speaks of

58 CRICKET HALF A CENTURY AGO.

him, his knack of bowling behind his back is always mentioned, and this feat "Charley" could do to perfection. I have often, too, seen him knock out the flame of a candle from the other side of a room by throwing a bit of the stem of a tobacco-pipe from behind his back. As a bat "Charley" was a slashing hitter, and though by no means to be relied on, made runs at times. He was a good skittle-player, and, I have heard, a wonderfully fast skater. Like Lockyer, "Charley" was a big powerful man.

In the Surrey and Notts match before referred to, Tom Sherman bowled remarkably well. He was a very fast bowler, straight with a good length, and was of great assistance to Surrey for some years. After a time he lost some of his speed, however.

"Tom," like nearly all fast bowlers of that time, did not attempt to get any break on the ball, but was content to keep pegging away at the stumps and keeping a good length, and as such bowlers received a good deal of assistance from the wickets in those days, it is not to be wondered at that they were so successful. "Tom" made runs at times, but was too fond of hitting to be a consistent scorer.

Owing to playing for my county against Yorkshire, I was unable to represent the Players against the Gentlemen at Lord's. The Surrey and Yorkshire match came off at the Hyde Park ground, Sheffield. The Bramall Lane ground Was not made

MATCH AT CRANBROOK.

59

until four years later. This was the first time the two counties ever met. The result was almost the same as the match we had lately played against Notts, Surrey on this occasion being victorious by 72 runs. Surrey batted first and totalled 164, of which I was responsible for 42, being the highest score. Yorkshire responded with 95, of which Harry Wright made 43 and George Anderson 28. In the second innings of Surrey we were got rid of for 93, and then put the Tykes out for 90. Yorkshire had undoubtedly a good team now, and it is strange that they did not at this time come more to the front in the cricket world. They had good and experienced bats in Tom Hunt, Harry Wright, Sam Baldwinson, Harry Sampson, George Anderson, and others, and good bowlers in Ellis and Armitage; still they played very few matches at this period.

Clarke in the following week took his eleven to Cranbrook to play against Kent, and I accompanied him. This match was unfinished owing to rain. Kent batted once and made 107, the only double figures being made by the two veterans Pilch and Wenman, who scored 37 and 30 respectively. There was a crowd of people to witness this match, many of them coming miles to see it. Here, I recollect, there were a lot of farm -waggons placed round the ground, in which people sat in chairs to watch the cricket. It is a pity that this match was left unfinished, as the result would in all probability

6o

CRICKET HALF A CENTURY AGO.

have been exciting. Kent had all their wickets in hand, and required exactly ioo to win.

A celebrated left-hand bowler's name appears on the side of the hop county—Edmund Hinkly. He was a fast bowler, delivering slightly below the shoulder. His ball swerved a good deal in the air, which caused it to be very puzzling at times; it also came quickly off the pitch and often got up high. It was noticed that he nearly always succeeded in getting George Parr's wicket when opposed to him.

"George" at no time was fond of left-hand bowlers, as I remarked elsewhere, and he was particularly averse to Hinkly. Hinkly was bom in Kent, but was twenty-nine years of age before he appeared at Lord's for his county against England. His dibut at headquarters was phenomenally successful. In the first innings he took 6 wickets and in the second io. He very often played as a given man for the twenty -twos who opposed the All -England and United Elevens. It is a pity that he did not play more in first-class matches. He was one of those bowlers who require getting used to—that is to say, when one had played against him a few times and learnt his peculiarities he became less difficult. He was rather a short man, weighing about io}£ stones, and could bowl all day without much apparenl effort.

Soon after this 1 took part in a match against Yorkshire as given man for Lancashire at Sheffield.

W. MARTINGELL. ALFRED MYNN, Esq.

From the Collection of Mr A. J. Gaston, From the Collection of Mr A. y. Gaston,

Brighton . Brighton.

J. BICKLEY. EDGAR WILLSHER.

From the Collection of Cobbet's Cricket From the Collection of Mr A. y. Gaston,

Bat Co., Ltd . Brighton.

ENGLAND v. KENT.

6l

Besides myself Lancashire had the help of Julius Caesar, Tom Adams, and Vincent Tinley (brother of Cris). Yorkshire defeated this mixed eleven by 6 wickets.

Surrey met Yorkshire at the Oval this year, being the return of the game played at Sheffield earlier in the season. This match resulted in an easy win for the home team by io wickets, Yorkshire scored 71 and 101, and we made 160 and 13 for no wickets. The counties did not again meet on the cricket-field until ten years had elapsed. Following this match up, I journeyed to Newark -on -Trent with the All England, where we had a close match, being defeated by 15 runs. The three brothers Tinley were on the side of the twenty-two. The next three days found me at Canterbury playing for England v. Kent. England won this match by 4 wickets. Indeed Kent at this time were no match for a picked eleven of England. They had no new men worthy to wear the armour of the old champions Mynn, Felix, Pilch, and Wenman, all of whom had now seen their best day. I made the winning hit of the match, being a square-leg hit for 6.

We had a low-scoring match at Worcester—All England v. twenty -two of Worcester with Jack Bickley—a few weeks later. The ground here was a very rough one, only a small square being laid, and the remainder ridge and furrow. Our first 4 wickets fell for 5 runs. A rather curious thing occurred

62

CRICKET HALF A CENTURY AGO.

in this match. Pilch was caught and bowled by Arnold, and the hit being a very hard one, hurt his hand badly,—so much so that it caused him to bowl 4 wides in one over and 3 in another, after which he had to leave the field. We were disposed of for 43, 10 of which were singles. We then got rid of the twenty-two for 47, and in our second innings we managed to make 89. Martingell and Tom Box were responsible for 52 of these, and there were 21 extras. There were six of our side candidates for "specs." Wisden was the only one who obtained them, however. I had luckily made one run in the first innings, or should have kept "Jack" company, as I failed to score in the second. We got the twenty- two out for 47 in their second attempt (which was just one more than was made in their first), and won the match by 39 runs. The wicket was of course a very queer one, and Bickley bowled exceedingly well. I may take this opportunity of saying that this bowler was to my mind one of the most difficult I ever played against, and I think he certainly ought to have been selected to take part in the great contests of the day oftener than he was. Bickley was born in Nottinghamshire, in the same village where in after -years William Attewell first saw the light. He appeared at Lord's for the first time in 1849, being then thirty years of age. He was a middle-sized man, but tremendously strongly built. He walked up to the crease and de

J. BICKLEY.

63

livered the ball with an easy swinging action. The ball came off the pitch with astonishing quickness, something like those of George Freeman's of a later period. He was just the kind of bowler to slick a batsman out before he got set. He, like Frank Tinley and others, often assisted the twenty-twos against the England and United Elevens. He, Buttress, and Hinkly formed a trio of great bowlers, who were much less known than they ought to have been. In 1856 Bickley, when playing for England against a combined team of Kent and Sussex, actually took 8 wickets for 7 runs! He was, I may add in conclusion, a noted sprint runner.

We played a delightfully enjoyable match at the end of the August of 1851 in the Duke of Sutherland's park at Trentham in Staffordshire. This was in every sense of the term a holiday match for both players and spectators. The gardens—perhaps the finest in England— were thrown open, and a great treat it was to have the privilege of inspecting them. We had a good wicket for our match, and scored over 200 runs, and rain alone prevented us from securing an easy victory. We next took a trip to Yorkshire, staying on the way to play a match at Ilkeston in Derbyshire. We played four matches in Yorkshire—viz., at Sheffield, Huddersfield, Bradford, and Newbury Park— the seat of Sir George Wombwell. This last match we won by 11 runs, notwithstanding that we only made 29 in our second innings (of which number I

64 CRICKET HALF A CENTURY AGO.

made 18). Lucidly we had a useful lead on the first innings. We then went on to Edinburgh and played twenty-two of Scotland. This match we won by 20 runs. We then proceeded to Glasgow, where we played an unfinished match. We went in to bat for our last innings requiring 65. Six of us fell for 31, so it is doubtful whether we should have obtained the desired number had the game been finished. After a day's interval we began a match at Birmingham against twenty-two, which was also left unfinished, as was also our next match v. twenty-two of Hereford at Hereford. We had a good deal of wet at this time, and as it was now quite the end of September stumps had to be drawn early. Our next match was at Teignbridge in Devonshire, where we were easily defeated. After playing at Southampton we proceeded to Brighton (it now being the middle of October), and played our last match of this memorable season of 1851 against sixteen of Sussex, the game being left drawn. This was the longest season I ever had, extending as it did for a period of twenty-two weeks, and having taken part in over forty matches. I had had a good season with the bat, but had not, comparatively speaking, much bowling to do this year.

It will be seen how successful Clarke had been with his travelling eleven in a short time. Two years before the idea of starting such an organisation had never entered his head, and now he found

THE END OF THE SEASON. 65

himself overwhelmed with letters requesting him to take his team to almost every corner of the United Kingdom. Some of the matches in 1851 had been made at short notice, and no doubt this accounted for the fact of the wickets in some places being in such a terrible state. In the following year we found an improvement in this respect. These All England matches did an immense amount of good in causing the spread of cricket, there is no doubt, but it must be confessed that they rather stopped the development of inter -county matches. Such matches, when played at that time, were often not representative, through their best players being engaged with the All England. I must acknowledge that I was heartily glad when the season of 1851 came to a close; indeed we all were, and looked forward with pleasure to a well - earned winter's rest.

E

66

CHAPTER VI.

THE SEASON OF 1852.

The year 1852 was chiefly noticeable for the formation of the United Eleven. I played with the England Eleven throughout this season, but we did not have so many matches as in the previous year, completing our programme nearly a month sooner.

Our first match was at Edinburgh, and was rendered noticeable by the fact of George Parr scoring 54 out of a total of 89 (10 of which were extras). There was not another double figure scored on our side. For this fine performance"George" was presented with a beautiful silver cigarcase. In a match against twenty -two of Preston (with Buttress and two others given) we were disposed of for what I think was one of the smallest scores we ever made—23. Buttress had the extraordinary analysis of 18 overs, 14 maidens, 5 runs, and 7 wickets! We made 75 in our second innings, and I had the unenviable distinction of making

I DISTINGUISH MYSELF.

67

spectacles, our captain, Clarke, bearing me company. The wicket was sticky, and Buttress was simply unplayable. We played a match at Lord's this year—I think it was at Whitsuntide—England v. Sussex and Surrey. This match had been played only once before, and that was sixty years previous. The match was chiefly remarkable for the fine bowling in the first innings of Bickley, who took 6 wickets for 15 runs, and for the equally fine bowling of Tom Sherman on the other side, as he captured 6 for 16—all bowled. England were defeated by 51 runs. Clarke arranged a match at the Oval after this, England v. Surrey (with Clarke, Parr, and Bickley given). Surrey won by 7 wickets. Mr Felix, the great Kent player, played on the Surrey side through his residing in the county. At Ipswich I made my as yet highest score for the All England—viz., 88—against twenty -two of the district. I accomplished a rather remarkable feat at Lynn shortly afterwards, by scoring 28 not out, out of an innings of 41 (6 of which were extras). This was also against twenty -two. On the All England side there were no fewer than 8 duck-eggs in the innings of 41 alluded to. Old Clarke was so delighted with my performance that he presented me with a box of choice cigars. Our next match was a benefit at Broadwater, near Godaiming, to Caesar, Martingell, and myself, got up by the kindness of Mr Marshall, on whose ground it was played.

68

THE SEASON OF 1852.

and a few other gentlemen. The match was the All -England Eleven v. sixteen of Godaiming and district. Caesar, Martingell, and I playing for the sixteen. The famous old player William Beldham, of the Old Hambledon Club, came to see this match, having walked seven miles from his residence near Farnham. He was now between eighty and ninety years old. He, however, was in possession of all his faculties, and talked with us about the old cricket-matches in a most intelligent manner. He wore a tall hat, I can recollect, and a beautifully clean smock-frock. This was the only time I saw this celebrated veteran, but an old man who resides only a few doors from me at the present time knew him intimately. Beldham, I believe, was nearly a hundred years old when he died.

This season we of Surrey sustained a crushing defeat at the hands of Nottinghamshire at the Oval, the Midlanders thus turning the tables on us for our victory of last year. Notts scored 181, and Surrey 71 and 67. An old paper, speaking of this match, says, "Many of the patrons and players of Surrey are not a little chagrined at this defeat, while the lungs of the men of Trent"˜crow like chanticleer.'" A rather curious match we played at Banbury—All England v. twenty -two (with Buttress). The twenty-two scored 52 and 42, and there was not a double figure made in either innings, 7 being the nearest approach to it. Buttress took

OLD PAVILION, TRENT BRIDGE GROUND, NOTTINGHAM.

EDGAR WILLSHER.

69

14 wickets against us in our two innings. I took part in the Kent and England match at Lord's, which the latter won by 7 wickets. This match is noted for two things—the fine batting of Mr W. Nicholson, who totalled 39 and 70 for England, and as being the first appearance of that prince of left-hand bowlers, Edgar Willsher, on this enclosure. Mr Nicholson's batting on the present occasion was a treat to see; indeed all his large innings were delightful to the spectators, as he was a very rapid scorer and a hard and clean hitter. He was, besides, a firstrate wicket-keeper, and filled this post for the Gentlemen on many occasions. He was also one of the most liberal supporters of the game that ever lived.

Of Edgar Willsher as a cricketer it is almost impossible to speak too highly. As an all-round man he may be classed with Wisden and Grundy, but as a bowler he occupies a higher place. From my own experience I should put him down as the most difficult of all bowlers I ever met. Though, as far as mere pace gs, he was not so fast as either Jackson or Tarrant, his ball was a more difficult one to play than those of either of those famous cricketers. Willsher had an extraordinary command over the ball. For accuracy of pitch he was almost the equal of Fred Morley,—so I have heard good judges say who have played against both. Willsher's ball came in a good bit from leg as a rule, and he seemed to have the knack

70

THE SEASON OF 1852.

of being able to make a ball"get up" on almost any wicket. We have all heard how his delivery was objected to as being higher than the shoulder, and that he was no -balled six times in succession by John Lillywhite in the England v. Surrey match of 1862 at the Oval for this offence; how the England team left the field in consequence, play ceasing for that day, and continued on the following morning with a fresh umpire. There is no doubt whatever that Willsher was often in the habit of bowling above the shoulder, but then so also were nine out of every ten bowlers of that time. I myself have often been no -balled for this, and have also frequently committed the offence without paying the penalty. The old law was an absurd one, and one wonders that it should have remained in force as long as it did. As a batsman Willsher was a fine hitter, and had an excellent defence as well. Indeed at one part of his career he might have been classed amongst the "stone - wallers." In a match, Kent and Surrey v. England, in 1855, he batted for over three hours and a half for 20 runs. He joined the All England in the year I left it, and was for years one of their bowlers on whom a great deal of the work devolved. Willsher was rather tall, and being very thin, looked taller than he was. He was light in weight, and had a very dark complexion. When in ordinary clothes he had not at all the appearance of an athlete.

A RECORD SCORE.

71

The Surrey and Kent match at the Oval in 1852 was a most exciting affair. We had 160 runs to njake in our last innings, and obtained 154, thus ldsing the match by half-a-dozen runs. The excitement was intense towards the finish, our last wicket putting on 20 runs. Shortly afterwards Surrey met a picked team of England at Lord's, and defeated them by 2 wickets; but sustained a severe defeat at the hands of Sussex at the Oval the same week, chiefly due to the fine bowling of Wisden. In the first innings of Sussex G. Brown played a grand defensive innings of 86. He went in first, and was nearly carrying out his bat. We defeated the Gentlemen by 5 wickets this year at Lord's in the Gentlemen and Players match. The All England had an unenviable experience against twenty -two of Hungerford in Berkshire. This match was played in the park of Captain Willes, who had got a strong twenty-two together, and they succeeded in getting rid of us for the record score of 12 runs! J Guy being the highest individual scorer with 3. Mr G. Yonge, who was one of the best amateur bowlers of the day, took 5 of our wickets for 3 runs. Mr Yonge bowled very fast, and the wicket on the present occasion suited him to a nicety. He played against us in our next match v. twenty -two of the Landsdown Club at Bath, and here also he was very destructive. It is a pity that he did not follow his cricket up

72

THE SEASON OF 1852.

more than he did, or his name would have been better remembered than it is.

At Newark-on -Trent, on the three days following our match at Bath, we had opposed to us that terrible bowler John Jackson, rightly named the Demon indeed! Although only a youth at this time, he had all the making of a great bowler. Jackson was born at Bunay in Suffolk, but was brought up in the neighbourhood of Newark, in which district as a boy he was well known through running barefoot after the hounds in the hunting season, and for his mischievous propensities of throwing stones at all the milestones and guideposts on the highroad. He went by the name of "Jim Crow" in those days. We little thought when we played this match at Newark that he was in after-years to make a name which should for years be a household word in cricket circles, and which is almost as well known to-day as when the owner of it was such a terror to his opponents. Poor old"Jack" has, I am told, fallen on evil days, and the hardest task. I have had in the compiling of these pages is that to which I have now come. I cannot picture him as a lonely old man of sixtysix, but can only think of him as a great powerful figure, seeming to tower above every one else, full of life and animal spirits, and appearing to have strength enough to bowl both batsman and wicket down together! Jackson had one or two club en

JOHN JACKSON.

73

gagements in his native county before he appeared in first-class cricket. He played his first match at Lord's in 1856 for the North against the South.

"Jack" stood over 6 feet in height and weighed over 15 stones. He bowled level armed with a beautifully easy delivery, and though of a terrific pace, always gave one the idea that he was bowling well "within himself." I have been often asked whether I considered he or Tarrant to have been the better bowler, and can say without hesitation that Jackson was far superior to the Cambridge man, fine bowler though the latter unquestionably was. He was straighter and could keep a better length than Tarrant, and was equally as fast. His performances against some of the twenty-twos he met are extraordinary; indeed many of these players were exceedingly glad to get out and return to the pavilion without broken bones. I myself have had many a nasty knock from this great bowler, and I too have not been sorry at times when my innings against him at Lord's has come to an end."Jack" was very fond of sending one a full pitch when well set, and when this came in the near vicinity of the head it was far from pleasant. Jackson was also a fine punishing bat, and often made large scores against first-class bowling. He was quite a character, and always afforded a fund of amusement to his fellow-cricketers. Daft has told us of his peculiarity of blowing his nose when he got a wicket, and how he was dubbed the"fog

74 the season of 1852.

horn" in consequence. He never would take bank notes in payment of his services, but always insisted on-having gold. Once I can recollect he had a lot of sovereigns in his trousers-pocket, which gave way in the middle of an innings, and the coins went rolling all over the place. There was at once a rush made to help"Jack" to collect them, but he waved us all back in a most decided manner while he did the picking up himself, calling out loudly in his broad Nottinghamshire dialect,"Get out o' th' road and let me pick it oop mysen!" Jackson did not last so long as most cricketers, and there is no doubt that his having to do so much bowling against the twenty -twos for the All England had much to do with this.

Tom Plumb, the famous wicket-keeper, played against us for twenty-two of Northamptonshire in 1852. Some years afterwards he was celebrated as a fine wicket-keeper and very fair bat.

Sussex and Surrey played a drawn game towards the end of this year, but our All England engagements prevented both Caesar and myself from taking part in this match. The United Eleven played their first match on August 26, 27, and 28, against twenty Gentlemen of Hants, on a ground belonging to Daniel Day at Portsmouth. There had long been dissatisfaction among some of the Players against Clarke. It was thought that Clarke was coining money, and that they ought to be better paid. I

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believe Wisden at the time put the matter straight to Clarke, who answered him somewhat roughly, and caused a breach between them. So the United Eleven was formed with Wisden and Dean as secretaries. Wisden was really the only regular All England man who took part in this first United match. They followed up their match at Portsmouth by one against twenty -two of Newmarket on the same days that the All England were engaged at Ilkeston in Derbyshire. The following week the United defeated fifteen of Sheffield on the same day that we of the All England were beaten by twenty -two of Bradford, which made Old Clarke feel very bitter against the renegades. It was after their victory at Sheffield that the United (who had now been joined by Grundy) drew up a document to the effect that none of their players would ever take part in another match of which Clarke had the management. The United played no more that year, but the All England played four more matches, finishing the season at Kelso in Scotland. This had been arranged as a threedays' fixture, but Clarke was persuaded to stay another day to finish it, and the result was that we won by 8 runs. This is the only four -days' match I ever took part in in the United Kingdom.

I cannot allow this chapter to end without giving some account of my first visit to Nottingham to take

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THE SEASON OF 1852.

part in the return Notts and Surrey contest at Trent Bridge. A large and appreciative crowd gathered together to witness this match, and the scene of enthusiasm which ensued at the conclusion, when the Notts men were victorious by 10 wickets, defies description. Surrey batted first, and made 112. Notts responded with 209, George Parr making 69, and Charley Brown coming next with 36. In our second innings we totalled 134, leaving Notts with but 30 odd to win, which they obtained without the loss of a wicket. The shouting and throwing up of hats when the game was won was tremendous, and for hours afterwards the quaint little old inn, just outside the ground, was packed to overflowing with the supporters of the home eleven. This old Trent Bridge Inn stood partly in the borough and partly in the county of Nottingham. Of the four matches which had now taken place between these world -famed counties, Surrey had won two and Notts two. Nottingham people at the present time complain of the slackness of their supporters, but they had nothing to complain of in this respect in the year of grace 1852.

NEW PAVILION, TRENT BRIDGE GROUND, NOTTINGHAM.

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CHAPTER VII.

THE SEASON OF 1853.

Notwithstanding the formation of a rival eleven in the previous year, Clarke commenced his season early in the following May with a powerful side, and won his first match by 25 runs at St Helens. The season at Lord's this year opened with a match between Notts and England, which was won by the Midlanders by 27 runs. Notts went in first and scored 63; England then made 117. Notts replied with 129, thus leaving England the apparently easy task of obtaining 75 to win. Jack Bickley was, however, so"on the spot" that he took 8 of our wickets for 23 runs, the innings closing with a total of 48. For this great bowling feat Bickley was handsomely and deservedly rewarded. The betting was 6 to 4 on England at the start and 2 to 1 on them at the conclusion of Notts' first innings. There were a lot of spectators from Nottingham on the ground, many of whom won a hatful of money over the result of the game. There is no disguising the

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fact that Notts were a very powerful team at this period, notwithstanding that several of their players were veterans, such as Guy, Butler Parr, and Old Clarke. Butler Parr, I may say in this place, had now been playing for his county for nearly twenty years. He was a fine manly cricketer, always obtaining his runs in a style well worth looking at. He was a very hard cutter, and could drive beautifully off his legs. His scores in local matches are said to have been enormous, made as they were at a time when even 40 runs or so was a large score. It is a pity that this player did not devote more time to the game. I have heard George Parr say that against loose bowling he was, he considered, a more effective bat than himself.

The renowned Cris Tinley made his bow at Lord's in the Notts and England match. He was one of the hardest-working cricketers I ever met. "Cris" was a most useful bat, and although his style of defence was somewhat marred by not playing with a straight bat, still his hitting was almost unsurpassed by any player of his time. He would jump in and drive in a manner, that was often startling to a slow bowler who had followed his ball up. He would often by his plucky hitting (nervousness was, I believe, unknown to him) pull a match out of the fire for his side when everything appeared to be going against them. When I first knew Cris he was a very fast round-arm bowler, and though good

CRIS TINLEY— SAM. PARR.

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at this, it is as a lob-bowler (which style he adopted in later years) that he is best known. As a bowler of this kind he must always rank amongst the very best. In my opinion he was second only to Clarke in this respect. He varied his length and his pace in a most puzzling manner, and a dodge he often adopted was to deliver a ball when standing a yard or so behind the crease. He was a magnificent point, being light and active as a kitten.

Samuel Parr, an elder brother of George, played first at Lord's in the same match as Cris Tinley. He was a less man than his more famous brother, with very sandy whiskers. He was a hard hitter both as to driving and leg-hitting, but was rather too fond of "having a pop at a bowler," as he called it, to be considered a reliable bat. Often, too, Sam would run himself or his partner out by attempting a short run, done to please the "gallery" when the game was becoming slow. He was notorious for playing practical jokes on his friends. These, however entertaining they might be to the company generally, were often exceedingly annoying to the one whom Sam selected as the victim of his pranks.

When playing with the All England at Sleaford this year, George Parr, after making 64 runs, had his hat knocked off, and this falling on the wicket dislodged the bails. I shall never forget his look of disgust as he returned to the tent.

In the England and Kent match at Lord's this

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THE SEASON OF 1853.

year England were again victorious. This was a bowler's match throughout. Clarke got up a team from the North to play the South at the Oval soon after this, and it is noticeable that no member of the United took part in it. The South won by 70 runs. This again was a match where no large score was made,—Hinkly, Hillyer, and Wisden on one side, and Clarke, Frank Tinley, and Bickley on the other, all bowling extremely well. We played an interesting match at Lord's between the M.C.C. and a picked team of England, the M.C.C. beating us by 70 runs. This was the first time they had ever won this match without assistance. Tom Adams, the Kent man, made a square-leg hit off Hillyer, which went through the door of the tavern and down the cellar steps, and for this they ran 6. Adams was a fine free hitter, and made many large scores for the famous old Kent Eleven. He was a tall man, with an exceedingly good-tempered countenance. He wore his hair rather long, with a curl which he trained down each side of his face. As a bowler he was useful, being one of the few in those days who bowled over the wicket. Before bowling he had a peculiar way of holding the ball on a level with his eye, to take aim as it were at the batsman. He was very fond of shooting, and used to relate some wonderful stories of his exploits in this line. He declared that he was so well known in one district as a deadly shot, that

THOMAS BEAGLEY.

8l

every hare or rabbit which he came across in the open never attempted to run away, knowing that it would be quite useless, but would sit quietly to be knocked over! "Tom" at one time owned a ground at Gravesend, where I believe he resided till his death, which took place only a few years ago, thus surviving all his old comrades of the old Kent Eleven.

The next match of importance in which I took part in 1853 was for the England Eleven v. twentytwo of the Zingari Club at the Oval. The Zingari, who were very strong, had the best of the match, which was unfinished owing to rain. This match was played for the benefit of Thomas Beagley, the famous old Hampshire player, a well-known bat and long-stop in the earlier part of the century. I have often seen the old man up at Lord's watching the cricket there. He it is, it will be remembered, whom Mr Pycroft mentions in the"˜ Cricket Field ' as being pointed out to a young player as "Thomas Beagley and the young man inquiring,"Thomas who?" causes the author of the"˜ Cricket-Field ' to exclaim, "One might as well expect to be asked"˜Who is W. G. Grace? ' or, * Who is Daft? 1 This benefit

match was so interfered with by the weather that it was played over again later in the season. I ought

1 The names of Grace and Daft were in the later editions of the "˜Cricket Field* substituted for those of Pilch and Parr of the earlier editions.—Editor.

F

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to mention that that accomplished batsman Mr C. G. Taylor played in both these matches for the Zingari, and although he did not make many runs on these two occasions, one could see that he still possessed an elegance of style which perhaps in his best day was only surpassed by Daft himself in the whole history of cricket. Mr Taylor was a middlesized man, slim, and of a very neat appearance.

The Gentlemen defeated the Players at Lord's this year on a sticky wicket. This was the last match they won against the Players till 1865.

The next great match I took part in in 1853 was for England v. Kent and Sussex at Tunbridge Wells, and this fixture being arranged by William Clarke, was marked by the absence of all United men on either side. This match was left drawn in favour of England. We next played a match at Lord's, England v. Sussex, who had the assistance of George Parr. This match was played for the benefit of the veteran William Lillywhite, who was now over sixty years of age. He was to have played himself—indeed he appeared in the field and commenced to bowl, but was taken ill after the first over, and his place was filled by mutual consent by Mr H. Hoare, then the hon. treasurer of the Surrey Club. England won the match by nearly 200 runs.

The All England again visited Hungerford Park this year, where, it will be remembered, we were got rid of for the small score of 12 in the previous

MATCH AT ARNOLD.

83

season. In the present match we very curiously made the same score (54) in both our innings. Charlie Arnold, a very fast bowler, played with us just now in a few matches. He bowled a great pace, but was not very straight. At Spalding we had the misfortune to be beaten by one run only. George Parr had received a terrible blow in his first innings, and had not intended going in to bat in the second, but as the game became so close, was persuaded to do so. He, however, did not have a chance of receiving a ball, as the previous wicket had been obtained with the last ball of the over, and Billy Hillyer, who was "George's" partner, was got out with the next ball that was sent down. During this match Mr Mynn smashed down an old wooden four-post bedstead at our hotel, in the middle of the night, alarming the whole house. It is rather curious that we were only 2 runs behind the twenty-two in our first innings.

Our next match was at Arnold, near Nottingham. This match I shall always remember. I stayed with George Parr at his house at Radcliffe, where each morning we had a little snipe-shooting down by the Trent. "George," though unable to play in the match at Arnold owing to the injury he had received at Spalding, accompanied us there each day. We drove over from Nottingham with a Mr Malpas, who kept the"Flying Horse" Hotel near the market-place. This gentleman was a great sportsman and very fond of cricket. He always insisted on our cracking a few

8 4

THE SEASON OF 1853.

bottles of champagne each morning before setting out for Arnold, and took a case of the same with him in the carriage. George Parr, being "off duty" this match, was in great form, and although his favourite beverage used to be gin-and-water, he paid particular attention to the champagne on the present occasion. Every evening on our return to Radclifife we spent at the house of Mr Butler Parr, whose custom I heard was to entertain"George's" cricketing friends to supper whenever they stayed with him at Radcliffe, and jolly times we had on this and other visits. Mr Butler Parr was a brewer and maltster, and resided in an old-fashioned house built all on the ground-floor."George" told me that he had often wished that his own house had been built on the same principle, as he found stairs were uncommonly awkward things when returning home after an evening out! Mr Butler Parr was a nonsmoker, and when in company, in order not to appear unsociable, generally pulled at an empty pipe. He told me rather an interesting anecdote of Mr Alfred Mynn. The great Kentish cricketer always visited him when playing at Nottingham; and his arrival was the signal for a huge jug of strong ale being produced. Mr Mynn, it appears, never liked to have a large glass when partaking of this old English beverage, so Mr Parr used to always have two glasses ready for him, and while his guest was disposing of one he himself filled the other for him,

GEORGE ATKINSON.

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which performance was repeated until the jug was empty. Our match at Arnold we won by 4 runs only. I ought to mention that six players of the name of Oscroft played for Arnold, including, I believe, the father and several uncles of the afterwards famous William Oscroft.

Our next match at Leeds, against twenty-two of that town, we just contrived to win by five runs. In the second innings there were 5 run out and 5 l.b.w., Hillyer achieving the hat-trick with 3 leg befores. The famous George Atkinson was one of those run out. "George" was an excellent bowler, rather inclined to fast, and wonderfully straight, often delivering a great number of maiden overs in succession. He was for some years one of the best bowlers of the United Eleven. He also at times made some good scores with the bat. He was an excellent singer, and very good company at all times.

1 took part in the England and Kent match at Canterbury, which resulted in an innings victory for England, notwithstanding the absence of George Parr. No Kent and England match was played again for nine years. Julius Caesar played a magnificent innings of 101 for England, and I was next to him with 55. Most curiously, there were no fewer than five run out in the first innings of Kent, including Pilch, Mynn, Wenman, and Willsher. George Parr was able to appear v.

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THE SEASON OF 1853.

twenty-two of Bath, and although he went in rather late, managed to score 84 not out. Our next match at Torquay was the last All England match that that grand old batsman Mr Felix took part in, and it is to be regretted that a nought is found to his name in this his final match.

Surrey played a close match with Kent at the Oval this year, the home team winning by 12 runs amidst great excitement. Against their old rivals Notts they were not so fortunate. Both sides were strongly represented, but the bowling of the midland county was too good for us, and we were defeated by an innings. Hinkly, who was now residing in Surrey, played for us in this match.

A most curious thing happened when we were playing twenty -two of Ipswich. I was fielding behind Clarke, being placed for a sort of half-hit between mid -off and the long -field. I fielded a ball which had been hit rather sharply to me and threw it hard at the nearest wicket, which it hit and knocked off the bails, after doing which it rolled to the other end and knocked the other wicket down. The whole thing was done in much less time than it takes to relate, and there was an appeal made at both ends; but the umpires gave each batsman not out, considering each was in his crease.

We played a most enjoyable match towards the end of this season at Enville Hall, the seat of the

EARL OF STAMFORD.

87

Earl of Stamford. Lord Stamford had for many years at this period four or five first-class bowlers engaged on his ground, and this year we had opposed to us Bickley, Cris Tinley, and others. We won the match by 8 wickets, Clarke and myself bowling with great success in the second innings of the twenty-two. Bickley took all our wickets in the first innings except that of Arnold, who was run out. We were most hospitably entertained throughout the match by Lord Stamford, who himself formed one of the twenty-two. This was a most enjoyable finish to our season of

1853 The United had not played so many matches as ourselves, but had had on the whole a fairly successful season, being strengthened by the assistance of Edgar Willsher during the latter part of the season, though he subsequently joined the All England. Amongst their other engagements the United took a trip over to Ireland to play a match at Dublin, in which they were defeated.

As far as myself went, I had had another good season with the bat, and had done more bowling than in 1852, having improved a good deal this season in that department of the game. It was about this time that I began to be known at the Oval by the names of"The Surrey Pet" and "Terrible Billy."

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CHAPTER VIII.

THE SEASON OF 1854.

The season of 1854 was my last as a member of the All- England Eleven. The United got a start of us this year, and played one or two matches before we began our season towards the end of May. I took part in the Notts v. England match at Lord's, and helped to defeat the midland shire by 59 runs. Mr W. Nicholson captained us in this match. In our first innings Tom Lockyer had to forfeit his innings. He was well in at lunch -time, and adjourned to a tavern to partake of refreshment, which was situated some distance from the ground. Tom, it appears, thought the interval would be an hour, as was the case generally in those days; but arrangements having been made to only allow half that time, when Tom was wanted to continue his innings he was nowhere to be found. He had not told a soul on the ground where he had gone, so the game had to be continued without him, and when he came

A CURIOUS INCIDENT.

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strolling leisurely on to the ground the innings had just come to a close. It was one of "Tom's" peculiarities to get away from every one at lunchtime and to enjoy a pipe afterwards all to himself, and when we played away from home he very often went and took lodgings somewhere all by himself.

Another remarkable incident occurred in this match. Caesar, who was ill, was allowed a substitute (Billy Buttress) to run for him. "Julie" played a ball, and forgetting all about his substitute, ran a run himself, leaving Billy behind, whereupon Old Clarke with great presence of mind put down the wicket which"Julie" had reached and called out, "How's that?" Tom Sewell, who was umpire, replied,"Not out." But Clarke at once appealed to some of the committee of the M.C.C., who settled that "Julie" was run out. As a matter of fact it should have been"Julie's" partner (Wisden) who was out, as he and Billy Buttress, the substitute representing"Julie," were both at one end and had not crossed each other.

In this match Alfred Clarke, the son of the veteran, played first at Lord's. In one All England match this year he played against us, he representing twenty-two of St Helens and his father the Eleven.

In June of this year we played twenty- two of the West Gloucester Club at Bristol. Dr W. G. Grace mentions this match in his book, and tells us that

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THE SEASON OF 1854.

he himself was one of the spectators, being then only six years old. Mr Alfred Mynn officiated as one of the umpires in this match.

From Bristol we went to Salisbury, where we were defeated by eighteen of Wiltshire by 3 runs. It is remarkable how many close finishes we had about this . time. In this match the eighteen made 69 in each of their innings. Clarke and Bickley bowled unchanged throughout this match, and, most strange to relate, each bowled the same number of balls; and in the second innings bowled exactly the same number as in the first. The eighteen had the assistance of Hinkly, and also of one who was to become shortly afterwards one of the best known players in the world—H. H. Stephenson. Stephenson was famous as a batsman, bowler, and wicket-keeper. He was a tall man, and possessed a long reach when batting, which he always made good use of. He was a fine leg-hitter, generally hitting square, and had also a splendid on -drive. His off -play for so great a player was undoubtedly weak; nor can I call to mind a batsman who scored so heavily as he did, who was so little noted for his cutting. His defence was very strong, and he always played with a remarkably straight bat. He was an excellent man to send in when the bowling had been "collared," rarely failing to make a good score on such occasions. As a bowler he was a genius. He

H. H. STEPHENSON.

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bowled rather fast, with a tremendous break from the off. Indeed we may almost look upon Stephenson as the pioneer of break-back round-arm bowling. As a bowler he had his good days and bad. Sometimes he would bowl in a manner that was almost unplayable, while at another he would seem to lose his command over the pitch of the ball. For a few seasons he was, in my opinion, about the most difficult bowler in England. After a while he fell off in his bowling, which was chiefly owing to his having to do so much of it, and he in a manner lost the use of his fingers somewhat—so he often told me himself. As a wicket-keeper he was really first-class, and like his great fellow-county player, Lockyer, stood up to the wicket in the modern manner. Stephenson was a most popular man both as a cricketer and in social life. He it was, it will be remembered, who captained the first English team in Australia. From his often wearing a black frock-coat he acquired the nickname of "Spurgeon" from George Parr.

In the Surrey and Sussex match at Brighton this year no definite result was arrived at, the match being left in a very interesting state. Shortly afterwards we succeeded in defeating the great county of Nottingham at Trent Bridge by 97 runs. Lockyer, Stephenson, and myself were the chief scorers for our side, while George Parr and Charley Brown did best for Notts. Stephenson bowled very finely

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THE SEASON OF 1854.

throughout, taking in the first innings 4 wickets for 4 runs. This was a great and well-deserved victory. The Notts men were very disappointed, as was only natural. Our return match, played this year at Broadwater towards the end of August, was similar to the one at Nottingham, the victory again remaining with Surrey, this time by 65 runs. Four years elapsed before this match took place again.

The All England were easily defeated by Lord Stamford's twenty-two this year, his Lordship on this occasion having a very powerful side, including his four professionals, Charley Brown, Bickley, Brampton, and Cris Tinley, also Mr John Walker, Mr W. Nicholson, and other well-known amateurs. H. H. Stephenson had now joined the All-England Eleven, in whose ranks he remained for many years. The Gentlemen and Players match was spoilt this year, by reason of Clarke having had some difference with the M.C.C.; and in consequence he not only refused to take part in the match himself, but declined to allow Caesar, Parr, and myself to do so; and when later in the season the M.C.C. played v. England at Lord's, all Clarke's players were conspicuous by their absence.

We played a match at a little town called Bingham in Nottinghamshire against twenty-two of the district. I happen to have the account of this match published In the local paper of the time, which I think beats

MATCH AT BINGHAM.

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anything I ever saw in cricket literature. Quite half of the article is taken up with an account of the town of Bingham from the days of the Romans. At last we come to the match, which is described in the most flowery language imaginable. George Parr going in to bat, is termed the "lion of the day; but that fickle jade Fortune deserted him" ("George" scored 3 only). The England Eleven is spoken of as one"whose name is Legion." However, the account of the match itself is soon over, and then comes a long description of the luncheons on the ground, with many compliments addressed to"the culinary talents" of the hostess of the"Chesterfield Arms" who did the catering, "which could not fail to please the most fastidious taste." The account concludes by stating that a brass band was in attendance each day, "whose rich music gave an additional charm to the gay and festive scene." I regret to say, that although 1 am quite ready to indorse all that is said about the luncheons, I am not prepared to agree with the gentleman who wrote the article in what he says about the brass band, which was about the worst I ever heard, and was heartily cursed by old Clarke from its advent to its departure.

We had a great match at my home at Reigate about this time—Reigate v. Godaiming. H. H. Stephenson and I played for Reigate, while in the ranks of Godaiming appeared Mr F. P. Miller, Mr A.

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THE SEASON OF 1854.

Marshall, Mr E. Napper, and Julius and Frederick Caesar."Julie" was busy bowling in this match, and was highly delighted at getting my wicket in both innings. However, we managed to win the match by nearly 100 runs. In the Kent and England match at Canterbury this year the hop county had the assistance of W. Clarke, Bickley, G. Parr, and Wisden. England won by 7 wickets. None of Clarke's All -England Eleven played for England, hence the fact of Julius Caesar and myself being able to take part in the Reigate and Godaiming match, which was played on the same days. We, however, played in the Sussex v. England match at Brighton in the following week. Sussex were assisted by G. Parr and old Clarke, and defeated us by 68 runs, chiefly owing to the fine bowling of Wisden. Mr F. P. Miller of Surrey played for England on this occasion. He was the same age as myself, but did not appear at Lord's till 1851. He was one of the most brilliant batsmen of the great Surrey Eleven which carried all before it in 1858. Though rather a short man, he was strongly built and could hit very hard. His best hit was perhaps the off-drive, but he was essentially an all-round batsman, there being scarcely any hit on the board which he was unable to make successfully. His defence was excellent, and though a quick run-getter he always played a correct game. He was a fair bowler and a brilliant field. Some of

A RECORD.

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the catches I have seen him make have been little short of miraculous. He was a most enthusiastic cricketer, being as fond of the game, for itself alone, as I believe both Mr Mynn and Mr Felix had been. The great success of the Surrey Eleven was doubtless attributable to the interest taken in the players by this truly great cricketer. None of Clarke's Eleven were selected to play for England by the M.C.C. in the Notts v. England match at Trent Bridge in 1854, which resulted in an easy victory for England.

At the beginning of September we played a match at Hungerford Park (Major Willes's place in Berkshire)—the All England v. Major Willes's twentytwo. Here Mr W. Ridding made a record score of 68 against us, there never having been so many made before by a member of a "twenty-two" against the All -England Eleven. Mr Ridding was a fine bat of the "hitting" order, and an excellent wicketkeeper. He played cricket without a hat, and wore simply the peak of a cap over his eyes held on by an elastic band.

The United Eleven established a record this season by having to go in to get 279 runs to win against fifteen of Gravesend, and by obtaining them with 2 wickets to spare. This was said to have been the first time a side had been set to get so large a score and to have accomplished the feat. At Birmingham we had another of our All England close

96 THE SEASON OF 1854.

finished matches, defeating twenty- two there by 12 runs. The scoring was small throughout. Cris Tinley in this match caught twelve men out at point. This being a record, was much talked of at the time. In a match towards the end of the season we got out a twenty -two of Cheshire at Macclesfield without a double figure being obtained in either of their innings, notwithstanding that they had the help of"Ducky" Diver. In our return match Surrey v. Sussex we were victorious by 10 wickets. Tom Lockyer with 65 and myself with 41 were the chief scorers for Surrey, while Tiny Wells played an excellent defensive innings of 43 for Sussex. Wells was nicknamed "Tiny" from his being little more than five feet high. For his size he was a remarkably hard hitter. His style was very peculiar. He took his guard about the distance of a couple of inches from the stumps; after doing this he held his bat over his shoulder; then when the bowler advanced to deliver the ball, he too advanced as far as the popping crease. Tiny was a fair medium-pace bowler, and could bowl lobs too if required. He was a first-rate shot—one of the best, in fact, I ever saw.

At the close of the season of 1854 a single-wicket match was played at Chertsey between Tom Sherman and Julius Caesar and H. H. Stephenson and myself. This match has, I see, been reported in the books as being for £25 a-side; but as a matter of fact it was

From the Collection of Mr A. J. Gaston, Brighton r

AVERAGES. 97

just a match made overnight for no money whatever. Caesar and Sherman defeated us by 12 runs.

The United Eleven had a successful season on the whole in 1854, taking a trip both to Dublin and to Edinburgh.

George Parr scored 933 runs this season for an average of 16, John Lillywhite just beating him with an average of 17, though he only scored 537 runs. I myself scored 875 runs for an average of 15. In eleven-a-side contests George Parr was top with 26; I ran him close with 25, being just 4 runs behind him in the total number we each obtained during the season. Julius Caesar was next with 21, and John Lillywhite followed with an average of 20. Some one writing to one of the London papers on the subject of the averages for 1854, declares his belief that they are so large this year owing to the wickets receiving more attention than formerly; and also gs on to say that"if we now had a few bowlers like Redgate and old Lillywhite, batsmen would not score as heavily as they do." In the bowling the great veteran Clarke, who was now fifty-six years of age, obtained 476 wickets at a cost of a little more than 8 runs per wicket. Wisden took 210 wickets for an average of a little under 6, while Tom Sherman, with an average of 5 runs, took 180 wickets, being just behind Jemmy Grundy, who obtained 196 wickets at the cost of a trifle under 5 runs per wicket.

G

g8 THE SEASON OF 1854.

H. H. Stephenson had the same average, but took 16 wickets less than Grundy, while I myself had no wickets for an average of 4. I was particularly anxious to beat George Parr in the batting averages this season, and I can well remember at one time I looked like doing so, but I was just beaten on the post by that eminent cricketer.

There is a story told of one celebrated bowler who was generally engaged by local twenty-twos to oppose the All -England Eleven. The bowler, it appears, owed a debt of £12 or so, for which he was greatly pressed, and was at his wits' end to know how to pay it. He, however, at last made an arrangement with

his creditor to have himself arrested on the

cricket-ground just prior to the commencement of a match. This arrangement was carried out, the bowler counterfeiting much surprise at the proceedings. The local cricketing authorities were in a great way at the prospect of being deprived of the services of their eminent bowler, and after a short consultation sent the hat round and quickly collected the required amount to set him at liberty—which was exactly what the bowler had anticipated would be donel

99

CHAPTER IX.

THE SEASON OF 1855.

Owing to my being engaged at Eton College for this season, I was unable to play so much cricket as usual. I may add that during the seasons of 1853 and 1854 I had been engaged at Christchurch, Oxford, for just the early part of the spring. Rare times we had at the University in those days, and no mistake! There were many other good men engaged there besides myself, including the veteran Pilch, Jemmy Grundy, Willsher, Julius Caesar, Hinkly, and Billy Buttress. There was one gentleman at the 'Varsity in those days who used to invite one or two of us to breakfast with him before we started practice, and such breakfasts too! I am afraid they sometimes interfered somewhat with the practice afterwards. This same gentleman used also to have the great pugilist Aaron Jones down to teach him to box. I remember once when we were breakfasting with him that his servant in opening a bottle of wine badly cut

IOO

THE SEASON OF 1855.

his hand, which Aaron Jones very skilfully dressed and bound up. Our pay at Oxford was not very large, but we made a good deal of money by the gentlemen putting a shilling on the wicket for every time we got them out. The wicket had not merely to be knocked down for us to obtain the coin, but we used to set out an imaginary field, and whenever the batsman gave a chance to the mythical fielders he forfeited his shilling. We have often made as much as 18s. per hour at this game. The wages we received at Oxford used to be £1 a week, and is. 6d. per hour. Well, as I said before, in 1855 I accepted an engagement at Eton, and not being altogether satisfied with the way poor Old Clarke had treated me, I severed my connection with the All- England Eleven.

The North and South at Lord's was the first great match of the season of 1855. This was a most interesting contest, the North winning by 18 runs. Jemmy Dean declared that the over in which he got rid of George Parr here was the best he ever bowled. The first three balls completely beat "George," and the fourth clean bowled him. John Lillywhite played a good innings for the South in this match. ** John" was a son of the famous old Sussex bowler, and although inferior to his father in the bowling line, was an infinitely better bat. He was a little, square, strongly built man, and a very powerful hitter. His style, though by no

THOMAS BKAGLEY.

From the Collection of Cobbef's Cricket Bat Co., Ltd \

C. G. TAYLOR, Esq.

From the Collection of Mr A. J Gaston, Brighton.

F. P. MILLER, Esq. v - k - WALKER, Esq.

From the Collection of Mr A. J. Gaston, Brighton.

From the Collection of Mr A. J. Gaston, Brighton .

SURREY v. ENGLAND.

IOI

means elegant, was sound and correct. For a few seasons he was one of the very best bats in England, but did not maintain his form for so long as many other cricketers of note. This was in a great measure owing to his eyesight becoming slightly defective. He was one of the leading players of the United after he left the All England in 1852.

We had a fine match, Surrey v. England, at the Oval this year. Clarke got up the England side, which was scarcely a representative one in consequence, as none of the United Eleven were asked to play. We set England 87 to get to win in their last innings, which they did not look like obtaining at one part of the game. However, they got the required number while old Clarke, the last wicket, was in. James Southerton played in this match, but was not put on to bowl. Before going in to bat in my second innings, Mr Miller promised me a handsome present if I got 50. I made 52, and received my promised reward from that gentleman.

In our match Surrey v. Sussex at Brighton we were defeated by 2 runs only. We wanted about 25 to win when our last wicket was in. Tom Sherman obtained 20 of these, and then in attempting a short run was run out. Jim Chester and I made a good stand in the early part of our last innings, and at one time we looked like getting the runs off, but after our separation there was a

102

THE SEASON OF 1855.

complete collapse. Chester was a fine free hitter, being a strong powerful man. Although his career was not a long one, he played many extremely useful innings for his county. In our return with Sussex we were defeated by 5 wickets. Surrey, I should observe, were handicapped by the absence of Julius Caesar and H. H. Stephenson, who had had a dispute with the executive about this time. The names of Messrs Edwin and William Napper are still to be found in the Sussex ranks this year. Both were left-handed batsmen, Mr Edwin, the elder brother, being the better of the two. He was a fine hitter in his day, and made many large scores.

In place of the usual Kent and England match at Lord's this year, a match was arranged "England v. a combined team of Kent and Surrey." This match had taken place only once before, and that was as fax back as 1796. In spite of the combined team being very strong we were easily defeated. Owing to Caesar and Stephenson not taking part in this match, Pilch and Wenman both refused (it was said at the time) to play with the combined counties. Mr (afterwards the Rev.) E. T. Drake took several wickets with his lobs in our second innings. He was at one time one of the best lob-bowlers in England, and although not quite so tricky with them as Tinley or Mr v. E. Walker, still he bowled with an excellent length and with

I PLAY FOR THE"UNITED." 103

a lot of twist. He was also a great hitter: being a tall thin man, loosely made, he was evidently designed by nature as such. He was likewise a magnificent field.

We once more defeated the Gentlemen in the Gentlemen and Players match this season, disposing of them for 43 in their second innings. George Parr played a grand innings of 77 for us—said to have been the best he ever played in these encounters.

My first match with the United Eleven was at Enville Hall against Lord Stamford's twenty-two. I scored 10 and 2 in this match, and obtained a few wickets. Fred Bell of Cambridge now played regularly with the United. Although not a great cricketer, he was useful as a bat and bowler, and was a wonderfully fine field, being an uncommonly fast runner. I have seen him come off an easy winner in many an impromptu foot-race. He formed one of the famous Cambridge Eleven in after-years, when Hayward, Carpenter, and Tarrant were all in their prime. My second experience with the United was a defeat at Langton Wold in Yorkshire, where we met a strong twenty -two. Mr

F. P. Miller, who was elected president of the United about this time, played for us in this match.

Wisden and Dean next arranged a North and South match at Tunbridge Wells; but there was by no means a representative team from the North

104 THE SEASON OF 1855.

on this occasion, as none of the All England would take part in the match, and the South obtained an easy victory in consequence. We reversed the tables on England in the England v. Kent and Surrey match at Canterbury by defeating them by 9 runs. England had 147 to get in their last innings, but only obtained 138. I caught and bowled 4 in this match, and was the highest scorer with 60. This match was played in the Canterbury week. A military band was on the ground, and all festivities, almost as at the present day, were in vogue. We all visited Fuller Pilch on this occasion, who had lately become proprietor of the "Saracen's Head," and had practically retired from active cricket, although for this match he had had the superintendence of the preparation of the wicket.

In a match this year against twenty -two of Chichester the United captured the last 8 wickets of the twenty-two for no runs at all, Wisden and Jemmy Dean being the bowlers.

Against twenty -two of Bedfordshire at Luton this year the United made the large score of 334. Wisden, who was in great batting form just now, scored 80, myself 57, and Mr F. Burbidge, the famous Surrey player, 54. Mr Burbidge was one of the leading members of the Surrey Eleven, who a few years later than the time I am now writing of were almost invincible. He was a splendid batsman, combining brilliant hitting powers with a most ex

MR F. BURBIDGE. 105

cellent defence. Like Mr Miller, he could hit well all round the wicket, and could often make runs when others were unable to do so. He was a splendid field, especially at point. His pluck was something extraordinary. I once remember his getting a tremendous smack on the forehead while standing point (I think it was in a Surrey and Notts match at the Oval), and although the blow almost knocked him senseless he refused to leave his post, where he made several magnificent catches in the same innings. He did a great deal to help cricket in Surrey, and was very popular with his fellowplayers.

The United played two curious matches in the same week towards the close of the season of 1855. The first was at Rotherham, where we required 27 to win when our last man (Fred Bell) went in to Chatterton, who had then only scored 2. Bell kept his end up while his partner hit away and knocked off the runs, leaving us victorious by 1 wicket. In our next match at Bradford we also came off the victors by i wicket; this time having 5 runs to get when our last man went in. We played our last match at Edinburgh, where we were defeated.

George Parr headed the averages in both eleven-aside contests and for the whole season in 1855, his average being 32 and 22 respectively. He and Mr Burbidge were the only two who scored over 1000 runs. My own average was 22 and 16, the former

106 THE SEASON OF 1855.

being for eleven-a-side matches and the latter for all. In the bowling Jack Wisden took 223 wickets in all matches at a cost of 5 runs per wicket, and as he had an average of 23 with the bat, his season may be looked upon as a remarkable one. In the wicketkeeping Lockyer caught out 40 and stumped 21. Box (who had kept in one more innings than Tom) caught out 29 and stumped 29. Lockyer was now in great form at the wicket, being scarcely ever known to miss anything at this part of his career.

107

CHAPTER X.

THE SEASON OF 1856.

Owing to a spell of ill-health I did not commence playing this season till rather late, my first match being for Surrey v. Sussex at Brighton towards the end of June. Here on a wet wicket we defeated the home side by 9 wickets. A great name figures in the Surrey Eleven who played in this match—that of Mr C. G. Lane, one of the great trio of gentlemen players who helped to place Surrey in the proud position which she occupied a few years later. To say that he was the finest bat I ever saw against fast bowling would be perhaps saying too much, but I certainly never saw a finer. He was a splendidly built man of 6 feet, and carried no unnecessary weight. His style of batting was very correct, always playing with a perfectly straight bat. For brilliancy and precision of playing fast bowling he never had a superior. He had an uncommonly hard stroke, something between a push and a drive past the mid* wickets, quite peculiar to himself. Jackson

108 THE SEASON OF 1856.

when at his best used to say he would sooner bowl at any one in England than Mr Lane. He was a grand field out in the country or at cover-point, and always threw himself heart and soul into every game he played.

The North and South match at Lord's was won by the latter by 6 wickets this year. Wisden and Willsher bowled finely in this match, which is noticeable as being the first match at Lord's in which the"Demon" Jackson took part. Mr R. Hankey made the top score of the match—38. This batsman was one of the finest that England ever produced. Like Mr Lane, he was about 6 feet high, but weighed nearly 14 stone. His batting was a treat to behold. His leg-hitting and driving were something to wonder at, and he possessed a fine bold style of defence. His innings of 70 made for the Gentlemen against the Players in 1857 has become historical, and it is strange to relate that he said to us on arriving at the wicket,"I am far from well to-day, I shan't trouble you long 1" He commenced his innings by hitting Willsher for two 4's, and continued to force the game until he was at length caught out by Willsher from a fine drive off H. H. Stephenson. He hit one 6 and several 5's, only making very few singles. It was a fine performance when one considers the amount of bowling we possessed. Willsher, Stephenson, Wisden, and myself all had a turn at him, as had also George Parr

REGINALD HANKEY, Esq.

From the Collection of Collet's Cricket Bat Co., Ltd.

A REMARKABLE BOWLING FEAT. log

with lobs."Well," sighed Jack Wisden when he was at length disposed of, "if that's his form when he's ill, I'll be hanged if I ever want to play against him when he's well!" It is a fact, nevertheless, that Mr Hankey's innings would have been larger if he had been in better condition for running. Mr Hankey was a good field and a fair change bowler, but had not a very good length. He was bom in Middlesex, but played afterwards a little for Surrey. His career was a short one, which is to be regretted by all admirers of cricket.

Harking back to the season of 1856, Surrey easily beat Oxfordshire in their return match at the Oval by 6 wickets. A most memorable match I took part in this year at Lord's—England v. Kent and Sussex. In their last innings the combined counties had only 44 to get to win, but owing to the extraordinary bowling of Bickley they only made 39, Bickley actually taking 8 wickets for 7 runs! 7 of which were clean bowled. It is also a remarkable fact that 6 of these 7 runs were made from the first over. After the match Bickley received a new ball from the M.C.C. and several sums of money from different members. In the account of this match the players are described as"receiving almost as many blows as they obtained runs." On the middle day of the match there was no play on account of rain. So a meeting was called in the pavilion to consider the subject of the "Cricketers Fund Friendly Society."

no

THE SEASON OF 1856.

On the third day we arranged to begin play at ten o'clock, but it was somewhat later than that before we got a start. A curious incident occurred when Mr Nicholson was batting in the second innings of England. Box stumped him, and John Lillywhite gave him "not out," meaning, as he at once afterwards declared, to have said "out" 1

Surrey inflicted a severe defeat on Sussex at the Oval shortly after this match, being victorious by 240 runs. I made 88, the largest score of the match. Mr Alfred Mynn officiated as umpire on this occasion.

The Players once more defeated the Gentlemen at Lord's, this time by 2 wickets. We had to take the last innings to get only 70 runs to win; but had it not been for the stand of George Parr, who made 27, we should in all probability have been defeated. In the account of the match it is described as being"the most exciting game played between the Gentlemen and Players for years, and "˜hedging' was consequently the order of the day after dinner." The betting had been 2 to 1 on us at the start, I may mention. This was the first time Julius Caesar had taken part in this match, of which he was top scorer with a fine 51 made in the first innings. Messrs C. D. Marsham and A. Payne bowled well for the Gentlemen on this occasion. Mr Marsham was a fine medium-pace bowler. He had a very pretty delivery, and on a wet wicket

MATCH AT ENVILLE HALL.

Ill

wanted a lot of watching. He was of great assistance to the Gentlemen for years, being a hard-hitting and effective bat, as well as being in the front rank of bowlers. He was also an excellent field. He was a fine man, standing well over 6 feet in height. Mr Payne was a very fast left-hand bowler, rather erratic: sometimes sending you a couple of balls almost out of reach, and the next, a regular trimmer, right on the middle stump, and often making it fly out of the ground, too, in a most alarming manner. As a bat he was also left-handed and was a most terrific hitter.

The United Eleven had a most enjoyable match at Lord Stamford's seat at Enville this year, where we were, however, easily defeated. Indeed no eleven could well contend against twenty-two such players as Lord Stamford used to get together. An excellent band from London played on the ground each day, and every one who took part in the match was treated in the most sumptuous fashion. On the middle day there were said to be over 10,000 people to witness the cricket, and at the conclusion of the match nearly 80,000 people were assembled in the grounds to behold a grand exhibition of fireworks. When the magnificent gardens were all illuminated the sight was one which could never be forgotten. We were, I may mention, again opposed to Mr Payne's bowling in this match. He was, I believe, private secretary to the Earl of Stamford at this time.

112 THE SEASON OF 1856.

Tom Lockyer and I assisted the M.C.C. against England at Lord's this season, where we were defeated by 200 runs. The chief feature of the match was the splendid hitting of Cris Tinley, who knocked up 50 in just over the hour in the second innings of England. Shortly after this I made my first century for the United—viz., 104— v. twenty-two of Luton. Our total, 358, being at that time the highest ever made against twentytwo, caused a great stir in the cricket world. I took part in a North and South match at Manchester this year, which was unfinished owing to rain, and chiefly noted for the grand innings of 102 made by the Yorkshireman, Tom Hunt. In the return match England v. Kent and Sussex the tables were turned on England, the counties defeating us by 6 wickets. Willsher and Wisden bowled magnificently throughout. The wicket at Canterbury was prepared by the veteran Pilch about this time, and was undoubtedly the best in England.

We had an interesting match at my native place, Reigate, this year—sixteen of Reigate v. the United Eleven. I assisted the sixteen, who also borrowed the services of Mr Alfred Mynn and other gentlemen. The sixteen won by 43 runs. We had several pleasant United Eleven matches towards the close of the season of 1856 in Wales and Ireland, playing a very close game against eighteen

1

REV. CANON M'CORMICK. II3

of Dublin in the Phnix Park, who defeated us by 6 runs only. That capital player Mr (now Canon) M'Cormick played for the eighteen, and had the unenviable distinction of making"spectacles." He was a fine, powerfully built man of more than 6 feet, and would, I should say, weigh over 14 stones. He was a most brilliant hitter, and had an excellent defence as well. Unfortunately he was unable to devote much time to cricket, otherwise his name would have been better remembered than it is. Mr M'Cormick was also a very useful bowler, slow round-arm, and very tricky.

When playing for the United at Hereford this year, Julius Caesar, Bell, and myself had an unpleasant experience. We stayed at Derby overnight, and being terribly tired, overslept ourselves and missed our train in the morning. Consequently we were unable to reach Hereford till late in the afternoon, and missed our innings accordingly.

The All England had a successful season, on the whole, in 1856, George Parr succeeding Clarke in the management of that body at the close of the season. "George" had not played so much as usual this year, owing to having hurt his finger badly. In the season's bowling averages it is shown that in 1856 the slow bowlers had not been so effective as the fast, Wisden and Willsher being at the top of the list. An old newspaper which I have be H

1 14 the season of 1856.

fore me declares that if a few more Wisdens and Willshers do not turn up "it will be found prudent to adopt some alteration in the size of the stumps, or some other plan to favour the bowler." This sounds rather strange to us now, when the same paper informs us that"John Lillywhite carries off the palm of victory" (in the batting averages) "with an average of 24."

H5

CHAPTER XI.

THE SEASON OF 1857.

The season of 1857 found me once more engaged at Oxford for a short time. After making my score of 104 at Luton the previous year, I had accepted an engagement with a gentleman near Hitchin; but, owing to his going abroad in 1857, it fell through. Charley Brown, Tom Lockyer, Julius Caesar, Hinkly, and others, were all engaged at Oxford in 1857. I scored 87 in a match between eleven players engaged at the University and eleven undergraduates early in the season. My first big match was for Surrey v. Cambridgeshire at Cambridge. This was the first time the two counties had met, and we had the satisfaction of beating them by 56 runs, Cambridgeshire were not very strong, however. Mr Henry Perkins (afterwards the well-known secretary of the M.C.C.) played for them, as also did Ducky Diver, who was for years one of their best players. He was a remarkably pretty bat, a good change bowler, and fine field, especially at long-stop; and as a coach, was one of

I16 THE SEASON OF 1857.

the very best that ever lived. He was a little man, but well put together. He was an excellent judge of the game, and capable of captaining any eleven in any match, however important. I have often heard George Parr declare that he was always, glad to take his cue from Diver as to when he changed the .bowling."Not very straight!" the little long-stop would whisper to "George" as he changed for the over;"take him off."

At the commencement of June 1857 was played the first of the matches between the England and United Elevens at Lord's. This first match was organised for the benefit of the Cricketers Fund. There had been attempts made during Clarke's lifetime to arrange this match, but the veteran never would consent to it so long as he had the management of the All England. A crowd of 10,000 people witnessed the first day's play, being then the largest "gate" which had ever assembled at Lord's. The match did not begin till noon, but as early as half-past nine the spectators had begun to arrive. The United scored 143 and 140; All England 206 and 78 for 4, being thus victorious by 6 wickets. I received a terrible smack in the ribs from Jackson in my second innings, which made me feel very queer. Over £150 were cleared for the fund, after deducting all expenses. Mr Dark, the owner of the ground, entertained both teams to roast - beef and plumpudding each day at lunch.

TOM HAYWARD.

117

Surrey defeated Oxfordshire this year by exactly the same number of runs with which we had beaten Cambridgeshire—viz., 56; and we followed up this by a victory over Kent by 7 wickets, and managed to again beat Cambridgeshire at the Oval by 36 runs in the return. The famous Tom Hayward assisted his county in this match, but made few runs in either innings. Volumes almost have been written about this player, and little can be said of him which has not been said already. He was a beautiful player to watch, and was a remarkably effective bat, as well as possessing a graceful style. He had a decided flourish in his style of defence, which might have been considered bad form in a less skilful batsman, but the flourish in Tom's case was natural, and was never the cause of his getting out. He was one of the very best"on-side" players I ever saw, his finest stroke perhaps being made between shortleg and mid-on. He also drove freely, but somewhat loftily. His wrist play was perfect. He was remarkable for the way he could put down a rising ball, and was also very safe at stopping a shooter. He was seen to great advantage on a fast wicket. His style of defence may be considered as forward and "half- forward." This latter stroke he used more frequently than any player I ever saw, and used it to a ball which most batsman would play back to. Though in my opinion he was not as reliable a bat as Carpenter, he was of course a more

I18 THE SEASON OF 1857.

attractive one to look at. For a first-class bat, he was, I think, the worst judge of a run I ever saw, and should say he was responsible for more "runs out" to his side than almost any other player. As a bowler he was also very good, being medium pace, with a break back, He was also an excellent field at cover-point. He was a thin man of medium height, had a very dark complexion, and rather a "sour" expression of face. Soon after he appeared in first - class cricket he joined the All - England Eleven, and made many large scores for them for years.

Surrey, continuing their victorious career, next defeated Sussex at Brighton by 9 wickets; and followed this up by a victory over the North of England at the Oval by 6 wickets. In our second innings, when we wanted 2 runs to win, Jackson got out Stephenson, Mr Miller, and Griffith in one over. I scored 60 in our first innings, for which the old newspaper says that I"received some "˜California' from the Surrey Club." Victories over Sussex, Oxfordshire, and the North of England once more were obtained by our county, who were only once defeated this season—viz., against Manchester assisted by Wisden and John Lillywhite; and here we were only defeated by 3 runs. There is no doubt that we were at this time by a long way the strongest county in England. The Gentleman and Players match was a very close one.

NORTH AND SOUTH.

II 9

the latter winning by 13 runs. This was the match when Mr Hankey made his famous 70 before alluded to. Towards the finish we looked like being defeated, as in the second innings of the Gentlemen Mr Drake was hitting our bowling all over the place. He hit a 6, two 5% and three 4's, and just before he got out the Gentlemen only required 16 to win with 2 wickets to go down. I luckily managed to snap Mr Drake at short-slip off Willsher at this state of the game, and we contrived to run the last man out (Mr Walter Fellows), and thus won amidst the greatest excitement. The betting had been at one time 6 to 4 on the Gentlemen.

There were three North and South matches in 1857,—one at Lord's, which was won by the South by 14 runs; another at Tunbridge Wells, which was won by the North; and the third match, played at Nottingham, which was left unfinished. In the match at Lord's I scored 90, but gave three easy chances. I well remember this match. I think I never saw Jackson bowl so fast as on this occasion. The wicket was fiery, and was, I recollect, pitched much nearer the pavilion than usual. It is wonderful how one remembers these details when one has made a large score in a match. If I had got out for a duck, perhaps I should have even forgotten to mention the match at all!

We played two interesting matches this year,

120

THE SEASON OF 1857.

Surrey and Sussex combined v. England. The first was at the Oval and the return at Brighton. The counties were successful in both contests. There was some good batting shown on both sides in the match at the Oval,—George Parr, Jackson, Lillywhite, and Tom Lockyer all receiving a handsome donation, which, as was then the custom, was presented publicly in front of the pavilion amidst the cheers of the spectators. I was also liberally rewarded for my bowling in the second innings, when I took 9 wickets for 29 runs. Teddy Stephenson of Yorkshire played a very useful innings of 42 in this match. The papers were rather down on him for not hitting more, but predicted that he would make a good bat if he learnt to lay on the wood. Teddy could, however, hit as hard as any one when in the humour to do so, but he had a most stubborn defence as well. Like his great Surrey namesake—to whom, by the way, he was not related—he was a bat, bowler, and wicket - keeper, being much distinguished in the last capacity. He bowled fast round - arm, and had his services not been so much in requisition behind the sticks, he would have made a very good bowler indeed. Teddy was a Yorkshireman, and quite a character. He was always saying something to put a roomful into a roar of laughter. He was a strongly made man of medium height.

We had a second match between the England

A BENEFIT MATCH.

121

and United Elevens at Lord's in 1857, this one being for the benefit of Jemmy Dean. Many thousands of people were again present, and "Jemmy" cleared a handsome sum of money. George Anderson was ill and unable to play for the All England, who wanted to play E. Stephenson in his place; but this was objected to on the ground that he could not then be considered an All-England man. Eventually Tom Adams was played by mutual consent, he having been a member of the old AllEngland Eleven. The matter took a lot of arranging, and at one time there looked like being unpleasantness. The All England won the match easily, chiefly owing to the fine bowling of Willsher in the second innings.

There were fewer matches than usual played against twenty-twos this year, owing to the intereleven, North and South matches, &c. No one scored 1000 runs in the season, although John Lillywhite and I each scored over 900 and George Parr more than 800. I may mention that I played with the M.C.C. on one or two occasions in 1857, but was never permanently engaged by them. It was, I believe, this year that Mr William Burrup succeeded to the hon. secretaryship of Surrey, vacated by his brother Mr John Burrup.

122

CHAPTER XII.

THE SEASON OF 1858.

This season I was engaged at Winchester College, where I remained for four seasons in all. I enjoyed my engagements there very much. I was kindly treated by every one, and found the cgaching of the boys very interesting. My first important match in 1858 was for the United v. Eighteen of Christchurch, Oxford, when I totalled 77. In the "Two Elevens" match at Lord's this year the United had the satisfaction of coming off victorious by 4 wickets. This again was played for the benefit of the Cricketers Fund. Another large concourse of spectators assembled, and great improvements had been made for their accommodation, amongst others being the erection of a huge marquee for luncheons. I was in good bowling form in this match, securing 7 wickets for 39 in the first innings and 5 for 64 in the second. The match is remarkable for the first appearance at Lord's of Bob Carpenter. Never perhaps did a colt do so well at Lord's in his

BOB CARPENTER.

123

first venture, when the importance of the match and the quality of the bowling is taken into consideration. Carpenter played a faultless and plucky innings of 45, most of which he obtained from the bowling of Jackson. I have called Carpenter a colt; but he could hardly be so termed, being at the time twenty -seven years of age. Carpenter has been popularly described as"the champion back-player of the century," and he may be considered as being justly entitled to the appellation. Never was there a batsman who played so much back as Carpenter. Even when he played forward he generally got back in order to do so, pushing his bat down the wicket at the last moment. But it must be remembered that Carpenter went out and drove many balls which another batsman would have played forward to. Like Tiny Wells, he was one of the few batsmen who appear to greater advantage against slow bowling than against fast. Being a strong man, and very quick on his legs, he was able to get down the wicket and hit with tremendous force, generally contriving to drive the ball on the ground or at about the height of a man's head. He was also a magnificent square -leg hitter, though he was often caught out by making this hit. He was of medium height and strongly built, being much stouter in his cricketing time than he is at present. He was first-rate at point, and made many fine catches there. Sometimes when playing against twenty -twos he

124

THE SEASON OF 1858.

would purposely miss a ball in order to let the batsman attempt a run, and leave it to Tom Hayward at cover, who was in at the trick, to run out the victim. He bowled lobs occasionally with success. Carpenter played with the United for many years, but assisted the All England a good deal during the latter part of his career. The last time I saw him was a few years ago, when I accidentally met him in London.

Another famous name appears in the ranks of the United in the match when Carpenter made his debut—viz., that of Tom Heame, who played excellently for 54 not out in the second innings. Like Carpenter, Tom began his public career rather late in life, being nearly thirty years old before he appeared at Lord's. As a bat he was a fine hitter, but did not possess at all an elegant style. He was a quick run -getter, being a splendid driver. He was also very clever at making the old"draw" between his legs and the

wicket. As a bowler Tom was of medium pace

of the Jemmy Dean type, and was on certain

wickets very effective. He was a tall man, but

carried no superfluous flesh.

Surrey again defeated the combined counties of Sussex and Kent at Brighton after we had been headed over 100 on the first innings. I made 81 in the second innings. In the return at the Oval the weather prevented a definite result from being

STUBBERFIELD—SOUTHERTON.

125

arrived at. I scored 59 in this match, being bowled by a full pitch from Stubberfield, which I was trying to hit round to leg. In justice to myself I must say that the light was very bad at the time. Stubberfield, who was a Sussex man, was a fair bowler, rather fast, but was not much of a bat. He was a great tall fellow of more than 6 feet. He possessed the longest feet I ever saw on either a cricketer or any one else. He used to say jokingly himself, that in order to keep them clear of the wicket he should have to stand at short -leg when batting!"¢

The famous slow bowler James Southerton was now assisting Sussex, which was the county of his birth. He was one of the very best slow round-arm bowlers of his day, getting a good deal of work on the ball. He not only played for Sussex, but became qualified for Hampshire, and finally for Surrey, through his living at Mitcham. When getting on in life, for a cricketer, he was for years of the greatest assistance to Surrey, at a time when they were rather short of bowling. He had a nice easy delivery, and never seemed to tire. By the time I returned from Australia in 1871 he had altered his action a good deal, having then a much higher delivery than in earlier years. Southerton was a little man, who was much liked by all who came in contact with him.

I may here say that Surrey were in great form

126

THE SEASON OF 1858.

this season, not losing a single match, and it was to commemorate this fact that the white marble tablet, so well known by frequenters of the Oval, recording the doings of the team, was presented by Mr A. Marshall of Godaiming.

This year we defeated Kent and Sussex combined, Cambridgeshire, Notts, England, and . the North. Our closest match, strange to say, was against the weakest side, Cambridgeshire, who were without several of their best men. Our match with Notts was rather a curious one. George Parr was ill and could not play, and Bickley and Cris Tinley were engaged at Lord Stamford's and unable to come; so almost at the last moment it was arranged that Diver should play as a given man for the midland shire, and he proved very useful to them, making 28 and 46. The two counties had not met since 1854; indeed Notts had played no county since then, owing to the All England matches, no doubt. The success of Surrey in the present encounter produced the following letter in one of the leading newspapers, which perhaps was the cause of Notts rousing themselves to arrange to meet Surrey the following season:—

Mr Editor,—I am sorry to find the patrons of cricket in Notts so devoid of patriotism as to allow Surrey to gain all the laurels in the cricketing world without another trial. As a demonstration of the love of cricket in the county, the great quantity of clubs that exist in the towns and

SURREY v. NOTTS.

127 .

villages need only be referred to, and I should be inclined to think, if an influential person were to interest himself in the matter, a sufficient amount of money might be collected to pay the expenses of a match between Surrey and Notts. The only drawback is the unwillingness of Lord Stamford to let his three bowlers play; but surely if a deputation were to wait upon that nobleman he would be liberal enough to grant the services of Bickley, Brampton, and Tinley. I suppose the ill feeling existing between Lord Stamford and the Surrey Committee is the reason of his objection. If this is the case, would it not be a worthy retaliation to give Nottingham a chance of plucking the laurels from the Surrey Club? On the other hand, supposing he will not let them play, could not an eleven be selected from the following names that would not disgrace Nottingham?—viz., C. Brown, A. Clarke, R. Daft, Esq., T. Davis, R. B. Earle, Esq., R. Gibson, J. Grundy, A. Hoyles, Esq., J. Jackson, A. W. M'Dougal, Esq., G. Parr, H. Parr, J. Watson, Esq., F. Tinley, H. Chatterton, and Gregory. Hoping yet to see the announcement of a match between the two counties, I am, yours, &c., Juvenis.

"Juvenis" saw his wish realised the following season, when Notts came up to the Oval and easily beat us. In the 1858 match Henry Parr, a brother of "George," came to represent his county, this being his first visit to London. I shall never forget riding on a 'bus with him. He seemed to have a fixed idea that we were going to run into every vehicle we passed, and when we had safely passed one he would call out,"That wasn't two inches

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THE SEASON OF 1858.

off!" or,"By Jingo, that was a shave!" When he first saw the Thames, too, he remarked that "The Trent was a deal wider here than it was at Nottingham"!"Oh, what a big Trent!" he kept exclaiming.

The Surrey and Notts match of 1858 is celebrated as being the first time the famous Richard Daft played for his county. A great name, indeed, this in the annals of cricket! It has become the custom, when comparing the merits of one batsman with another, to bar the name of W. G. Grace. So also when the subject of gracefulness of style of different batsmen is brought up, the name of Richard Daft should in like manner be set aside. The Rev. R. S. Holmes and Prince Ranjitsinhji speak in no spirit of exaggeration when the former declares him to have been "the most finished batsman that ever handled willow," and the latter, "the most graceful and stylish batsman that ever adorned the cricket -field." What was the cause of Daft being entitled to have this said of him? Was it his wrist -play? Partly, for beautiful wrist -play he undoubtedly possessed, but then so in as great a degree perhaps did William Barnes. No, it was not only his style of batting that was elegant, but he was graceful in every movement he made and every attitude he assumed. He had a perfectly proportioned figure, somewhat above medium height, but owing to his erect carriage looked taller than

. RICHARD DAFT. I2g

he was. His attitude at the wicket was an exact counterpart of that of Pilch. Like Tom Hayward and myself, Daft held the bat very lightly as regards his left hand, putting great pressure on the handle with the forefinger of his right. His style of play was without the slightest suspicion of flourish. The easy way he would play back at a good length ball on the off- stump was worth going miles to see. Willsher once said to me,"When Richard plays that ball I always feel as if he said,"˜If that's all you can do, Ned, you'd better put somebody else on at once 1 '" He had also a very clever way of putting down a bumping ball in the slips, often scoring 4 by doing so. He was very quick on his feet, and, like Carpenter, would frequently go out of his ground and drive a bowler hard along the ground. Then there was the stroke under his leg, which no man ever played so hard or so successfully. Daft was the only man I ever saw who deliberately turned the course of the ball when making this stroke: practically it was a leg -hit made under the leg as it were, and not by any means like a "glance." In his style of defence Mr Murdoch reminds me more of Daft than any one, except that Daft played"higher" than the great Australian batsman. Like Shrewsbury, Daft could play with success on all kinds of wickets. His large scores will be found to have been made on bumpy, slow, and sticky wickets as well as on

1

130

THE SEASON OF 1858.

easy pitches. Daft was more modern in his style of play than most of his contemporaries, and this is borne out by the fact of the enormous scores he made in local cricket after his retirement— scores often made against a first -class bowler too. He was a very fair lob -bowler and a magnificent field, especially out in the country.

Notwithstanding the absence of George Parr, the Players defeated the Gentlemen by 3 wickets at the Oval, in 1858. Daft played for the Gentlemen in this match, he and Mr v. E. Walker making a long stand in the second innings, for which they each received a prize bat. Kent with the help of Jackson, Parr, and myself played England at Lord's. It was a small-scoring match. Mr C. D. Marsham and H. H. Stephenson bowled unchanged in both innings for England, and Jackson and myself did the same for the county. In the Gentlemen and Players match at Lord's I regret to have to relate that I did not score in either innings. The Players were this time victorious by nearly 300 runs.

The great match between Surrey and England at the Oval immediately followed this. George Parr and Wisden got up the England team, which was particularly strong. I had the satisfaction of making 102 in this match, which, by the way, Surrey won in one innings. I received the usual talent -money, and £13 was collected for me besides. All the other Surrey players had a sovereign each given

ENGLAND v. VETERANS. 131

to them, and Messrs Lane, Miller, and Burbidge each a prize bat. The "prize bats" of those days were only for ornament as a rule, being made usually of some fancy wood and highly polished. After the match a dinner was given to the professionals of England by the Surrey Club in the pavilion. A great number were present. On this occasion we of the Surrey team presented Mr Burrup, the hon. secretary, who had done so much towards bringing our county to its present high position, with a meerschaum pipe mounted in gold. H. H. Stephenson made the presentation.

The All England and United match was this year played for the benefit of George Parr at Lord's. There was a great crowd each day (the match was over in two days), although the weather was not very good. An easy victory for the All England by an innings and nearly 100 runs was the result. Jackson's bowling was almost unplayable in this match, although for Lord's the wicket was not such a bad one. The Surrey v. North of England match was won by the county after having to follow our innings. An interesting match was played at the Oval this year for the benefit of Billy Hillyer—England v. Eighteen Veterans. I alluded to this match, it will be remembered, when speaking of Hillyer. Mynn, Wenman, and Guy figured for the old ones, whom we beat by 9 wickets.

A match, Married v. Single, was the last match

132

THE SEASON OF 1858.

of note played in London in 1858. This took place at the Oval, and was a most exciting affair. The Single (of which I was then one) went in first and scored 188. The Married replied with 221, to which Bob Carpenter contributed a splendid 84. The Single were disposed of for 124 in their second venture, and the Married had to go in to get 92 to win; but owing to Wisden and H. H. Stephenson being so "on the spot," we got rid of them for 75, and thus won the match by 16 runs. I never saw a bit of better bowling in my life than that of Wisden and Stephenson, neither of whom sent down a single loose ball.

George Parr had an average of 18 with 935 runs for the whole season, while I myself scored 809 runs for an average of 17. I was also well up in the bowling. I think this was the year—I am not quite sure, but think it was in 1858—that I was backed by Mr Charles Chadband of Epsom to shoot Mr Wood of that town in a pigeon-shooting match, for £25 a-side. I was a very good shot at that time and won the match alluded to, which took place at the Rosemary Branch ground at Peckham "¢ Rye, of which Mr Fred Chadband, my backer's brother, was the proprietor. Mr Alfred Mynn and Mr John Walker were present to see the match. It snowed very hard, I remember, on the day it came off. Wood was about the best shot in Surrey, so beating him was very satisfactory to myself. I

PIGEON-SHOOTING.

133

used to be very fond of pigeon - shooting in my young days. Sometimes we would get up a sweepstakes for a fat pig or something of that kind. I have won several of these at different times. Julius Caesar was one of the best shots I knew. I could hold my own with him at the traps, but he could beat me at ordinary shooting in the open. I remember once losing a shooting match against Tiny Wells for a case of wine. On this occasion we shot sparrows under flower-pots. From a boy I had been exceedingly fond of all kinds of shooting. Mr Paley, a gentleman of Reigate and a keen cricketer, used to give me leave to shoot blackbirds in his fields, and, I am sorry to say, I by no means restricted myself to blackbirds at such times!

134

CHAPTER XIII.

THE SEASON OF 1859.

Early in 1859 I made the largest score I ever made in my career. This was 157 for Surrey v . sixteen Undergraduates of Cambridge on Fenner's ground. Tom Hayward had, about a fortnight before, scored 220 when assisting the gentlemen of Cambridgeshire against eleven undergraduates of the 'Varsity. When I made my 157"Tom" was one of the umpires, and at different parts of my innings he kept saying that he was sure I was going to beat that record score of his. Perhaps if I had been playing against eleven I should have done so. The England and United match this year was a bowler's match, the ground being very dead. Wisden captained the United, and having won the toss decided to go in, although the majority of us thought it would have been better to have put in our opponents. However, the result was a win for the United by 38 runs. This was the fifth time the two elevens had met, England having now won three matches and the United two. The North and

MR v. E. WALKER.

135

South match at Lord's was easily won by the latter by 10 wickets. Mr Haygarth was the top scorer of either side with 45, which he took over three hours and a half to make.

A Gentlemen and Players match was again played at the Oval in 1859, and resulted in an innings victory for the Players. George Parr played a fine innings of 73. Mr v. E. Walker took 6 of our wickets with his lobs. He was, without doubt, one of the finest lob-bowlers ever seen, and for fielding to his own bowling I never saw his equal. As a bat he was, in my humble opinion, the best of all the Walkers. He was an exceedingly fine hitter, with a splendid defence. Although his younger brother, the late Mr "I. D.," may have been a more effective bat, still he certainly was not so attractive to look at as Mr v. E. In the Surrey v. England match of 1859 he performed the extraordinary and unparalleled feat of scoring 100 runs and taking in one innings the whole of his opponents' wickets. Clarke, Cris. Tinley, and Mr Walker form the finest trio of lob-bowlers I ever saw. Mr Walker was a splendid field, and could not be placed in a wrong position. He was altogether one of the best all-round cricketers who ever donned flannels.

The second England and United match of 1859 was again won by the latter, thus making each to have won three matches of the six played. Carpenter and Tom Hearne, going in first for the United,

136 THE SEASON OF 1859.

knocked up 149 runs before they were separated. Carpenter eventually made 97, and batted for four hours and a half. I played for England shortly afterwards against sixteen Undergraduates of Oxford at Lord's. Jemmy Grundy played an excellent innings of 103, taking six and a half hours to make them.

One of the great events of the season of 1859 was the match between Surrey and Notts at the Oval. Only one match between these counties took place this year, and it resulted in a win for the midland county by 8 wickets. George Parr obtained in this match the highest score he ever made—viz., 130. He received a nasty knock on the finger when he had made about 60, and, unless my memory misleads me, he also ricked his side at one period of his innings and had Daft to run for him. His innings was played without a chance, and £20 was collected for him on the ground. The Notts innings closed at 7.15 on the first day for 329. The betting at the start had been 6 to 4 on Surrey, but on Friday morning, before commencing our first innings, it was 5 to 1 against us. We scored 213 (of which I made 76), and following on made 172, thus leaving Notts 50 odd to get, which they obtained for the loss of 2 wickets. The Surrey Club paid all the expenses of the Notts players on this occasion, amounting to about £120 I believe. I must take this opportunity of saying that the Surrey Club were very liberal in

A CLOSE FINISH.

137

rewarding their players at this period. In the match I have spoken of I received £ 2 for my 76, as also did Tom Lockyer for getting 61 in the second innings, and several of the Notts players also were awarded talent-money.

The Players this year again obtained an easy victory over the Gentlemen at Lord's. George Parr was unable to play owing to the injured finger he had received at the Oval. It began to be suggested about this time that the Gentlemen should be allowed a few extra players, and one eminent authority wrote to one of the newspapers proposing that the Gentlemen should play with wickets of less width. Neither suggestion was, however, adopted. The England and Surrey match (which may be called Mr v. E. Walker's match, owing to his unique performance already alluded to) resulted in disaster for the county, we being defeated by nearly 400 runs. In our match against the North of England we were more fortunate, as we won by 2 wickets. George Parr was unable to bat in the second innings, having been taken ill overnight, or the result might have been different. The game became most exciting at the finish, as Jackson was bowling in fine form, and when Tom Lockyer made the winning hit the strain was intense. Tom played a grand innings of 51 not out, and was handsomely rewarded for his services. We had a delightful match shortly afterwards, the United Eleven "against Mr John Walker's

138 Tilt SEASON OF 1859.

Sixteen, played on Mr Walker's ground at Southgate. Six out of the seven Walkers played against

us, the absentee being Mr "I. D." I was top scorer with 124 for the United, and Mr v. E. Walker with 88 for the sixteen. This was not the first time I had played at Southgate. It was always a most pleasant place to play at. The ground was an excellent one, and several thousands of spectators would often be there to witness a good match.

Surrey defeated a combined eleven of Kent and Sussex at the Oval. The match is remarkable for the fact of Surrey putting on 128 runs out of a total of 234 for the last wicket, Mudie making 79 and young Tom Sewell 39. Mudie was a useful

bat, though never quite first-class, and was also a good lob -bowler. He was a tall man and very thin, and was nicknamed in consequence"The Surrey Shadow." George Griffith was now playing regularly in the Surrey Eleven, and was for years one of its most distinguished players. As an all-round man he had few equals in the kingdom. As a batsman he was one of the hardest hitters that ever lived, and his opponents were always delighted to see the back of him. "Ben," as he was always called, was just the man to go in and pull a match out of the fire. He was, I should say, the best left-hand batsman that had been out up to his own time, with the exception of Mr Felix, who of course was a batter of another

139

"BEN'* GRIFFITH.

type."Ben" bowled as well as batted left-hand, . being fast round with a nice amount of break. On certain wickets his bowling was about as nasty as anything which can be imagined. He was also a fine field anywhere, and could throw a great distance. Towards the latter part of his time he bowled under-hand lobs very well indeed. At the time Mr Jackson of Fairfield was ready to back Hayward and Carpenter to play any two in England at single wicket. I was anxious to make a match for Ben Griffith and myself to take on the two Cambridge cracks. I remember once meeting Carpenter at a hotel in London and suggesting this to him, and £25 to back Ben and myself was quickly collected in the room; but for some reason or other the match never came off. With all due respect to the two Cambridgeshire stars, I may perhaps be pardoned for saying, that had we played them I think we ought to have beaten them, as there would practically have been only Hayward to have bowled against us, whereas both "Ben" and myself were bowlers. Fast bowling is of course an important factor in single wicket; and then there would have been"Ben's" great hitting powers to be dealt with. I have always regretted that for the sake of sport this match never came off. Griffith was only of medium height, but was tremendously strongly built. He stooped a little, and having a short neck, his head appeared to

140

THE SEASON OF 1859.

be partially buried between his immense shoulders. His career was somewhat cut short by his severely straining himself while catching a ball.

The match Surrey won by 34 runs against the North at Broughton, Manchester, towards the end of August in 1859 was rendered rather unpleasant by the following incident. On the first day Surrey were batting (having gone in first), and Teddy Stephenson, who was keeping wicket for the North, had his finger badly hurt early in the game. The injured finger was so painful that one of the other players (Cris Tinley, I believe) took the gloves, and Stephenson went into the field. Surrey were got out just before time on the first day, and the North began batting the next morning. After they had lost 6 wickets or so, Mr Miller, our captain, was asked if a substitute could be allowed to bat in place of Stephenson. This he refused to permit, and after a rather heated discussion, Stephenson came in to bat amidst the cheers of the crowd, intending to play with one hand, but before a ball could be bowled to him George Parr came out of the pavilion and peremptorily ordered him to come back. Stephenson did so, and the North thus played a man short in both innings, which perhaps was the cause of their losing the game.

And now a great event occurred, as a team of English cricketers paid their first visit to America.

OS

|o

S' I

CHAPTER XIV.

THE FIRST ENGLISH TEAM IN AMERICA.

On the 7th of September 1859 the first team of English cricketers set sail to America from Liverpool in the Nova Scotia. We all arrived at Liverpool overnight and put up at the George Hotel, while we were photographed on a vessel in the docks before proceeding on board the Nova Scotia. The English twelve were a very powerful lot, consisting of H. H. Stephenson, Julius Caesar, Tom Lockyer, and myself from Surrey; George Parr, Grundy, and Jackson from Notts; Hayward, Carpenter, and Diver (Cambridge); and Wisden and John Lillywhite from Sussex. Fred Lillywhite too accompanied us as reporter, and took his printing-press and scoringtent along with him. There was not a single member of the team who could not bowl, two lobbowlers being found in Parr and Carpenter. Our team rather curiously was composed of six All England and six United Players. We were just over a fortnight making the voyage, and experienced

142 THE FIRST ENGLISH TEAM IN AMERICA.

some rather rough weather. Some of us were very bad sailors, the worst being John Lillywhite, H. H.

' tephenson, and old Jackson. There were also one or two of the others who were not much better. Parr, Wisden, Hayward, and Carpenter were just the same as if they had been on land, especially Wisden, who seemed thoroughly to enjoy the voyage at first. George Parr was all right except when it got a bit rough, whereupon he always became extremely nervous for fear we should "go down"; and at once tried to give himself a little Dutch courage by imbibing a copious supply of gin - and - water, which always seemed to me to have the opposite effect to what"George" desired, and made him more nervous than ever. After some days we most of us found our "sea-legs," and passed the time by day in playing"shuffle-board," there being generally a bottle or two of champagne depending on the result of each game. In the evenings we often had a little harmony. Our Captain (Mr Borland was his name) was, I recollect, particularly delighted with Bob Carpenter's song, "The sweet little cherub that sits up aloft," and at his request "Bob" rendered this very effectively at all our concerts. Diver and Jemmy Grundy too were much called upon as vocalists. Towards the end of our voyage we passed some enormous icebergs, which were very beautiful. They however at once drove old "George" to ginand- water for fear we might encounter some of them

FIRST MATCH IN CANADA.

143

in the dark. Indeed, what with rough weather, icebergs, and a good thick fog which came on at one time, poor "George" had by no means a pleasant time of it. We landed at Quebec on the 22nd of September, and proceeded to Montreal by special train, where we were to play our first match. We put up at the St Lawrence Hotel (an immense building it was), where we were most kindly treated. While we were there, nearly 300 people used to sit down at the table d'hdte. The proprietors of this hotel had, we found out, subscribed liberally towards the expenses of our tour.

Our first match was delayed for a day owing to rain. There was great excitement on the day of the match, and several thousands of spectators were assembled long before the time for commencing play. There were a lot of people from the States as well as the natives. We were to encounter twenty-two of Lower Canada, and as we lost the toss we had to take the field. I had the honour of bowling the first ball, Jackson taking the other end. My first ball was hit for 4, but with the next I got a wicket. When the sixth wicket fell for only 12 runs there were loud cries round the ground of "Bravo, England!" The innings terminated for 85, George Parr obtaining the latter wickets with his lobs. We had not much time to bat that day, as stumps had to be drawn early. Grundy and Diver opened the batting, and "Jemmy" was got out very quickly. Tom

144 THE FIRST ENGLISH TEAM IN AMERICA.

Hayward was next in, and he and Diver played out time. The day being Saturday, we of course had to wait till Monday before the game was resumed. A splendid banquet was given to us at the hotel on the Saturday night. On Monday morning there was more excitement, the spectators crowding round us in great numbers while we were practising before the match. The English eleven totalled 117 in the first innings, George Parr being top scorer with 24; Tom Lockyer next with ig not out; I was next with 18, and Hayward just after me with one less. The only"duck" was made by Julius Caesar. We got out the twenty -two for 63 in their second attempt, which left us about 30 to win. A good deal of betting was made that these would be knocked off by our two first batsmen—Lockyer and Hayward; but they were both disposed of, and it remained for Diver and myself to make the necessary runs. Bob Carpenter had not taken part in this our first match, but had officiated as umpire. As the game was over early on the Tuesday, another match had been arranged to commence as soon as the first was concluded. The six All England men were put on one side and the six United on the other; five gentlemen of Lower Canada assisting each to make up eleven a -side. The United batted first and scored 188. There was great excitement to see Carpenter bat, as he had not yet done so, and the spectators were delighted to see him knock up 32.

MATCH AT NEW YORK.

145

All England were got out for 90, and having to follow on, were got rid of for 44, thus losing the match (which we stayed an extra day to finish) by an innings and 54 runs.

On the following morning we left Montreal very early to proceed to New York. After a long and tedious journey and a lot of changing we arrived at Albany. I recollect that Fred Lillywhite's printingtent was a great nuisance to us on the journey. It was a most complicated arrangement, and took a lot of carting about, and he was always complaining that the railway porters did not stow it away properly, until at last George Parr lost all patience and in pretty plain language consigned both Fred and his tent to an unmentionable region. It was night when we reached Albany, where a steamer awaited us, and everything being got on board, including the tent which had so annoyed poor George, we, after partaking of a meal, all turned in to bed. We arrived at New York on the Sunday morning, and put up at the Astor House Hotel. There was great excitement evinced on our arrival, about 2000 persons visiting the cricket-ground on the Sunday afternoon I The ground was that of the St George's Club, and here on the Monday morning was a great crowd of nearly 10,000 people. We were absolutely mobbed when we arrived on the field, so eager were they all to get a look at us. Many of them had arrived at our hotel before we left, and followed us as we drove

K

I46 THE FIRST ENGLISH TEAM IN AMERICA.

to the ground, cheering us like mad. A band was on the ground, and everything was as lively as possible. We won the toss and put our opponents (twenty-two of the States) in to bat. John Lillywhite acted as our umpire. The bowling was intrusted to George Parr and Jackson. The twentytwo did not appear to at all understand the break on "George's" lobs, and as there was a stiff wind blowing they attributed the break to that. They were all disposed of for the small score of 38. Hayward and Carpenter opened the innings of the Englishmen to the strain of "Rule Britannia," and the two quickly knocked off the runs. John Lillywhite had occasion to "no-ball" one of the two American bowlers who opened the attack, in his first over, and for doing this the unfortunate bowler was taken off by the American captain when the over was completed, although only 1 run had been scored off him! Our innings closed for 156, Hayward being the largest scorer with 33 and his fellow-townsman next with 26. George Parr only made 7, but contrived to make one of his grand leg-hits, which went right over the heads of the spectators. The twenty-two only made 54 in the second innings. I captured 16 of their wickets at a cost of only 24 runs.

The next day we played a match on the same ground—T. Lockyer's side v. Stephenson's side. Wisden, Grundy, Parr, Lockyer, Caesar, and myself with five Americans made up one eleven; while the rest

WE ARRIVE AT PHILADELPHIA. I47

of our team and five more composed the other side. Lockyer's side were victorious by 74 runs. George Parr, in the second innings, was batting grandly when he received a tremendous blow from Jackson on the elbow. He, however, continued his innings, but after a while his elbow swelled to an enormous size. I dressed it for him, and continued to do so for many days; but he was unable to again take part in a match, which was a great source of disappointment to every one. We had a dinner given to us at our hotel in New York, and very enjoyable it was, there being some excellent music and singing; and being a pretty good judge of this sort of thing myself, it was very delightful to me. Poor George, in spite of his injury, was present, and had to make a speech, a task he did not at all like, for he was but a poor orator. One gentleman at this dinner read out a verse of ptry, describing our play, which he had composed during the match,—

"In fielding nimble and in bowling strong,

In batting skilful,—all their innings long,

Well formed to catch, to run, to strike the ball,

The many points in cricket—good in all."

On the Saturday night we left New York for Philadelphia, arriving there about eleven o'clock. An immense crowd awaited us at the station. A grand supper also awaited us at our hotel, to which many of the Philadelphian gentlemen sat down, and it was very late before we adjourned to bed.

148 THE FIRST ENGLISH TEAM IN AMERICA.

We passed a quiet day on Sunday, and were all ready for cricket once more on Monday morning. A lot of rain had fallen in the night, and it was afternoon before a start could be made. Even then play would have been out of the question had we been in England. The match was against twentytwo of Philadelphia, nine of whom were got out on the first day for 40 runs. On the next day we had no cricket, owing to an election taking place. On Wednesday, however, we had a full day. An immense number of people were on the ground, about a thousand ladies, whose brilliant costumes lit up the whole scene, occupying one stand. Here, as at New York, a band was in attendance. We defeated the twenty-two by 7 wickets. This was the match in which Carpenter was caught off the famous wide ball 1 Bob, however, continued his innings. A North and South match was got up at the conclusion of the game, which was unfinished. The match against the twenty-two had been played for the benefit of the English Players. The Yankees were, many of them, much surprised to find that our captain was not a much older man; in fact, I believe some of them expected to find George an octogenarian. "Old Parr," however, was the name by which they always continued to call him all the time we were in the States.

On the Saturday afternoon we proceeded to Buffalo, on our way to Hamilton, where we were engaged to

MATCH AT HAMILTON.

I 49

play our next match v. twenty-two of Upper Canada. The journey to Buffalo was a very tedious one, and we went a great length of time before we were able to get anything to eat. We arrived at Buffalo on Sunday morning, from whence we had arranged to go on to Niagara; but when we arrived at Buffalo we found the train for the Falls had already started, so we were obliged to take a conveyance, and we were nearly five hours doing a distance of twentytwo miles or so. It was evening before we reached our destination and took up our abode at the International Hotel on the American side. Arriving so late prevented us from seeing so much of the world-renowned Falls as we could have wished. We were up very early, however, on the Monday morning, as we had to leave at about nine o'clock, and saw all we could of them, but unfortunately we had not time to go on to the Canadian side. On our arrival at Hamilton—"the ambitious city," as it was called—we were met by so dense a crowd of people that we had great difficulty in getting out of the station. Fred Lillywhite's printing - tent had been lost on the journey, and consequently there were"no cards" on the first day at Hamilton. The weather was terribly cold, it now being the 17th of October. The twenty-two batted first and scored 66. Lockyer's wicket-keeping elicited a great amount of applause in this match, and Tom went through a lot of"by-play" to still more astonish

150 THE FIRST ENGLISH TEAM IN AMERICA.

the spectators. Every time he took the ball he would return it like a flash of lightning to the bowler, and each time he did so there was a round of applause from the spectators. The English team scored 79, and the twenty-two made 53 in the second innings, leaving us with about 40 to win, which we obtained without the loss of a wicket.

We left Hamilton that night and travelled to Rochester. It had been intended that our match at Hamilton should be the last of the tour; but while we were at New York the match was arranged, to be played against twenty-two of Canada and the States combined. It was morning before we arrived at Rochester, and the cold was now intense. We got the twenty-two out for 39 on the first day. On the second there was no play owing to a fall of snow, so we had a turn at base-ball. The Yankees paid me the compliment of saying that I was the best player amongst the Englishmen at this game. Sunday intervening, we all took the opportunity of going to Niagara Falls—a long journey—and we were thus able to view them from the Canadian side. The visit well repaid the trouble of getting there, the sight of the Falls being most impressive, in fact never to be forgotten. Returning to Rochester, we resumed our match on the Monday and scored 171 runs. When we took the field for the last time most of us had overcoats and gloves on! George Parr had tried a turn at umpiring, but he

THE HOMEWARD VOYAGE. 151

was not long in finding a substitute, and adjourned to the pavilion to hot gin-and-water.

We left Rochester that evening, and very early in the morning found ourselves at a place called Rome. There were no beds vacant at the hotel there, so we had to get a few hours' rest as best we could in the smoke-room. We next took train to Cape St Vincent, from whence we proceeded in a river-boat up a narrow canal to Kingston. On our arrival there we found the railway station was several miles away, and that we should never get there in time, with our great quantity of baggage, to catch the train to Montreal. One or two gentlemen, however, drove over to the railway in a trap and induced the authorities to delay the starting of the train for an hour. This saved us waiting at Kingston till the following day, but as it was, we reached Montreal that night. Having spent a day there, where we went to a steeplechase meeting, we proceeded to Quebec, whence we were to return to England in the North Briton. About two hundred miles up the river we passed the Nova Scotia, which had brought us out. The captain of the North Briton ordered a large board to be brought on deck, and chalked on it in large characters,"Won all our matches." This was no sooner seen by those on board the Nova Scotia than they began to cheer lustily, waving their hats and clapping their hands like anything. After a

152 THE FIRST ENGLISH TEAM IN AMERICA.

few days' fairly smooth sailing a fearful gale sprang up. Oh, dear me! all we had gone through on the outward journey we had to go through again, only this was much worse. Jemmy Grundy declared we should never see land again; poor George Parr was nearly out of his mind; old Jackson dropped on his knees; and indeed our situation was rather a critical one. Our jib-boom was broken, and one poor old sailor had both his legs broken while he and some of the crew were endeavouring to set matters right. A subscription was got up for the injured man; and we also arranged a concert in the saloon a few days later for his benefit, at which Carpenter, Grundy, John Lillywhite, Diver, and myself assisted. The poor fellow, I regret to say, died of the injuries he had received a few days afterwards. We were all pleased to see Liverpool once more, where Jemmy Grundy was detained for some time at the custom-house for having a box or two of cigars amongst his luggage. We had had, on the whole, a most eventful trip, and had experienced the greatest kindness from every one both in Canada and in the States.

A few weeks later a banquet was given to the Southern cricketers who had formed part of the English team, at Godaiming. There were over ioo persons present, including Mr John Walker, Mr W. Burrup, Mr Edwin Napper, and others. Mr Henry Marshall occupied the chair and Mr

A BANQUET AT GODALMING. 153

Alexander Marshall the vice - chair. It was a splendid affair, and greatly appreciated by those in whose honour it had been arranged. I may say that we cleared about £go each over the Canadian-American tour.

I was at the top of the Surrey averages this year with 26, and scored just over 1000 runs in all matches of the season, with an average of 23.

154

CHAPTER XV.

THE SEASON OF 1860.

I was engaged again at Winchester College this year, and while there had rather a novel experience at single wicket, being matched by Mr Burt, a hotel proprietor, to play an eleven of the town, including the Mayor. I was to have the assistance of two fields. The affair caused a good deal of excitement in Winchester before the match came off. It took us two days to finish it. I went in first and scored 20. This, with the help of 14 wides and 1 no-ball, brought my total up to 35. I remember the gentleman who fielded point (and who stood very close in) chaffed me a good deal at the beginning of my innings about the folly of my attempting to play eleven of them, whereupon, being rather nettled at this, I offered to lay 10 to 1 on myself, and at the same time strongly advised him to stand farther away or I might injure him! I got my opponents out for 4 runs only (one of them being absent). I only made 1 in my second innings. On the next day, when my opponents had to go in to bat once more, there were two absentees. I once more sue

A SINGLE-WICKET MATCH. 155

ceeded in getting them out for 4, and thus was victorious by 28 runs. The officers at the barracks had arranged a cricket match, but scratched it in order to come and see this match of mine. These kind of contests are often made light of, but are not so easily won as some people imagine. Let it be remembered that there are ten men all in front of the batter, in addition to the bowler, and that all runs are obliged to be made in front of the wicket, and that the batsman is not allowed to leave his ground to hit. I received, I believe, £ 10 for winning this match. There are several other cases on record of one playing eleven. Old Clarke, I think, once did so; also that famous fast Nottingham bowler Sam Redgate, whom I only once saw at Derby. I give the score of the match at Winchester in full:—

FIRST INNINGS. SCORE. SECOND INNINGS. SCORE.

W. Caffyn, b W. Collins . . ao c Sharpe, b W. Collins . i

wides 14, no-balls i"¢ .15 wides, &c. . ."¢ o

Total . 35 Total . 1

ELEVEN OF WINCHESTER.

S. Sherry, b Caffyn .

J. Nash, b Caffyn

E. Powell, c and b Caffyn .

T. Forder, b Caffyn .

J. Tubb, b Caffyn

T. Birt, c and b Caffyn—Sharpe, b Caffyn .

W. Collins, b Caffyn .

J. Blake, b Caffyn W. Judd, c Simpson, b Caffyn T. Collins, absent wides, &c.

Total

I

b Caffyn ....

2

0

absent ....

0

0

c Chamberlayne, b Caffyn .

0

0

b Caffyn ....

z

0

b Caffyn ....

1

2

b Caffyn ....

0

O

b Caffyn ....

0

0

b Caffyn . ' .

0

O

b Caffyn ....

0

I

c Chamberlayne, b Caffyn .

0

O

absent ....

0

O

wides, &c.

0

4

Total

4

156 THE SEASON OF 1860.

Amongst others whom I had the honour of coaching at Winchester College was Mr Herbert Stewart, who afterwards entered the army, eventually becoming General Stewart, and who, it will well be remembered, lost his life for his country in the Soudan.

The summer of 1860 was one of the most wet and miserable cricket seasons I ever remember. We never seemed to get anything but soft wickets that year. We had a great match at Reigate in May, the United paying us a visit to play sixteen of us, with Jackson given. Owing to rain the match was drawn. The annual"Two Elevens" match at Lord's was won by the All England by 21 runs. The wicket was a very sticky one. This was the match where George Parr hit me over the tavern. I, however, got him caught at long â– < leg afterwards, but not before he had scored 55.

Two fine bowlers, one on either side, first played on the famous St John's Wood enclosure in this match—George Tarrant for the All England and William Slinn for the United. Tarrant was one of the fastest bowlers that ever lived. He was right hand, and delivered level with his shoulder, taking a long run before doing so. He would be just about the same pace as Jackson, I should say, though he was not able to make the ball get up so much. Tarrant had a great way of getting a batsman out by the ball cannoning off his legs into the wicket. He did this oftener

G. TARRANT—W. SLINN.

157

perhaps than any bowler of his time. Tarrant always bowled at the stumps, and never relied much on his field to get his wickets. He was also a very good bat, and at times made large scores, as he hit wonderfully well. Besides this, he was a first-rate field. He was rather a short man and very lightly built. He was of a most excitable temper, and his nickname of "Tear 'em" I used to think suited him to perfection.

In 1861 Hayward and Carpenter were backed by Mr Jackson, the owner of the famous race-horse Blair Athol, to play the three "Toms" of Stockton—Tom Robinson, Tom Darnton, and Tom Hornby—at single wicket for £ 200 . The Cambridge pair were victorious. Later on the two, with Tarrant added, were matched to play the three Stockton players, with Halton and George Atkinson added. The stakes were doubled and the match played at Sheffield, and once more the Cambridge men were the conquerors. The celebrated trio were, however, defeated by Richard Daft, John Jackson, and Alfred Clarke at Nottingham twelve months later.

William Slinn, the Yorkshireman, was a beautiful fast bowler, with a perfect delivery and an excellent length. He was a tall man, and seemed to give the ball an elevation in the air after it left his hand. He was also able to make a good-length ball get up high from the pitch in a way which was very awkward for the batsman. Slinn, like the famous

THE SEASON OF 1860.

158

J. C. Shaw, was a bowler only. With the bat he was completely helpless, and in the field he was very indifferent.

My county drew with Sussex at the Oval in 1860, but beat them in the return, Mr Miller and young Tom Sewell knocking up over 150 before the first wicket fell. In this match I got Tiny Wells out in a most remarkable way. In playing a ball from me a piece of his bat was chipped off, which flew into the wicket and knocked off a bail. It has appeared in print that the broken piece went over "Tiny's" shoulder, but this was not the case.

Our two great matches this season were against Notts. At the Oval we had a most exciting game. The wicket was a dead one and in favour of the bowlers. The game fluctuated a great deal from time to time. In our last innings we had to go in to get about 120 runs, and 50 of these were obtained when the first wicket fell, and 2 to 1 was betted on us. After lunch, however, Jackson got to work, and an hour later the betting was 6 to 4 on Notts, who eventually beat us by the small majority of 15 runs. Jackson took nine wickets in our second innings for 20 odd runs.

I took 12 wickets in the match. On the second day we played as late as half- past seven. There was a dispute about one of our players being bowled, I remember, it being thought that Charley Brown the wicket-keeper had touched the wicket

NOTTS v. SURREY.

159

with his foot and dislodged the bail. The umpires (Tom Barker and old Tom Sewell) being in doubt, of course ought to have given the batsman the benefit of it, instead of which they appealed to Charley Brown himself as to whether his foot had touched the wicket."Charley" promptly replied that his foot had never been near the stumps, and on hearing this the umpires decided that our man was out.

In the return match at Nottingham we were victorious, although we only won by 30 runs after being over 80 behind on the first innings. George Parr, having strained his side, decided not to play at the last moment, and so the betting was even at the start, but had been 6 to 4 against us when it was thought that"George" would take part in the match. Surrey batted first, but only succeeded in making 109, Cris Tinley with his lobs obtaining most of our wickets. Notts then scored 196, so it will be seen the outlook for Surrey was not very rosy. In our second innings, however, we collared the bowling at one period, and ran up a total of 247. Of these I made 91. This, I believe, was the best innings I ever played, and I feel proud to hear that it is still remembered by old cricket enthusiasts at Nottingham. Notts had about 160 to win when they commenced the second innings, but only managed to get 130. I was in good form with the ball fortunately, and took 6 of their wickets

16o

THE SEASON OF 1860.

for 30 odd runs. There was some talk, I remember, about the two counties playing off the "conqueror" match on neutral ground; but nothing came of it. What enthusiasm there was at Nottingham in those days, to be sure I A huge crowd collected each day on the Trent Bridge. Their cheering and clapping of hands for every bit of good play I can hear now! There was no hotel one could go into in the evening but cricket, cricket, cricket greeted us at every turn. The whole town seemed to have gone mad on the game. I remember, when we were on our way to the Trent Bridge one morning, seeing Bendigo the ex-champion prize-fighter fishing from one of the recesses of the old bridge which used to span the Trent. Some one suggested throwing a stone at his float, which was done; but when Bendy got up in a towering rage and looked like making for us we sheered off in double-quick time. I saw a good deal of Bendigo at Nottingham, where he was looked on as a mighty hero. He used to show us how he stopped a blow of Deaf Burke's—which was aimed at his ear—by jerking up his shoulder, which trick Bendigo could do in a most amazingly clever manner.

There were two novel matches played in 1860. One was the eleven which had been to America the previous year against another picked eleven of England. This was called the "Champion match," and was played at Manchester. The Anglo-Americans

FIRST ELEVEN v. NEXT FOURTEEN. 16l

were defeated by 3 wickets. The ground was dead, and the slows of Cris Tinley were- very effective. Mr W. P. Lockhart kept wicket against us, and stumped 4 or 5 off Tinley in the match. He was presented with a silver cigar-case by the Manchester Club for his fine wicket-keeping. As soon as this match was concluded a violent thunderstorm came on, and had this occurred five minutes earlier the game must have been drawn, for the ground soon became a sheet of water.

Another match of interest was one played at Lord's,—the first eleven of England against the next fourteen. I believe it was Lord Charles Russell who originated this match. The fourteen beat us by 8 wickets. There was much grumbling at the time, I recollect, about the selection of the two teams, many being of opinion that several of the fourteen ought to have been chosen in the eleven and vice versd.

The return between the"two Elevens" at the Oval was drawn greatly in favour of All England. It was, I believe, the first time this, the eighth match between the rival elevens, had been drawn. One evening during the match we were all entertained at dinner by the Surrey Club. The match was played for the benefit of Billy Martingell, and was wonderfully well patronised. Surrey played two matches with the North of England. We were well beaten in the one at the Oval. Tom Lockyer

L

162

THE SEASON OF 1860.

fielded in this match, because we required his bowling, and H. H. Stephenson kept wicket. The return at Manchester was unfinished. In this match that fine bat Mr Joseph Makinson played against us. He was a most attractive batsman to see, obtaining his runs quickly, and able to hit brilliantly all round the wicket; and though rather a short man, was a very powerful driver, not being afraid to come out of his ground. He was also a fair bowler, and as good a field as could be seen. It is a pity that he was not able to take part in the national game more than he did. In the match at the Oval, Surrey v. England, the weather prevented us from bringing it to a conclusion, otherwise I think we should have gained the victory.

The two Gentlemen and Players matches were again easily won by the Players by 8 wickets at the Oval, and by an innings and 180 runs at Lord's. The two matches are chiefly noticeable for the innings of 119 made by Bob Carpenter at the Oval, and that of Tom Hayward for 132 at Lord's. Both were wonderfully fine performances. Carpenter made some tremendous hits, creating a record by sending one ball clean out of the Oval. Hayward's innings was a fine display of free hitting and scientific defence, and was, I believe, the largest score ever made in a Gentlemen and Players match. He was about five hours at the wickets. There is no denying that the bowling of the Gentlemen was

I MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT. 163

weak at this period, and it was much easier to obtain runs against them than it was to do so when one was opposed to professional bowling.

The All England and United had, as had become usual now, most of their work to do towards the close of the season, there being more good eleven-aside matches than formerly. For this the public had to thank the hon. secretary of the Surrey Club, Mr W. Burrup, to a great extent, who always contrived to provide an attractive programme at the Oval. The wickets there, too, were greatly in advance of most other grounds. While playing for the United at Bradford early in September 1860 I fell down while making a run and displaced a bone in my knee. I continued my innings in great pain, and this accident placed me on the shelf for the rest of the season. My knee never got thoroughly sound again, and I wear a bandage round it to this day.

Tom Hayward made over 1000 runs this season for an average of 17. George Anderson was at the top of the list with an average of 20, having totalled 800 runs. Cris Tinley took over 300 wickets this season, which being so wet was of course greatly in favour of slow bowling.

164

CHAPTER XVI.

THE SEASON OF 1861.

The season of 1861 was a run-getting one. Great things were done with the bat, Hayward, Carpenter, and Daft being very much to the fore. Surrey succeeded in vanquishing her formidable adversary Nottinghamshire twice, and highly delighted we were at doing so. The rival counties had now played ten matches, of which Surrey had won six, although our victory of 1858 can scarcely be counted, as several of the best Notts men were away and they played Diver as a given man. Surrey and Cambridgeshire met this year at Cambridge. This was a great run -getting match, we totalling 252 and Cambridgeshire 325. Two centuries were made, I scoring 103 and Tom Hayward just beating my score by 9 runs. The Prince of Wales, who was at Cambridge at the time, was present at this match on one of the days. This match was left unfinished. In the return we were defeated by 2 wickets. In this match no fewer than three centuries were made—

R. CARPENTER,

A. DIVER.

T. HAYWARD.

HON. C. G. LYTTELTON.

165

Caesar in for Surrey, Hayward 108 and Carpenter exactly 100 for Cambridge. Three centuries had not been scored in one match since 1817. Kent twice defeated us this year. In the match at the Oval we were much handicapped by losing the services of Julius Caesar, who was taken suddenly ill, causing us only to play ten men. The Players scored heavily in their two matches against the Gentlemen, Carpenter knocking up 106 in the Lord's match. The Hon. C. G. Lyttelton 1 played against us in both these matches. He was one of the finest bats I ever saw. He greatly resembled his younger brother, the Hon. Alfred, in style. He was a grand hitter, especially in front of the wicket, and was exceedingly quick on his feet, being a bad subject for a slow bowler to tackle. He could hit in front of cover-point like a flash of lightning. Richard Daft, in a letter I once saw, said, "All the Lytteltons possessed an electric quickness in their forward off-hitting which I never saw equalled in any other batsman ." The term "electric quickness"

aptly described the off-hitting of the Hon. C. G. The ball seemed to arrive at the boundary almost before he had ceased making the stroke. He was also a good lob -bowler and an excellent wicketkeeper.

I played a long innings of 98 at the Oval for my county against the North this year. Tom Lockyer 1 Now Viscount Cobham.—E ditor.

166

THE SEASON OF 1861.

made 69, and was in with me for a long time. I had made 9 7 not out on the Friday night and felt pretty sure of running into three figures, but was got out next morning after adding but one run. Daft, Hayward, and Carpenter each made 60 odd for the North, but we had the satisfaction of leaving off the winners. Our return "North" match ended in a very even draw. Ted Pooley played for us in this match. He was afterwards one of the best wicket-keepers ever known, and a fine vigorous bat too. If he had had less wicket-keeping to do he would, in my opinion, have been more to the front as a batsman. He had a lively style of play which somewhat reminded one of Julius Caesar.

We had the honour of defeating England at the Oval this year. My knee gave way again in this match; Tom Sewell put his thumb out; Mr Burbidge had his finger knocked up; and Mudie was badly hurt by Jackson. We were indeed"in the wars," although the wicket was a good one. The top scorer of the match was Mr E. Dowson, who played a magnificent innings of 80 in our first innings. Mr Dowson had not a particularly taking style, as his attitude was somewhat crouching. He was, however, a most useful and reliable bat, with a considerable variety of strokes.

The first match played between the England and United Elevens at Lord's in 1861 was the most exciting I ever remember. Up to their meeting

AN EXCITING MATCH.

167

on the present occasion the All England had won four times and the United three, the other game having been drawn. A large number of people were present on the opening day. Our opponents batted first, and I had the satisfaction of getting two wickets when 5 runs had been scored, Carpenter catching both batsmen (Daft and Diver) at point. The innings closed for the small score of 74. Billy Buttress (who was secured to play for us at the last moment in place of George Wootton of Notts) and myself bowled unchanged. Notwithstanding our good fortune in getting rid of our opponents for so small a score, we were only able to make 61, seven of us falling victims to the"Demon" Jackson.

"Jack" was making the ball jump about in the most alarming fashion, I remember. He gave Jemmy Grundy one on the arm which completely demoralised him, causing him to stamp and swear like a lunatic. And I may here remark that"Jemmy" had a great dislike to being hit, and used to rather funk bowlers like Jackson and Wilsher accordingly. The All England scored 152 in their second innings, Daft being top scorer with a well-obtained 48. A curious thing happened while he and Anderson were in. Daft played a ball from me and ran; Anderson was about to do so when he stumbled against me and fell down just as Daft crossed him, and he was thus run out. With 166 to win the United commenced their second innings. When

168

THE SEASON OF 1 86 1.

play closed for the day we had made 118 for 7 wickets. Wisden was out next morning without the score being improved. Tom Sewell came in next, and he and Tom Hearne brought the score up to within 5 of a tie when the former was caught. Six to win when Billy Buttress came in last man I What excitement there was! old Jack Wisden had been doing nothing but walk round the ground. Jemmy Grundy, on the other hand, sat like a statue, afraid to move. For the last hour George Parr had been taking off his hat and rubbing his head, as he stood at short-slip, on an average of about twenty times a minute. This was always a habit of his when excited. We all congratulated ourselves, when Buttress came in, that he had not to receive the ball, Tom Sewell his partner being the striker. "Tom" hit the first ball he received after his partner arrived, called "Billy" to run, who was unable to get home and was run out. Thus ended this most memorable match in a victory for the All England by only 5 runs.

Twice more did the rival elevens meet this year: once at the Oval, where we won; and again at Manchester, where the match was drawn, somewhat in favour of All England. The United were on paper slightly inferior to their great rivals at this time; Jackson, Willsher, and Tarrant being quite unequalled by any other three fast bowlers in the country. Carpenter was a"host" in him

W. MORTLOCK—T. SEWELL. 169

self, and his advent in the United ranks was a great boon to us. Billy Mortlock, too, was now coming to the fore. He first came out as a longstop, and was, I think, the very best man I ever saw in that position. He was for a few years a

very fine bat indeed. He was of medium height

and of a powerful build. He was of great assistance to Surrey, and to the United Eleven also for some years. He also formed one of the first AngloAustralian team. Young Tom Sewell, too, was another noted Surrey and United player. He was always called"Young Tom" to distinguish him from his father, the old All-England man. Young Tom was a fine fast bowler, and an exceedingly useful bat, being a clean and hard hitter. He was in great form both with bat and ball in the season of which I am now writing."Tom" was Surrey born, hailing from Mitcham, but played for Kent a few times through his residing there with his father, who removed from Surrey to Sevenoaks to keep an inn there. Young"Tom" was of very short stature, but was strongly and compactly put together. His father was for many years after his retirement from cricket engaged as umpire at the Oval. He had been noted as an underhand bowler in his day, and could also bat well at times, but was considered to lack patience and caution. Though not a big man he was considerably taller than his son.

170

THE SEASON OF 1 86 1 .

The batting averages of 1861 were larger than they had ever been before, Hayward, Daft, and Carpenter all making over 1300 runs for averages of more than 20. George Griffith was the only other player who reached four figures, but several others—myself included—almost succeeded in doing so. I headed the bowling averages for Surrey this year, taking 47 wickets at the cost of 2'5 runs per wicket.

17i

CHAPTER XVII.

VISIT OF THE FIRST ENGLISH TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

The idea of importing a team of English cricketers to the Antipodes, to play a series of matches there, originated with Messrs Spiers & Pond, the famous refreshment contractors. This firm sent over an agent—Mr Mallam—with instructions to procure the best English eleven he could obtain. On arriving in England, he, to the best of my belief, went first to Mr Burrup, the Surrey hon. secretary, for advice. When we were playing a North and South match at Birmingham we were given a dinner one evening by Captain Marshall 1 (who formed one of the Southern Eleven) at the Hen and Chickens Hotel at which Mr Mallam was present, and it was on this occasion that he unfolded his views to the two elevens present. They were to the effect that we were each, to receive £150 for the trip and to have all our first-class travelling expenses paid. George Parr 1 Now General Sir Frederick Marshall.—Editor.

172 FIRST ENGLISH TEAM VISITS AUSTRALIA.

and the Northern players did not seem to relish the scheme at all, thinking that the sum of money offered was quite inadequate; and as it would have been impossible for anything like a representative team to have been formed without including some of the great players of the North, the affair was considered to be as good as"off." After seeing Mr Burrup again, however, Mr Mallam succeeded in inducing H. H. Stephenson, Mortlock, Griffith, Tom Sewell, Charles Lawrence, and myself (all of course of the Surrey Eleven) to make the proposed trip. To this nucleus of a tolerably strong side Mr Mallam succeeded in adding W. Mudie of Surrey, Tom Hearne of Middlesex, "Tiny" Wells of Sussex, Roger Iddison and E. Stephenson of Yorkshire, and George Bennett of Kent. The team was a good one, but was not of course anything like representative. There was a talk of Richard Daft joining us at one time, and I know that Mr Mallam brought all his persuasive powers to work to induce the great Notts batsman to accompany us, but without success. "Tiny" Wells, who took his wife with him, sailed before the rest of the team.

Before proceeding to Liverpool we were given a banquet at the London Bridge Hotel, when success to the English cricketers was enthusiastically drunk. There was, I remember, a celebrated comic singer present, although his name has escaped my memory,

Taken just previous to their departure for Australia, October 1861 .

WE WEIGH ANCHOR.

173

who rendered in fine style a song specially composed for the occasion, the chorus of which I have never forgotten:—

"Success to the Eleven of England I

The toast is three times and one more.

May they all meet success o'er the briny,

And safely return to our shore!"

The night before we left London we all spent at the Anglesea Hotel in the Haymarket, and were photographed in the stable-yard the next morning. I have a copy of this photograph at the present time. Mr Burrup and Mr F. P. Miller accompanied us to Liverpool, and saw us safely on board the Great Britain. The team sang "The Anchor's weighed," and I gave them"Cheer, Boys, Cheer," on the comet as the vessel moved off.

This passage was a very different thing from what our crossing the Atlantic had been two years before. It was like taking a sail down the Thames in comparison. The only unpleasant part of the voyage was the trouble caused by the mosquits. These tiresome insects seem to have singled me out as their special prey, and tormented the life out of me. I was quite ill for a time and had to consult the doctor. I used to get a large piece of muslin and wrap round my head before going to bed, and also put a pair of stockings on my arms. I shall never forget the laugh that was raised when my fellow - cricketers first saw me in this disguise.

174 FIRST ENGLISH TEAM VISITS AUSTRALIA.

There were several of the passengers who were sorely puzzled to know who and what we were, and when they were informed that we were English cricketers they did not appear to be much wiser than before. There was one lady who was going out to Australia to be married, and who knew Reigate very well, and happening to hear that I came from there, used often to chat to me about the old place. We used to practise cricket on deck a good deal to while away the time, which hung somewhat heavily on our hands.

There were great demonstrations on our arriving at Melbourne, flags being hoisted on most of the ships in the harbour, and a crowd of over 10,000 people gathered to welcome us as we came ashore. Previous to our leaving the Great Britain Messrs Spiers and Pond came aboard and presented us with an address of welcome. As soon as we got on terra firma we were driven off in a coach-and-four to the caf 6 of Messrs Spiers & Pond in Burke Street, a great crowd of people following us. We were photographed on the coach before alighting. We all wore white pot -hats with a blue ribbon. The following day we were driven seven miles into the bush to practise on a piece of ground which had been previously selected by Spiers & Pond. The locality had been kept a secret, as had it been known we should have been followed by a mob of people. There were many inquiries as to what was

IDDISON, LAWRENCE, AND BENNETT. 175

our destination when we drove off, but there were few who found it out. A few days later we had some practice at St Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne, and a lot of people came there to see us. Some of the Melbourne Club practised with us. When the people had seen old Ben Griffith make a few of his long-distance hits they forthwith named him"the Lion Hitter." We also had some nice practice at Richmond.

I think I have described at different times all the players who composed our team except Iddison, Charlie Lawrence, and Bennett. Iddison was a fine bat, with good defence combined with hard hitting. He was also a good bowler, round-arm, and could send up "slows" for a change if required. He was a strong, stout, red -faced, healthy -looking man— a true type of the old-fashioned Yorkshireman. Lawrence was a Middlesex man by birth, but through residing at Mitcham became qualified for Surrey, for whom he played a few times. Then he went to live at Edinburgh for some years, and afterwards crossed over to Dublin, where he became secretary to the United All-Ireland Eleven. He was a fast bowler and a good bat, though not a powerful hitter. He was, besides, an excellent judge of the game—one of the best, in fact, I ever knew. He was a light man of medium height. George Bennett was a slow bowler, somewhat of the Southerton stamp, giving the ball a

176 FIRST ENGLISH TEAltf VISITS AUSTRALIA.

lot of flight in the air. He was the bowler whom Griffith hit the four 6's from in one over at Hastings in 1864."Farmer" Bennett, as he was always called, was an extremely useful bat, and made many large scores.

Our first match in Australia commenced on New Year's Day 1862, we having eighteen of Melbourne for our opponents. There was a great stir in the city at an early hour of the morning. People flocked in from the surrounding country in all directions, in coaches, waggons, cars, and conveyances of every description. The trains, too, were filled to overflowing. More than 15,000 people were on the ground when the English Eleven arrived. We lost the toss, and H. H. Stephenson, who had been appointed our captain, led us into the field. We had all been supplied with very light white hats of the helmet shape. Each of us had a coloured sash and a ribbon round his hat— one man's colour being blue, another green, another crimson, and so on. These colours were printed against each of our names on the score -card, so that any one provided with one of these could at once identify every member of our team. My own colour was dark blue. The National Anthem was played as we entered the field, amidst the silence of the vast concourse of spectators. When the band stopped playing a tremendous burst of cheering rent the air. The weather was so hot as

MELBOURNE CRICKET-GROUND (1898).

From the Collection of Mr A. J. Gaston, Brighton.

OUR FIRST MATCH IN AUSTRALIA. 177

to fetch the skin off some of our faces. I commenced the bowling, but was obliged to come off after a short time owing to my arm being so painful from mosquito-bites, which had again troubled me while at Melbourne. The eighteen scored 118. The eleven, on their taking the willow, knocked up the large score of 305, to which I had the satisfaction of contributing 79—the highest score— Ben Griffith being next with 61. He fully maintained his title of the "Lion Hitter" in this innings, and greatly impressed the spectators. The Australians only scored 91 in their second innings, thus leaving us the victors of the first match played on Australian ground by an innings and 96 runs. Sam Cosstick, a fast right-hand bowler, who hailed from Croydon in Surrey, played against us in this and our subsequent matches in Melbourne. "Tiny" Wells was the one to stand down in this match, and acted as umpire. This first match lasted four days. There had been a sweepstakes got up over the match, the first prize being, I believe, quite £100. I remember the gentleman who drew me gave me a £ 10 note for making the highest score and thus winning him the first prize.

The next item on our programme was a match at Beechworth, in the Ovens district, against twentytwo. To get to Beechworth we had to make a journey of about 200 miles by coach. This conveyance was drawn by five horses—three in front

M

178 FIRST ENGLISH TEAM VISITS AUSTRALIA.

and a pair behind them. A very shaky and fatiguing journey this was, and glad indeed were we all when it was over. Here, at Beechworth, we obtained an easy victory, scoring 264 and disposing of our opponents for 20 in the first innings (in which there were a dozen noughts) and 53 in the second. Griffith was our highest scorer with 46. After the match"Ben" took on eleven at single wicket, and actually succeeded in getting them out without their scoring a single run I "Ben" himself scored 6 and won the match. He used afterwards to tell me that I was not in it now as a single - wicket player, and that he had put my Winchester performance completely in the shade 1

A week later found us once more at Melbourne, again contending against twenty-two. This match proved to be a very different affair from the first one. We were got out for 101,"Tiny" Wells making the highest score (32), Mr"Extras" coming next with 20. The twenty -two made 153 and 144. This match ended in a draw. There was again a very large attendance, and much enthusiasm was displayed. We next defeated twenty -two at Geelong by 9 wickets. Sewell was in great bowling form, taking no fewer than 15 wickets in the second innings of the twentytwo.

Our next match was at Sydney, where we

SYDNEY CRICKET-GROUND (1898).

From the Collection 0/ Mr A, J. Gaston, Brighton.

GREAT MATCH AT SYDNEY. 179

went by sea. As when we had landed at Melbourne, there was a great demonstration in our honour. More than 15,000 people were awaiting us on the quay, who cheered us loudly when we landed. We were at once entertained at a public breakfast, and at a dinner at the Victorian Club in the evening. There was an enormous and fashionable crowd each day on the Sydney ground when the match against twenty-two of New South Wales was played. The Governor Sir John and Lady Young and suite honoured us with their presence each day. The English Eleven batted first and scored 175, Mortlock playing a grand innings of 76, for which he afterwards received £20, which had been collected on the ground. The twenty -two scored 127, and succeeded in getting us out the second time for the small score of 66. The twentytwo had now 115 to win, but we succeeded in getting them out for 65, thus winning by 48 runs, the game having lasted four days. After the match a grand banquet was given to us in the Exchange, at which Sir John Young and other noblemen and gentlemen were present.

Our next move was to Bathurst. Here, too, we met with a very warm welcome. When we had reached within about four miles of Bathurst in our coach drawn by six splendid greys, we were met by a large cavalcade, which with a band of music had sallied forth to welcome us. When we arrived at

18o FIRST ENGLISH TEAM VISITS AUSTRALIA.

the town itself we were most enthusiastically received. The match, again versus twenty-two, was drawn owing to the weather. Towards the close of the second day a violent storm came on, flooding the ground and destroying several of the refreshment-booths. The next day the weather was still unfavourable and the match was abandoned. We scored 21 1, the extras being higher than the runs made by any one of us—viz., 45. The twenty- two scored 49 and 25 for 6 wickets.

We now returned to Sydney, to contend against a twenty-two selected from New South Wales and Victoria combined. Here we met with defeat, the twenty-two beating us by 12 wickets. The Eleven only scored 60 and 75, of which latter Griffith and Mortlock were responsible for 58. The twenty-two made 101 and 35 for 8 wickets. We once more had high jinks at Sydney during our second stay there. Scarcely a day passed without our being entertained to champagne breakfasts, luncheons, and dinners. A performance at the Victorian Theatre was given for our benefit, the house being simply packed. Between the pieces H. H. Stephenson read out a farewell address. After various speeches had been made we adjourned to Tattersall's, where parting bumpers were drained. A large body of people then escorted us to the Circular Quay to see us start on our voyage to Tasmania. Rockets and blue -lights were fired as we set out to sea.

SURREY v. THE WORLD.

181

At Hobart Town we had another hearty reception, being met by a deputation of gentlemen greatly interested in cricket, who, together with a band of the rifle corps, escorted us to our hotel. We had to face twenty- two of Tasmania in our match here, whom we beat by 4 wickets. After the game was concluded we played a match, E. Stephenson's side against one chosen by his namesake H. H.

We had to return to Melbourne, where a match styled"Surrey v. The World" had been arranged. The six Surrey players had the assistance of five more who hailed from that county, the remaining six of our team being of course helped by five colonists."The World" batted first and made 21 1, Bennett playing grandly for 72."Surrey" were only able to reply with 115, and having to follow scored 179, of which I made 75 not out. This left"The World" 80 odd to win, but they lost 5 wickets in making the required number. Bennett and myself were presented with £10 each by the Melbourne Club for being the highest scorers. Every kindness was shown us both by the Melbourne Club and the people generally, and we left the city with regret.

Our next match was at Ballarat, which was drawn. Here again we were opposed by twenty-two players, who scored 122 and 107. England scored 155 in the first innings, the match ending in a draw. At Ballarat we had, as at Sydney, a benefit given to us

I&2 FIRST ENGLISH TEAM VISITS AUSTRALIA.

at the theatre, where Tom Hearne was presented with a prize bat for obtaining the highest score (37 not out) of the match. H. H. Stephenson here made a neat little speech thanking the inhabitants of Ballarat for giving us such a hearty welcome.

From Ballarat we proceeded to Sandhurst to meet twenty-two of Bendigo. This match we won in an innings. The twenty-two made 81 and 103 and the eleven 257. I was top scorer with 57, and Bennett just behind me with 56. At the conclusion of the game Lawrence played one of the Bendigo players at single wicket, Lawrence allowing his opponent the privilege of eleven fielders. They had two innings each, and scored no runs at all. Luckily for Lawrence, his opponent bowled a wide, which caused him to win. In our next encounter we were just beaten by 3 wickets at Castlemaine by the twenty-two there. We made small scores—89 and 68 in both our innings. Afterwards Griffith, Lawrence, and Iddison defeated an eleven chosen from the twenty-two at single wicket. At Castlemaine we, in company with the opposing twenty-two, appeared on the stage of the theatre. Here we were presented with an address, H. H. Stephenson once more replied in a nice little speech, and we finished by giving three cheers for the twenty-two.

We now paid our final visit to Melbourne, where we once again had a hearty welcome. Here we

THE HOMEWARD VOYAGE. 183

had to play our farewell match against twenty-two of Victoria. This was drawn, the English Eleven requiring 12 runs to win and having 3 wickets in hand. After the match twelve elm-trees were planted on the outskirts of the ground by our team. Messrs Spiers & Pond divided half the receipts of this, our last match, amongst the English players. We were offered £ 1.200 to stay another .month in Australia, but were compelled to decline owing to our engagements in England. Griffith headed the batting averages and scored the greatest number of runs—viz., 372, average just over 21. Mortlock came next with an average of 21. I was the only other batsman to make an average of 20 with 331 runs.

We returned home by P. & O., and had a very pleasant voyage. Charley Lawrence we left behind, he having accepted a permanent engagement with the Albert Club at Sydney. We used to play cricket on deck sometimes—rather, I am afraid, to the annoyance of the lady passengers, but some of the gentlemen often joined us. We played with soft balls manufactured by the sailors, and for a bat had a large iron sort of "pin" used for some purpose or other on the vessel. Once George Bennett while batting let this slip from his hand and struck a gentleman over the eye. When we came to the Red Sea old Teddy Stephenson, after contemplating the water for some time with a very grave counten

184 FIRST ENGLISH TEAM VISITS AUSTRALIA.

ance, observed that he could not see that the water was any redder here than in any other sea! During the voyage some one got up a show of parrots, toads, and other curiosities which the different passengers were taking home. Of course a little music was necessary to make the thing pass off nicely, so I had to oblige with the cornet, while our cook sported the trombone and some one else the cymbals. The trombone made such a horrible row that Ted Stephenson stuffed a towel into it while the cook had retired for refreshment. We were all very glad to get on terra firma once more, and all landed fit and well in Old England, having spent a most enjoyable time.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE SEASON OF 1862.

In my first match with the United at Southsea v . twenty- two of East Hants I was run out for small scores both innings. Bob Carpenter made 122 in this match, thus beating R. Daft's record made at Walsall against twenty-two the previous year by 8 runs. The All England defeated the United at Lord's by 4 wickets, but the match was not such a runaway affair as at first appears. The All England had only 50 odd to get in their second innings, and we had six of their best bats out for under 20. Alfred Clarke and George Anderson then made a stand and wiped off the deficit. The fielding of both sides in this match I never saw surpassed.

There was a lot of run-getting in the Gentlemen and Players match at the Oval this year, over 200 being scored in all four innings. The Gentlemen scored 276 first innings, the Players running up 244. The Gentlemen made 211 in their second venture, and the match was drawn by the Players scoring

186

THE SEASON OF 1862.

211 for 8 wickets. We had 80 runs to get and 3 wickets to fall at one time, but still managed to make a draw of it. Mr John Walker in his first innings played a brilliant innings of 98. Mr John Walker, as most lovers of cricket are aware, was the eldest of the seven brothers of the famous Southgate family. He was a tall, powerful man, standing 6 feet high and weighing heavy in proportion. He was an exceptionally fine hitter, especially on the off-side. Against fast bowling he was particularly brilliant. He was also a very good lob-bowler, an excellent wicket-keeper, and could field well anywhere. He was one of the most liberal supporters of the game I ever knew. He had a splendid ground at Southgate, and got up a great number of good matches to be played there. There was no Gentlemen and Players match at Lord's this year, but the Gentlemen under thirty years of age played the Players under thirty instead. The match was easily won by the latter.

The North and South match of 1862, played at Lord's for the benefit of Jemmy Grundy, is best remembered from the fact of Richard Daft's magnificent innings of 118. This innings was the talk of the season. One of the London papers declared that the Notts batsman had now"immortalised himself." It certainly was a fine performance, as the wicket was a very bumpy one, even for Lord's. Daft batted for over four hours and never gave the

SURREY v. NOTTS.

187

ghost of a chance, and was at length got out through an accident, Willsher hitting him on the hand and the ball dropping on to the wicket. The North won the match by an innings. Tarrant took 9 of our wickets in the first innings, and George Wootton of Notts bowled remarkably well in the second. Wootton was a fine, rather fast, left-hand bowler, who for years rendered great services to his county at the time they were exceptionally strong. He was not much of a bat, but made runs occasionally.

We drew with our old rivals Notts at the Oval this year, only getting one innings each owing to the weather. We were 60 odd behind on the one innings played, but we had somewhat the worst of the wicket. In the return match at Trent Bridge we sustained a defeat by 5 wickets. An immense amount of interest was felt in regard to this contest all over the country. It was hot weather at the time, and we had an excellent wicket to play on. Surrey batted first and made 133. Notts headed us by 91, totalling 224, a Mr Bateman, who seldom represented his county, being top scorer with 63. We made 187 in our second innings, leaving our opponents just under 100 to win, which they obtained for the loss of half their wickets. Prize bats were presented to the highest scorer on both sides. This was the last time, as it happened, that I was to play against the famous county of Nottingham

188

THE SEASON OF 1862.

shire, as they did not meet Surrey in the following year, which was my last season in England before my seven years' sojourn in Australia. Tom Humphrey, the afterwards world -famed"partner" of Jupp, played in the above match."Tom" was a grand little batter, with an exceptional excellence in cutting. He not only never let off an off-ball, but could score 4 at times from one on the off-stump by cutting it. His wrist-play was perfection. He gave one the impression that he was "on wires." He was also a beautiful field. Tom was an oldfashioned-looking chap, of very short stature. He was an excellent man to send in first, as he was always a good beginner, which can by no means be said about all good batsmen.

In the North v. Surrey match at the Oval, where we were defeated by 10 wickets, the name of Harry Jupp appears. Although a fine bat and afterwards a heavy scorer, he had, unlike his"comrade-inarms," Tom Humphrey, not an attractive style of play. Jupp was a little man, and played very low down, generally adopting back-play in his defence. He was not a brilliant cutter, and sometimes, owing to excessive caution, would allow off-balls to pass untouched even on good wickets when there was no need to do so. He was a fine driver, however, and when he set himself to play a hitting game could make runs very rapidly. Mr W. Burrup used to speak of Jupp and Humphrey as "his boys."

THE GREAT "NO-BALL" MATCH. 189

I believe this gentleman was the first to discover the merits of both players.

In our return Surrey and North match at Manchester we were beaten by one wicket after a most exciting contest. The great match Surrey v. England was played this year at the Oval, when the notorious"no-ball" incident of Willsher's career occurred. This was a remarkable match altogether. The England side was a very strong one indeed. They won the toss, and on an excellent wicket compiled the enormous score of 503. Tom Hayward scored 117, Jemmy Grundy 95, Bob Carpenter 94, and Willsher 54. Daft, who came in first wicket down, I was lucky enough to get out, caught at the wicket from a very bad ball, for a "duck." When Surrey took the bat Willsher was promptly noballed by John Lillywhite half-a-dozen times. I have alluded to this unpleasant incident before, and have stated how the England side left the field (with the exception of the Hon. C. G. Lyttelton and Mr v. E. Walker). There was no more play that day, and the next morning the England team refused to go into the field unless another umpire was provided. So at this pass Street was substituted for Lillywhite. We were easily defeated in this match, as we only made about 250 in our two innings. The"no-balling" caused a lot of unpleasantness for a long time afterwards, some of the Northern players becoming bitterly prejudiced

THE SEASON OF 1862.

I9O

against Surrey and the Oval. It was very freely rumoured in the north of England that Lillywhite had been specially engaged to no-ball Willsher in the match in question.

I went with the United down to Cornwall this year, and also to the Isle of Wight.

From the Collection of Mr A. J, Gaston, Brighton .

CHAPTER XIX.

THE SEASON OF 1863.

I should have expressed great surprise if at the beginning of the season of 1863 any one had told me that this would practically be my last season of first-class cricket in England. Yet such was to be the case, as it so happened.

There were many large scores made this year, the wickets on most of the principal grounds now being much more carefully prepared than formerly. The followers of Surrey cricket presented their energetic honorary secretary, Mr William Burrup, with a handsome silver cup and a purse of £300 at the beginning of the season. Surrey had, as usual, an attractive programme, and a successful season. We beat Sussex at the Oval and drew with them at Brighton, where the wicket was too good to allow of the game being finished in three days. There was heavy scoring on both sides in these matches. At the Oval Mortlock made 106 and Mr Dowson 87, while at Brighton Mr Burbidge scored 101 and

192 THE SEASON OF 1863.

George Griffith 89 and 142. Griffith's hitting was terrific, he obtaining his 89 in little more than an hour. For Sussex John Lillywhite played a grand innings of 101 and Ellis scored 83. We defeated Kent twice: by an innings at Tunbridge Wells— where I was top scorer with 70—and by 9 wickets at the Oval. We had 190 odd to get in our second innings in this match, and we obtained them with the loss of but one wicket. The only county who lowered our colours was Yorkshire, who managed to defeat us by 3 wickets at Sheffield. We defeated the North at the Oval by 3 wickets. George Atkinson met with a curious accident in this match. When bowling he rushed to field a ball rather wide of him, and falling down ricked his kneecap and had to be carried off the ground. In the return Surrey and North match at Manchester we were defeated by 20 runs.

The Surrey and England match produced some rather remarkable cricket in 1863. Surrey went in first, and had scored nearly 150 for one wicket at lunch-time. After the interval, however, George Bennett disposed of four of us in four balls. Two famous cricketers played for England in this match—viz., Messrs R. A. H. Mitchell and E. M. Grace. Mr Mitchell was one of the very finest batsmen who ever existed, being not only one of the hardest hitters we have had, but his defence was equal to his

MR R. A. H. MITCHELL— DR E. M. GRACE. 193

punishing powers. His style of batting, too, was manly and commanding. As a leg-hitter he should be spoken of with George Parr, for in my opinion he was the next finest exponent of this hit after the Notts batsman. Mr Mitchell stood considerably over 6 feet, and was a Hercules in build. Mr E. M. Grace's play is difficult to describe. Quickness of eye and hand were the secret of his success as a batsman. He could detect the length of a ball to a nicety, and was able to make up his mind what to do with it in less time than most players. He was a tiresome bat to bowl against, for one never knew what he would do with the best ball one could send up to him. A really good-length ball on the middle stump he would despatch to the on boundary without the slightest regard to the feelings of the poor bowler. He was one of the few bats I have seen who could hit with as great a certainty when he first went in as when he had got well set. When occasion required, however, he could defend his wicket as well as any one. Had Mr Grace never got io runs in an innings, he would have been worth playing in any team for his unique fielding at point. Such a point had never been seen before, and perhaps never will be again.

The United had the satisfaction of defeating the All England at Lord's this year. The match was played at the beginning of the season, and great

N

194 the season of 1863 .

interest was evinced on account of its being Willsher's first appearance since the"no-ball" episode of the previous year. The United batted after the All England, and Willsher commenced the bowling. Nothing happened, however, in the opinion of the umpire to justify his no-balling the great Kent bowler, and it soon became evident to the spectators that there would be no "sensation," and I believe many of them were disappointed accordingly. The wicket in this match was one of the worst I ever played on, and it required more than ordinary courage for a batsman to stand up to two such bowlers as Jackson and Willsher. One ball of Jackson's, I remember, struck the wicket-keeper (H. Stephenson) with great force on the head, nearly knocking him senseless, and causing him to give up the stumping for the rest of the day. While batting I myself received a terrible blow on the elbow, which took all the play out of me. Jemmy Grundy during the short time he was in frequently drew his body away from the wicket, and held the bat with one hand in front of the stumps to take its chance.

I only took part in one of the Gentlemen and Players matches in 1863, that at the Oval, which we won by 7 wickets. Mortlock, Willsher, and Tom Lockyer all made over 70. I once more scored nearly 900 runs this season, while Hayward,

CLOSE OF THE SEASON.

195

Carpenter, and E. M. Grace each reached over four figures. Lovers of cricket had been full of excitement during the past summer on account of the second trip to Australia coming off, the particulars of which I will endeavour to give in my next chapter.

196

CHAPTER XX.

VISIT OF THE SECOND TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

It was owing to the Melbourne Club that the visit of the second team to Australia was brought about. George Parr was entrusted to get up the team, and amongst others was told to try and get Dr E. M. Grace, H. H. Stephenson, Mortlock, Griffith, and myself. I distinctly remember getting"George's" letter requesting me to make one of the team while my father and I were at breakfast one morning in our house at Reigate. I asked my father what he thought about it, and he replied,"Oh, go by all means." So I wrote to"George" to say that I would make one of the twelve. "George" went to work with a will, and succeeded in getting a fine team together—far stronger, in fact, than the one which had gone to the Antipodes two years before. Mortlock at first agreed to go, but altered his mind later. His place was filled by Alfred Clarke of Nottingham, a son of the great All -England veteran. Alfred was an exceedingly useful cricketer, being

Carpenter. J. Caesar. R. C. Tilney. A. Clarke. Tarrant. Dr E. Grace. Parr. Lockyer. Jackson. Hayward. Anderson. Caflfyn.

PREPARING FOR AUSTRALIA. 197

an excellent bat and fine field. Indeed he was scarcely to be excelled as an out-fielder, his only fault being that he was apt to get"bustled" when he had a chance of running a man out. This sometimes caused him to lose his head and throw the ball in rather badly. Like his father, he was a very intelligent man, and made a most agreeable travelling companion. Julius Caesar, Lockyer,. and myself were the Surrey players who went with Parr's team. Parr himself, Jackson, Tinley, and Alfred Clarke represented Nottinghamshire; Cambridgeshire sent the famous trio, Hayward, Carpenter, and Tarrant. George Anderson was the only man from Yorkshire, and Dr Grace was sole representative of the then unknown county (from a cricket point of view) of Gloucester. It was doubtless a very strong combination, though not, in my opinion, such a powerful one as the AngloAmerican team of 1859. It will be noticed that I was the only player who had made the first voyage to Australia two years previous.

Caesar, Lockyer, and myself arrived late at Liverpool the night before we were to sail, all the rest of the team having preceded us by some hours. Having experienced a good deal of inconvenience on the last occasion of my going to Australia, in the way of leave-taking, I profited by experience on the present occasion by slipping off very quietly after bidding farewell to my own family. When we arrived at our

1 98 VISIT OF THE SECOND TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

hotel we found all the team had retired to rest except our captain, George Parr."George" had evidently dined well, and had thoroughly enjoyed himself after dinner. One or two old friends were sitting up with him and making a night of it.

"George" told me I was to share a double-bedded room with George Anderson. On repairing to this apartment, I found the great Yorkshire player wide awake, and the first words he said to me were, "Oh, I have had a job to get away from my relations! They all think I shall never come back alive!" We set sail the next day. Richard Daft, Butler Parr, and a few other friends made the journey from Nottingham to Liverpool to see us off. We were entertained to a farewell luncheon at the Adelphi Hotel by Mr Whitaker, a great supporter of cricket, before we proceeded on board the Great Britain in the afternoon. George Parr was rather nervous just before we weighed anchor, and kept looking at the weather in a very anxious manner, although I assured him that the voyage would be quite a treat as compared with a trip across the Atlantic. Poor George Anderson, who was a wretched sailor, did not at all appear to relish the idea of the long voyage. When he wished Daft good-bye, I remember him saying, "If you had been coming, Richard, I shouldn't have minded so much, for then I should have been sure of some one to keep me company in my sea-sickness 1" We

THE OUTWARD VOYAGE.

I99

had not been many hours in the open sea before the vessel began to roll a bit, causing several of our team to retire to bed. Poor George Anderson's prediction was fulfilled, and he became wretchedly ill. I never saw any one suffer so much from sea-sickness. He was unable to leave his berth for several days, and even when he had"found his sea-legs" the malady always returned to him whenever the ocean became at all rough. Poor"George" was reduced to quite a skeleton. I used to valet him when he was getting over an attack—cut his hair, shampoo him, and so on. There were about ninety saloon passengers on board our vessel besides ourselves.

We had a very pleasant voyage altogether, and used to beguile the time by day with a little cricket practice, "bull-board," &c. We had some great fun when we started"cock-fighting." This game was played between two opponents, who had a stick passed at the back of their knee-joints, and held it there with their arms. While in this position each had to try to knock the other over. In the evenings we sometimes had a concert in the saloon, at which several of our men assisted. At one of these a gentleman sang a song specially composed in honour of our cricketers. On one occasion we had a great"judge and jury trial," one gentleman bringing a charge of "attempted poisoning" against one of his fellow-passengers. The case was, however,

200 VISIT OF THE SECOND TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

decided against him, and he was fined a bottle of champagne! On another occasion we had a most enjoyable magic-lantern entertainment. Then there was often dancing on deck on fine evenings. At one part of our voyage we encountered large flocks of"Mother Carey's chickens." I recollect seeing a hawk capture one of these, which he came and devoured on one of the masts of our ship. When we were off the coast of Madeira we saw shoals of flying-fish, which had a most curious appearance in the sunlight. When we sighted the Canaries there was great excitement, caused by the appearance of a large whale. Later on we viewed an albatross, and this set Tom Lockyer on to fish for one with a piece of meat for a bait. He never succeeded in catching it, however. When we crossed the line a lighted tar-barrel was thrown overboard. This we could see after we had left it miles behind, and it produced a grand effect in the darkness of the night. The captain of the Great Britain (Mr Gray) was a remarkably nice man, and endeared himself to all of us by his many little acts of kindness. His birthday was celebrated by us during the voyage. We had a champagne dinner in the saloon; the captain's health was drunk with three times three, and many speeches were made. Towards the end of our voyage he entertained the saloon passengers at supper, on which occasion an address was presented to him. On Sundays when

ARRIVAL AT MELBOURNE.

201

it was fine we always had divine service on deck, and when the weather was unfavourable it was held in the saloon. To see the sailors attending these services, all attired in beautiful clean white jackets and trousers, was very pleasing. We had rather rough weather towards the end of our voyage, which terminated on the 16th of December, having lasted sixty-one days. We arrived "off Melbourne" early in the afternoon; but it was arranged that we should stay on board till the following morning, and then make a public entry into the city. Lots of people, however, came on board to see us, including several whom I had met on my former visit to Melbourne.

We entered Melbourne about noon on the following day and had a tremendous reception. We put up at a hotel kept by Mr G. Marshall (who was one of the best bats in Australia) in Swanson Street. We were most enthusiastically cheered by the great crowd of people on our way from the station. We had a fortnight to prepare for our first match, which was to take place on New Year's Day. Shortly before our arrival there had been a vast flood in Melbourne, which had caused a great destruction of property, and even loss of life. We had some practice most days between our landing and the first match. On Christmas Day we were invited to Sandridge to visit the ships Dover Castle and Agincourt. A few days later we had a picnic at Sunbury, which was very enjoyable. Towards the

202 VISIT OF THE SECOND TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

end of December there was a match played between Melbourne and Sydney, which we went to see. The Mayor of Melbourne gave a large dinner after the match to the two Australian Elevens, and most of our players were present as well. Between the time of our landing and New Year's Day we had some excellent quail-shooting. We killed over forty brace one day, I recollect.

There was an immense crowd to witness our first match, which was against twenty -two of Victoria. I believe there were about 15,000 people present, including a great number of ladies. It was a very fine day, this 1st of January 1864, and was not uncomfortably hot. The twenty-two won the toss and we had to take the field. We all wore white "helmets," but had not each a distinguishing colour as on the visit of the first team two years previous; and we all had white flannel shirts with a red spot. The match lasted four days—a Sunday intervening. The twenty -two scored 146, the English Eleven beating this total by 30 on the first innings. Hayward and Carpenter made a long stand, the former scoring 61 and his fellow - townsman 59. The Australians put on 143 in their second innings, leaving us 114 to win. We were within 9 runs of winning, having 6 wickets in hand, when time was called, the match being thus—for us— provokingly drawn.

Our next match was at Bendigo against twenty

MATCH AT BALLARAT.

203

two of the district. Here the wicket was a very rough one. We disposed of the twenty -two for 74 and 46, Tinley and Jackson doing the bowling. We eventually won the game by 140 odd runs. Rain came on heavily towards the finish, and we all got wet through. George Parr, our captain, did not play in this match, being laid up with a bad attack of erysipelas.

Ballarat was the next place where we were booked to play, and here we easily defeated a twenty-two by an innings and a few runs to spare. Parr was too ill to play, and had remained behind at Melbourne. E. M. Grace and Tom Hayward ran a race of 100 yards here, in which Tom was just defeated. Julius Caesar and I were the highest scorers at Ballarat with 40 and 39. Tinley was once more very successful with his lobs. When the game was over Dr Grace and Tarrant played eight of Ballarat at single wicket. One innings each only was played, the two Englishmen scoring 20 and their opponents 11.

After this match we journeyed by coach to Ararat, where we were to meet another twenty -two the following day. We started on this journey at midnight, and reached our destination about nine the next morning. The road was a rough one, and we all felt thoroughly done up by the jolting. The twenty -two here were a very poor lot, Tinley and Jackson getting them out as fast as they came in.

204 VISIT OF THE SECOND TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

They scored 35 in their first innings and just one less in the second, Lockyer stumping seven of them in this innings. Our side made 137, and thus won easily by an innings and 68 runs. The match being over early on the third day, Tarrant agreed to play eleven out of the twenty-two at single wicket. This match ended in a tie. Only one innings was played, and each side scored 4 runs. While we were here we all went to the Diggings except Carpenter, who remained behind playing cribbage with a gentleman. When we returned we told Bob we had"found gold." He promptly replied that he thought he had found more than we had, and at once produced a handful which he had won at cards during our absence! George Anderson had a great fright

while at Ararat. We were shown a large snake here which had been lately killed. The next night "George" was out for a little 'possum-shooting, and trod on something about 3 feet long, which reared up and struck him over the leg. George at once cried out that he was bitten by a snake, and was in a terrible way about it. Luckily, however, the "snake" turned out to be nothing but a long black stick!

At Maryborough, where our next match was to take place, there was a great crowd to see us arrive, and they gave us a most hearty reception. Here again we obtained an innings victory. The local twenty-two scored 72 and 74, while we succeeded

VOYAGE TO NEW ZEALAND. 205

in totalling 223, Dr Grace hitting up a fine 44 and myself coming next with 32. A ball was given in our honour on the evening of the first day's play. After our match was concluded we went on to Castlemaine the same night, and proceeded to Melbourne the next day. We were pleased to find our captain recovered from his indisposition, and he was delighted likewise that we had returned to Melbourne, and able to give such a good account of our doings with bat and ball.

Our next move was to New Zealand, we being due to play against twenty-two of Otago at Dunedin on February 2. We started on our voyage on the 25th of January in a small steamer called the Alhambra. Several of our team began to be ill as soon as we were out of smooth water, poor George Anderson as usual being one of the first to succumb to sea-sickness. My berth was just below his, and I had my head out inquiring how he was getting on, when, to my alarm, he came tumbling out of his berth, bringing a large basin with him, which fell on my head, cutting me over the top of my forehead (where I bear the mark to this day). Poor "George" too was rather badly hurt by his fall, knocking a large piece of skin off one of his legs and hurting his shoulder.

On the 31st of January we arrived at Port Chalmers, and anchored close to the town. We landed in order to take the opportunity of inspect

206 VISIT OF THE SECOND TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

ing a Maori settlement of about forty or fifty natives. We had some rare fun here with George Pan -, whom we presented to the Maori chief as "our king." The natives were delighted with our captain's appearance, the chief taking a special fancy to him. He kept following George about wherever he went."Don't leave me, for goodness' sake!""George" said in a low voice to several of us. "I don't half like the look of this fellow!" "George" was presented with a piece

of matting, which was the highest honour the Maories could confer upon him, and constituted him a"chief." Our captain in return presented the native chieftain with his travelling sug.

"George" then had to go through the ceremony of kissing the women. He seemed glad when this was over, thinking, as he said afterwards, that some of the native gentlemen might"turn awkward" about it! We returned to the Alhambra in a small boat, and the sea being rather rough, some of us did not feel at all comfortable. Poor George Parr was terribly nervous, I remember.

"Once let me get on board the steamer," he kept saying,"and nothing shall induce me to leave it again on such fool's errands as we've been on to-day!" However, we all got safely on board, and slept comfortably all night.

The next day we again went on shore at Port Chalmers. The sea was much smoother than on

MATCH AT DUNEDIN.

207

the previous night, or I am quite sure our captain would have kept his word and never have left the steamer. We formed one of a procession of boats, which had been arranged, we bringing up the rear in a boat decked out with flags. Guns were fired, bands were playing, and altogether a great demonstration was made. We went to the chief hotel, where an address was presented to us, and a splendid luncheon provided, to which we did ample justice. Afterwards we started for Dunedin in a coach-andsix, driven by a famous coachman called "CabbageTree Ned," accompanied by a large number of carriages and horsemen by way of escort. The road was across the mountains, and had been newly made. The scenery was grand. We had a tremendous reception when we arrived. The people seemed to have fairly gone mad with excitement. We commenced our match on the following day. The wicket was a very rough one. The twenty-two scored 71 and 83. We made 99 and 58 for one wicket, thus obtaining a victory by 9 wickets. Tom Hayward secured 15 wickets in the first innings of the twenty -two and 9 in the second. A second match was got up at the conclusion of the first one against a combined twenty-two of Canterbury and Otago. This was drawn, the twenty-two scoring 91 and 66 and the English Eleven 73 in their only innings, Dr Grace making 42 and Tom Lockyer being the only other double-figure scorer with io;

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We left by steamer that evening for Canterbury. We reached Port Lyttelton the next night, and went ashore to sleep. The next day being Sunday, we spent it on shore. A most pleasant day we had too, the scenery being very lovely. On the following morning we drove over to Christchurch, where we were due to play the same day. We were made very welcome on our arrival, and were entertained at a grand luncheon in the Town Hall before proceeding to the ground to begin the match. We once again obtained a one -innings victory, scoring 137 ourselves, and getting the twenty -two out for 30 in the first innings and 105 in the second. They were quite at sea with Cris Tinley's lobs. When the match was over, two sides were chosen by George Parr and George Anderson. Tarrant, Clarke, Hayward, Tinley, and myself were on Parr's side, while Dr Grace, Carpenter, Caesar, Lockyer, and Jackson played for Anderson, the sides being completed from the local players. The scoring was very small in all four innings, Parr's side eventually winning by 7 runs only. A Mr Tennant, who had played a good innings of 28 against us for the twenty -two, scored well in both innings of the scratch match for Parr's side, making 21 and 33 run out. On the evening after this game was concluded we were all invited to a large dinner at the Town Hall.

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

209

On the following morning we left for Port Lyttelton, most of us deciding to walk across the hills there. It was only a distance of a few miles, but we found it very hard"going." We went by boat to Dunedin the next day, and arrived there on the 14th of February. Once more we added a single-innings victory to our list. In this match, against twenty-two of Otago, Jackson and Tinley bowled throughout, disposing of the twenty -two for 98 and 49. The Eleven scored 198, of which I was top scorer with 43 and Tom Hayward next with 40. Here at Dunedin Dr Grace and Tarrant played an eleven composed of local players at single wicket. The two English players scored 8 and 16. The eleven only had one innings, in which they made 7 runs, Tarrant bowling them all out. Some sports were got up at the conclusion of the cricket, in which we all took part. I happen to have a programme of this entertainment, and insert it in this place:—

Jackson v. Tinley

100 yards

Jackson won by a yard.

Caflfyn v. Caesar

100 yards

Caesar won easily.

Grace v. Holmes

% mile

Holmes won as he liked.

Hayward v. Wills

100 yards

Hayward won by a yard.

Grace v. Tarrant

600 yards

Tarrant won by 6 yards.

Anderson v . Jones

100 yards

Two dead heats.

English Eleven handicap

120 yards

Cafiyn won (9 yards start).

Cafiyn v, Jackson

100 yards

Cafiyn won.

Hurdle race

600 yards

Tarrant won.

On the second day of the cricket-match the ceremony of laying the foundation - stone of the Ex

o

210 VISIT OF THE SECOND TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

hibition buildings took place. A large procession was formed on the cricket - ground, and marched from there to the site of the building. Before leaving Dunedin we each planted a memorial tree on the cricket-ground, as in the case of the first English team at Melbourne two years before.

We left Dunedin on the 20th of February in a small river steamer, which took us to Port Chalmers, where we went on board a vessel which was to take us to Melbourne. A good number of gentlemen had come down from Dunedin to see us off. When we entered Banks' Straits a few days later we encountered an immense number of seabirds, which completely covered the surface of the sea for a great distance. We reached Melbourne on the last day of February, having had a very pleasant passage, although one or two of our men had not been able to escape from sea-sickness. The next day we proceeded to Castlemaine, where we easily defeated another twenty-two by an innings and 37 runs. The twenty-two scored 54 and 46 and we made 137. A scarf-pin was presented to each member of our team as a memento of our visit. Another single-wicket match was played here. Mr Grace this time had Jackson for his partner. One innings each was got through. The English pair scored 14, and Jackson disposed of the eleven for 2 runs only.

Our next match was at Melbourne—George Parr's

VOYAGE TO SYDNEY.

211

eleven against George Anderson's. Csesar, Tinley, Tarrant, Carpenter, and I played for Parr, while Dr Grace, Hayward, Lockyer, Clarke, and Jackson were with Anderson. The two elevens were made up with Australian players, as at Christchurch. Anderson's side were victorious this time, defeating us by 4 wickets. I was the highest scorer in both innings on our side with 34 and 40. Against us Tom Lockyer played two fine innings of 44 and 40 not out. During our stay in Melboumethis time we attended the theatre, where Mr and Mrs Kean were performing. A photograph was taken of the English team here, from which a large picture was produced by an artist. Whether this afterwards came to England or remained in Australia I cannot now recollect. The same artist also painted a portrait of each one of us separately. They were all good likenesses except that of Tom Hayward's, the artist never being able to obtain a satisfactory portrait of him, although he made many attempts to do so. My own picture I have still by me.

On the nth of March we set out for Sydney in the Alexandra, and arrived there on the 14th. The next day was Sunday, and we passed it in driving about the surrounding country. On the next day we had an address presented to us at our hotel. The day before our first match at Sydney was excessively hot, and made some of us feel quite ill. Rain fell at night, however, and cooled the air a

212 VISIT OF THE SECOND TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

good deal. Our match was against twenty-two of New South Wales. There was a huge crowd to witness it, fully 20,000 people being present. The twenty-two made a good show against us in their first innings. My old friend and fellow - county player Charley Lawrence played for them, having, as I have mentioned elsewhere, been engaged as coach for a Sydney club two years before. The twenty -two totalled 137 in their first venture, Lawrence being second scorer with 25. In our first innings we compiled 128, thus being 9 runs behind. I was the highest run-getter with 25, Tom Lockyer coming next with 24. The spectators were very delighted at the success of the twentytwo, and there was a feeling that they might be successful in lowering the colours for the first time of Parr's renowned eleven. A heavy rain coming on, however, altered the condition of things, and they only managed to knock up 50 against us in their second innings. This left us 60 to get to win, but we lost 6 wickets in obtaining them. Parr was again attacked by erysipelas during the match. Rain greatly interfered with the game throughout, there being two days on which no play took place at all. The match was concluded on the day before Good Friday. The return match was begun on the Saturday before Easter, the ground being in a very wet state. The game ended in an even draw. The twenty- two scored 102 and the Eleven 114.

A CLOSE FINISH.

213

George Parr was still unwell, and went in to bat last but one.

On the following Saturday a third match, once more against twenty -two of New South Wales, was commenced, the ground being very wet still. Great excitement was felt as to what would be the result of this third contest, which was witnessed by a large number of people. The twenty-two batted first. The weather had rendered the wicket a bowler's one, and the consequence was the twentytwo were only able to reach the small total of 68. Nor did we show to much better advantage when it came to our turn to bat, as we only beat our opponents' score by 7 runs. In the second innings the New South Wales men put on 83, thus leaving us 77 to win. Two or three of our wickets fell for very few runs, and the excitement became intense. Tom Hayward and I then made a stand, each scoring 17. After this several more wickets went down, and again the hopes of the Australians rose high. Tom Lockyer (who had only made one or two when he was joined by Cris Tinley, our last man) had the honour of making the winning hit amidst a scene of indescribable excitement, thus securing us a victory by one wicket. Charley Lawrence bowled splendidly against us in our second innings, taking six of our wickets for very few runs.

On the evening of the 7th of April we went on board the steamer Wonga Wonga, bound for

214 VISIT OF THE SECOND TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

Melbourne, after partaking of a farewell luncheon in Sydney. There was a great concourse of people on the wharf to see us off. When we had got a few miles outside the "Heads" we came into collision with a small sailing vessel called the Viceroy. We were most of us at tea when this occurred, and were all much alarmed when we felt the shock of the collision. The little Viceroy was sunk almost immediately. A boat was lowered, and we succeeded in saving the crew. Poor George Parr was utterly dazed and paralysed with alarm. Tarrant quite lost his head. The first thing he did was to rush down below to get together a collection of curios which had been given to him at different times during our visit. Then when the boat was lowered he endeavoured to get into it, and was told by the sailors to keep out of the way in no very choice language. Julius Caesar, on the other hand, behaved in a manner worthy of his name, keeping very cool and collected, and doing all he could to assist the crew. It being quite dark, our situation for a time was no enviable one, and it was some time before we were able to make out the extent of the injury which had occurred to our own vessel. We had a considerable number of ladies on board, most of whom were naturally very excited and nervous. We afterwards had a good laugh at old Jackson over this affair. He had done himself extra well at the farewell luncheon, and

A COLLISION AT SEA.

215

went fast asleep as soon as we got on board the steamer; and we found him sleeping peacefully after the excitement of the collision was over and we were on our way back to Sydney, not having the least idea that anything had happened! Our vessel was a good deal injured in the forward part, so much so that there was nothing for it but to put back to Sydney for repairs, where our arrival caused the greatest astonishment. We were not able to start again until two days later. The mosquits were so troublesome on our voyage to Melbourne that we were obliged to sleep on deck, and a few of us caught bad colds in consequence. Some part of the machinery of our vessel gave way when we were within a few miles of our destination, which caused a delay of several hours. Eventually we arrived at Melbourne about two in the morning of April 11.

On the following day we went by train to Geelong, where we had to encounter twenty-two of that district. Our match here was drawn. The twenty-two scored 103 and 64 for 9 wickets. We made 135 in our only innings. The next two days we played at Maryborough —"Tarrant's Eleven v. Parr's Eleven." This match was won by Tarrant's side by 50 odd runs. We were without George Anderson on this occasion, as he had gone back to Melbourne to see about his luggage, and was taken ill there and confined to his bed for several

216 VISIT OF THE SECOND TEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

days. At Maryborough E. M. Grace challenged any six local players to play him at single wicket. They accepted the challenge, and the Doctor went in to bat. He made 106 runs, and was not out at the close of the day, nor do I think he would have been at the close of the year, had his opponents been contented to have bowled at him for so long I

Our next match was at Ballarat. Here we made the largest score of the tour—310. Bob Carpenter delighted the spectators with a fine three -figure innings of 121. Our captain, too, played splendidly for 65. The game was drawn, the twenty-two scoring 127 and 48 for 15 wickets.

We commenced our last match against twentytwo of Victoria at Melbourne on April 21. The ground, owing to the heavy rains we had recently experienced, was very soft. Heavy showers interfered with the game throughout, and the attendance was small in consequence. The match ended in a draw. The twenty-two scored 150 (which was the highest total that had been made against us during the tour) and 83 for 17 wickets. The Eleven only batted once, and scored 131. Thus ended this memorable and successful tour of the second English team in Australia.

Of the sixteen matches played (all against twentytwos), ten had been won by us and six drawn. Carpenter came out at the head of the batting averages with 22, his large innings in the last match

AVERAGES.

217

but one having pulled him up a good deal. He also totalled the highest number of runs (396), and had the honour of scoring the only century made during the tour. I came next to him, having made 348 runs for an average of 18. Tom Hayward also averaged 18, but scored 22 runs less than I did. We each cleared about £250 from the trip, after paying all expenses. Ten of the English team set sail in the Bombay on the 26th of April. Dr Grace stayed behind for some little time in order to visit friends. I myself also remained, having accepted an engagement with the Melbourne club, and I did not again see my native land till seven years later—viz., in 1871.

218

CHAPTER XXI.

MY RESIDENCE IN AUSTRALIA.

When I left England with Parr's team nothing was

further from my thoughts than that I should stay in Australia. While I was at Melbourne an offer was made to me by the executive of the Melbourne Club that I should remain with them for two years—with the option of an extra twelve months—at a salary of £300 a-year, as coach and general instructor of cricket to the members. After some little natural hesitation, I closed with them on the terms stated. I did a good deal of bowling at the club members, and soon succeeded in improving the play of many of them. The system I worked on was never to try and make all bat alike. If a man was a hitter, I tried to make him hit with as great safety as was possible; and if, on the other hand, another player was naturally a"stone-wall" batter, I encouraged him in this style of play. Of course I was careful not to induce either batsman to carry out his particular style of play too far. After a

TEACHING CRICKET AT MELBOURNE. 2IQ

time, at the suggestion of some of the members themselves, I myself would take the bat and give an exhibition of batting at the net. There were no side nets in those days, so we were obliged to have several fielders. I used to bat for an hour at a time with three bowlers at me, and found it very hard work under the intensely hot sun, especially when there was a hot wind blowing at the same time. A great crowd of people would stand and look on while I was batting, and they would cheer me lustily whenever I made a good hit. I never saw such painstaking cricketers as the Australians were in those days, and it was most interesting work teaching them when one could see the way they improved. The progress they had made at cricket was very noticeable to me when I visited the Antipodes with the second English team after a lapse of a couple of years, and this improvement became still more apparent two years later still. Some of the younger players used, I could see, to try and copy my own style of batting to the letter, and I had to caution them against doing this in every particular. For instance, in playing back I never used to move my right foot, and all my pupils endeavoured to play back in the same way, some of them tucking themselves up and becoming very helpless in consequence. I could soon perceive that some of them were able to be much more effective in their back play by

220

MY RESIDENCE IN AUSTRALIA.

stepping nearer the wicket in making the stroke; and whenever I found this to be the case I used to advise their adopting the custom, always taking care to check the fault of drawing away wide of the stumps. There was a fixed belief in Australia in those days that it was bad form to move the right foot at all when defending the wicket; and when I had proved to many of them that it was often advantageous for some batsmen to do so when playing back, they, perhaps not unnaturally, asked me if the same foot might not also be moved when playing forward. This idea, of course, I had to negative very strongly. The chief difficulty I had at first in teaching them batting was to keep the ball down in cutting, and for a long time they were at a loss to understand how I was able to do this so successfully myself. I endeavoured to impress it on them that one of the chief essentials to successful cutting was the timing of the ball accurately. I used to get the bowlers to bowl ball after ball to me to cut, in order to show them how the stroke should be made. I was able to cut very close to the stumps in those days, and in imitating me in this particular several batsmen used often to try and cut a ball which was dead on the wicket— an attempt which generally resulted in disaster. As a rule, they learnt to do the forward cut, with the left leg advanced, much more quickly than they were able to master the late cut. Although they

EARLY AUSTRALIAN CRICKET.

221

were aware that the right foot must necessarily be moved in order to make this latter stroke, still they had become so imbued with the idea that the right foot should never be moved for defensive purposes that they were often thinking of this rule when an off- ball came which required cutting late, and were not able to move the foot quick enough to make a late cut. Many of them at the early period of which I write had seen comparatively little firstclass cricket, and as was only natural, through binding themselves by hard-and-fast rules, they became somewhat automatic in their style of batting—a fault which no one could possibly charge them with in after-years.

They were delightful pupils for one to have to teach, even as far back as "the sixties"—always willing to be shown a new stroke and quick to do their best to retrieve an error, never taking offence at having their faults pointed out, and never jealous of one another.. When I remember all this, it is not so much a matter of surprise to me to see what Australian cricket has become to-day as perhaps may be the case with some people. Their bowlers of nearly forty years ago were undoubtedly in front of the batters. Even at that time there were some of them very tricky as regards variety of pace and break, although most of them seemed not to have the confidence to attempt this"head work" when engaged in a match, at which time

222

MY RESIDENCE IN AUSTRALIA.

they usually were content to try to bowl straight and to keep a good length: still even at that time one was able to perceive the germs from which the present perfect Australian bowling has sprung. A great impression had been caused by the brilliant fielding of the two English teams, and young Australian cricketers very wisely undertook to perfect themselves in this department of the game. The Melbourne Club played some good matches while I was with them against Richmond, St Kilda, Ballarat, and other clubs. It was against Richmond that I made my highest score in Australia—viz., 121.

I had been engaged to be married some time before I left England, and soon after I settled in Australia my wife who was to be came out to me there, and we were married at Melbourne.

The intercolonial matches, Victoria v. New South Wales, were played once a-year while I was there. I never played for Victoria, however. The principal players of Victoria were Messrs Wardill, Marshall, Huddlestone, Kelly, Hewett, Conway, Wills, Allen, and Bryant, the four last-named being bowlers. Marshall I have alluded to elsewhere as being one of the best bats in Australia. He was also an excellent wicket-keeper. He had been in Australia about ten years at this time. He was, I believe, a Nottingham man by birth. Conway was the manager of the first team which went to

I REMOVE TO SYDNEY.

223

England, and Wardill was a brother of Major Wardill, who acted as manager of the Australian team which visited England in 1886. Allen, too, will be remembered by English people as forming one of the 1878 team. There were also Sam Cosstick (whom I mentioned in another part of this book), who hailed from Croydon in Surrey, and many others besides.

After I had been at Melbourne twelve months, I happened to hear of a good opening at Sydney for a hairdressing business, and believing that this might be the means of a livelihood for me after I should be past playing cricket, I induced the Melbourne Club to cancel my engagement with them in order that I might remove to Sydney. I felt leaving Melbourne very much indeed, as I had become to feel quite at home there, and had been so kindly treated by all with whom I had come in contact. I started business at my old trade of hairdressing in George Street, Sydney. This was the principal street of the city, and was nearly two miles long. My wife, like myself, had been brought up to the business, and was very clever at dressing ladies' hair, and between us we made a good deal of money. Unfortunately the climate of Australia never seemed to suit my wife, who was veiy delicate, and for a long period we never had the doctor out of the house.

At Sydney I once more renewed my acquaintance

224

MY RESIDENCE IN AUSTRALIA.

with my old friend Charles Lawrence, who had now been about three years engaged with the Albert Club in that city, to whom he had been of invaluable assistance in improving the cricket. I became engaged with the Warwick Club at Sydney, at a less salary than I had been receiving at Melbourne, but a handsome one nevertheless. I coached the members of the Sydney Warwick Club in the same manner as I had taught the Melbourne players, giving an exhibition of batting at the net most days. Sometimes, however, we dispensed with the net, and had the field set out as in a match, in order to improve the fielding of the members. This fact shows how keen the Australian cricketers of that day were to perfect themselves in every department of the game. The fielding of the Australian team who visited England in 1878 was a matter of surprise and admiration to the English spectators, and I can assure my readers that their excellence in fielding had not been arrived at without a great amount of practice and perseverance. After I had been one year with the Warwick Club I requested the executive to allow Edward Gregory to divide the work with me, and to this they assented, so we each took three days a-week coaching. Gregory was one of three brothers, one of whom in later years captained the first Australian team in England. I remained four years with the Warwick Club at Sydney, and during that time played in all

NEW SOUTH WALES v. VICTORIA. 225

the matches, and continued to do so during the rest of my residence In Australia.

I also took part in the New South Wales and Victoria matches, in which contests I was of course opposed to some of my old Melbourne pupils. These matches were looked on as being the most important that were played in Australia, were always largely attended, and were fought out with the keenest rivalry on both sides. We also had some very interesting contests between the two Sydney clubs—the Albert and the Warwick. The former possessed the larger number of members, but the elevens which each were able to place in the field were about of equal merit.

The best bat I ever coached or saw in Australia was undoubtedly Charles Bannermau, nor do I think his superior has yet appeared in that country. Messrs Spofforth and Murdoch—two mighty names indeed—came to the front after my time. That fine English player Mr B. B. Cooper came out to Australia while I was there, and represented Victoria against New South Wales. I can well remember being greatly impressed by his beautiful batting. He was also a very useful bowler. Mr E. S. (now Canon) Carter of Yorkshire likewise paid a visit to the Antipodes while I was there, and was very successful with the bat during the short time he was amongst us. He too played for Victoria. In 1868 Charles Lawrence came over to

p

226

MY RESIDENCE IN AUSTRALIA.

England with a team of aboriginal cricketers, with which he toured through the country. I played against them once in a match at Sydney, and was matched to play their eleven myself (having three fielders) at single wicket, but the match fell through.

I left Australia in May 1871. The cricket out there during the ten years that had elapsed between the first visit of an English eleven and my leaving the country had made phenomenal improvement, as was proved when a third English team went out from the old country two years after my return to England. It is a source of the greatest satisfaction to me to think that I have in some measure contributed to this successful state of things. I must, however, take this opportunity to speak of the good work done towards the development of Australian cricket by Charles Lawrence, who by his perseverance, energy, and ability did a great deal towards the raising of the game to its present high standard. Altogether, it is very pleasant for me as a Surrey man to remember that my native county has been so closely connected with Australian cricket in its infancy. It was owing in a great measure to Mr Burrup's energy that the first' English visit out there did not fall through, and it fell to the lot of two Surrey players to be the first instructors of the game in the colony.

Four of my children were born in Australia—

I RETURN TO ENGLAND. 227

three boys and one girl. Two of the boys died there.

The later history of Australian cricket is well known to most people. Two English teams visited Australia between my return to England and the arrival of Gregory's team here in 1878, and since that time visits have been exchanged very frequently. I consider that at the present time the colonists are in every respect the equal in cricketing ability of their English contemporaries. There is no type, however high, of batsman, bowler, fielder, or wicket-keeper, which cannot be found in the list of the great Australian cricketers of the past five-andtwenty years.

I cannot close this chapter without expressing a tew words of gratitude to all who are still living with whom I came in contact during my life in Australia; and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for all the kindness, sympathy, and hospitality shown to me during the time I was amongst them, and can assure them that at the present time no one can possibly feel prouder of our colonial cricketers than myself. Advance, Australia!

228

CHAPTER XXII.

THE CLOSE OF MY CAREER, TOGETHER WITH A FEW REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

I left Australia for England in the spring of 1871 and arrived early in November, once more taking up my abode at Reigate. Great alterations had taken place in the cricket world in the old country during my absence. The All England Eleven had become practically played out. The great George Parr had retired from first-class cricket, which in his case meant the laying aside of the willow for good and all. A few"All England" matches were still played under the management of Richard Daft or William Oscroft, but they were now few and far between. The United may be said to have shared the same fate as its famous old rival. Cambridgeshire had disappeared from the scene altogether. Her two great batsmen, Hayward and Carpenter, had passed the zenith of their fame, while her equally great bowler Tarrant had "joined the majority." Daft was now the premier batsman

ENGLISH CRICKET IN 1871. 229

of the North and W. G. Grace of the South. Fortune had at last grown tired of always favouring the Players when opposed to the Gentlemen, and the tables were now turned. Of the counties, Nottinghamshire was undoubtedly the strongest. Young cricketers of to-day, who have only known this county in her day of weakness, can scarcely imagine the feeling of respect—nay, even of fear— which she inspired in 1871. Notwithstanding the loss of such men as Jackson, Parr, Tinley, Grundy, and Wootton, others had arisen to supply their places in the persons of Alfred Shaw, J. C. Shaw, the two MTntyres, Bignall, Selby, Wild, Oscroft, and others. Some players, too, of undoubted merit, the great midland shire had no room for in her ranks. The resources of Nottinghamshire appeared then to be inexhaustible. The county which to-day seems quite unable to produce a new bowler of ability might in those times have produced a score. Yorkshire, too, were now very strong, possessing some of the finest talent in the cricket world. Another power—Lancashire— had arisen in the North, and was rapidly coming to the front; while Gloucestershire, thanks to the three Graces, was becoming a formidable antagonist to any county who might oppose her. Surrey, though not the Surrey of old, possessed some of the best known names in England, such as Jupp, Humphrey, Pooley, and Southerton.

230

THE CLOSE OF MY CAREER.

In the season following my return to England I took part in only three matches of importance— vL for Surrey v. the Colts, Surrey v. Middlesex, and Surrey v. Gloucestershire. This last was the last match in first-class cricket I ever took part in. I now took to coaching again, my first engagement being at Clifton College for one season. Afterwards I was engaged at Wellington College, and next at a private school at Tottenham. This was followed up by three seasons at Brighton College, and an engagement of five years at Haileybury College completed my cricketing career. It was owing to my being engaged at Haileybury that I came to live at Hertford, in which quiet and secluded old town I still reside, following my occupation of hairdressing. By my staying so long in Australia I naturally forfeited my claim to a benefit from Surrey, but my county very generously allows me a pension in my declining years. Five of my children were born after I returned to England—two boys and three girls. As my sons did not—to my thinking—show any marked ability for cricket, I never encouraged them to take it up as a means of livelihood.

If after my term of residence in Australia I found an alteration in our great national game on my return here, what have been the alterations that I have lived to see since? Many indeed, and some not, in my opinion, for the better. Now there is of

REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

231

course far more first-class cricket played than formerly, but owing to the great number of drawn matches which occur, I, for my part, certainly consider that the game has for this reason become far less interesting than of yore. The wickets having been brought to such an almost unnatural state of perfection is the chief cause of this. It is difficult to see how this evil—for evil it undoubtedly is—can be remedied. It has been suggested that the wickets should not be brought to such an artificial state of perfection; but this seems to me to be going back to the old remote days of the Hambledon Club, when bowlers prepared their own wickets to suit their own peculiarities. To increase the height and width of the stumps has been another proposal made to solve the difficulty, but I fear if this were carried out it would in a' great measure do away with scientific batting. One gentleman I once heard suggest that every county ground should be boarded round about 3 feet high, and all hits should be run out except those hit over this barricade. I really think there is something in this last suggestion. It would, I am sure, be the means of reducing the enormous scores which are made at the present time. Having to run our hits all out in the old days was, I know from experience, often the cause of losing our wickets. It was no easy matter to stop a shooter on the middle stump after running a six for the previous ball.

232 REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

This sort of thing was bad enough for a strong man in good condition; what, then, must it have been to the weaklings? The alteration of the leg-beforewicket law, making a batsman out if the ball hit his leg when in front of the wicket, no matter where it pitched, would no doubt lessen the huge scores which are made. We should then have bowlers bowling round the wicket as well as over, which would also be the means of causing more attractive batting. There would then be more balls bowled outside and on the leg-stump than at present, which would cause a development of really scientific onside play. There would be more bowling at the wicket and less on the off-side. Batting, from a spectator's point of view, would no doubt become more varied and attractive; but the alteration would not be an unmixed blessing. There are undoubtedly difficulties in the way, chiefly that of putting greater responsibility on the umpires. There would in many cases be no difficulty in deciding whether a man was out leg before or not; but what if a breaking ball hit a batsman's left leg while in the act of playing forward? His leg would be so far down the wicket that it would be impossible to say for certain that the ball, by the time it would have reached the stumps, would still have been straight. The umpire would in such case, if in doubt (as in doubt he must be), have to give the batsman the benefit of it, and would in all probability be roundly grumbled at by

DRAWN MATCHES.

233

the bowler and many of the fielders in consequence. But even if this and the other alterations mentioned were carried out, I greatly doubt whether the large scoring and drawn matches would be done away with. The wickets are so good that batsmen like Mr MacLaren, Abel, Hayward, Gunn, and many others would in time score almost as heavily as at present. The only thing would be that they would have to play more cautiously than they do now, and this might lead to slow and tedious batting, which is not to be desired, and instead of the games being got through more quickly, it might be the means of prolonging them.

The problem of doing away with drawn matches is indeed difficult to solve, as it is of course impossible in England to devote more than three days to a match. I may be wrong, but I believe the day will come when matches will have to be decided on the first innings. This alteration would of course enable nearly all cricket-matches to be brought to a conclusion, and cause them to become much more interesting in consequence. As things now stand, when we go to see a contest between counties like Surrey, Yorkshire, or Lancashire played on a billiard - table wicket, in beautiful weather perhaps, it seems too much to expect that we are going to see one county defeat the other. We rather go instead to see an exhibition of fine batting, bowling, and fielding. We know, at any

234

REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

rate, that we shall have a treat from this point of view. We shall see and admire Hayward, Abel, Tunnicliffe, or Brown bat, Richardson and Lockwood bowl, and witness some splendid fielding - . But much as we enjoy all this, we would far sooner see our side gain a victory, even with the play of an inferior character, than we would see all this fine exhibition of cricket put forth, as it were, to no purpose. Who amongst us is not eagerly longing for the Test Matches against the Australians which are arranged shortly to come off? But given fine weather and good wickets, how many of the five can we hope to see won or lost? Drawn matches are hateful to the English mind, and if there is not something done to abolish them, there will, I am sure, soon be a large nail knocked in the coffin of the noblest and best of games.

The present conditions under which cricket is played have inevitably caused a different style of batting to that seen in former years. The high over-hand, over-the-wicket bowling, by which means the ball is almost invariably kept either straight or on the off-side, has entirely done away with genuine leg-hitting. From a spectator's point of view this is to be deplored, as he is thus deprived of seeing one of the most exhilarating hits that it is possible for a batsman to make. With what delight can we old men recall the fine leg-hits of George Parr, Mr Mitchell, William Oscroft, and Bob Carpenter,

MODERN BATTING.

235

and cannot but regret that we shall never see such again. There is now, too, more fast -footed play than formerly. This is somewhat difficult to account for. There are, it is true, now some very quick -footed batters, but not the percentage one might reasonably be led to expect. I myself fancy that the easy boundaries of to-day are to a certain extent responsible for this. The batsman knows well that that nice off-boundary is waiting for him, and he prefers to wait until he gets a ball right up to him, and then without moving his right leg he lunges out with the left, and away gs the ball between cover and extra-cover, and four is registered on the telegraph board without the batsman having had to leave his crease. In years gone by a batsman knew that the harder he made his hit the more runs he would make by it, and he would often risk a"jump in" to a ball even from a fast bowler like Jackson or Tarrant. I wish there were more of this now. A batsman must risk a little if he wants to make runs, and he would be running far less risk in jumping in for a drive with a straight bat than in attempting to turn a goodlength straight ball on the on-side. It is surprising to me tha| some batsmen cannot see this, especially as the risk for the drive successfully made is rewarded by 4 runs, and the other stroke in all probability by only 1 or 2. The straight drive is the safest of all hits to make, provided the

236 REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

batsman is a good judge of length, for the simple reason that it can be made with a perfectly straight bat. If one ds make a mistake, it is entirely through misjudging the length of the ball and not getting to the pitch. Against very fast bowling driving should be brought into use as much as possible. Cutting is all very well, but the off-side is now so closely packed that when in cutting a mistake is made by the batsman, it is nearly always fatal. The practice of standing outside the crease when batting against fast bowling is to be commended, always provided that the wicket-keeper is standing back. If this is done, a batsman receives many more balls which he can drive with safety than he would have done had he been standing in his ground. It is all very well to say that the bowler can bowl so much shorter in order to counteract this. That is all nonsense. A fast bowler takes a certain run, and has a certain swing, and if he tries to alter this his bowling will, in my opinion, be a good deal upset. Of course he will naturally try to bowl a little shorter, and will in all probability send one down now and then a good deal too short, and give the batsman an easy chance of hooking him round to leg.

I must confess that I am sorry for the modern bowler. Since the time the bowler was allowed the privilege of bowling above the shoulder little or nothing has been done for him. The batsman and

THE MODERN BOWLER'.

237

fielders have been catered for for many years past. The wickets and grounds are prepared for their benefit. The boundaries have been made easier; and when the light becomes at all bad, and when the bowler might reasonably expect a "nibble," an appeal is made to the umpire by the batsman as to whether an adjournment should not be made to the pavilion. The poor bowler is indeed to be pitied. But I am bound to confess that I see no way of helping him except by altering the boundaries as before mentioned, and by bringing in the new legbefore-wicket law. There are two things which I have often wondered that our modern bowlers do not at times take up. The first is to bowl round the wicket more often by way of a change, and the other is that they do not use rather more variety in the elevation of the arm. This variety would be sure to puzzle a batsman, as it would naturally cause a difference in the flight of the ball. This variety of flight is, to my mind, really more fatal, and more difficult to judge, than is the break of a ball after it has pitched. Let a bowler really deceive a batsman in the"length," and he has him in difficulties at once. It is that misjudging of the length of a ball which ds the mischief. Let a batsman once make sure, absolutely sure, of the length of almost any ball that ever was bowled, and the odds are 20 to 1 that he will kill it, however much break there may be on it. The

238 REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

length of a ball is to my mind easier to judge when the bowler is over the wicket than when round. We have only to see a bowler bowl lobs round the wicket to a third-rate player to see what an exhibition of batting will be given! The "third - rater" is fairly nonplussed by the length, and the length only. It is not the break, because he makes either a blind swipe or rushes wildly down the wicket before the ball has pitched at all. Try the same batsman to the same lobs over the wicket, and his mistakes will most likely be far less glaring. There is one ball which is denied to the modern bowler, which was a terror to all us old batters— the shooter. Oh, those shooters at Lord's l One or two balls as high as your head, then perhaps one in the ribs, and then a shooter! No wonder that when we used to stop one of these we were greeted with a round of applause.

I have already said that allowing that a batsman makes no mistake as regards length, he can stop almost any ball which can be bowled; but an exception must be made with regard to the oldfashioned shooter. The judging of the length had little to do with stopping these. It wks done more by instinct than anything—that, and by being down on it in time. There were, of course, some shooters which had to be stopped by forward and others by back play, and a batsman might in the old times be quite correct as to which stroke he should play and

ANCIENT AND MODERN BOWLING. 239

yet be too late for the unexpected shooting of the ball. When contending with this dreadful ball, for so I cannot help describing it, the batsman was dealing with a ball which the mcket gave him to play, for the bowler had practically nothing to do with it. The wickets of to-day produce no such balls. So much the better for the batsman, and so much the worse once more for the poor bowler!

If asked to compare ancient with modern bowling, I would say that the bowling of to-day is straighter, but of not such accurate length as formerly. A high, over - hand delivery must cause the ball to drop straight; but whether it will be of a decent length or not is quite another matter. Modern fast bowling has been a good deal criticised because of its want of accuracy of length; but it must be remembered, in justice to modern fast bowlers, that the bowling of short-length balls is often done purposely and with an object. In the same way critics of today are apt to speak of the number of leg-balls old bowlers used to send, and quite forget that many of them were sent for the purpose of catches to be made in that direction . 1

There are so many first - class cricketers of the present day that one almost shrinks from mention 1 When the reader bears in mind the number of wickets Dr W. G. Grace obtained with this kind of bowling in comparatively recent times, he will not be prone to deride this system of attack persisted in by so many of the old bowlers.—Editor.

240

REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

ing them by name. It is quite impossible in any one volume to mention and do justice to all. Of the counties, the most remarkable improvement in recent years has been shown by Essex. Their rise and success has been almost as sudden and remarkable as was the rise of Cambridgeshire nearly forty years ago. A fine team, indeed, have Essex, from their captain downwards. They have in Mr Kortright a very fast bowler worthy to rank amongst the greatest, and two other excellent bowlers in Mr F. G. Bull and Mead. In batting they are very strong. Messrs Perrin and M'Gahey are particularly fine; and Carpenter, although now thirty years of age, still continues to improve. It is pleasant for us old cricketers to see the name of Carpenter still in the front rank of English batsmen. That Herbert Carpenter may leave behind him a record as great and honourable as that of his father is the wish of all of us. Young Carpenter little resembles his father in style of play, as far as I can see; but the elder Carpenter never played quite the same as any other player, even of his own period.

Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Surrey are particularly strong in every department of the game. The first named has two magnificent batsmen in Brown and Tunnicliffe, who now hold the record partnership for the first wicket. It would be hard to find in any one county a pair of batsmen more deserving of that honour. Then what a fine all-round player Mr F. S.

YORKSHIRE—LANCASHIRE.

24I

Jackson is I what a combination of fine clean hitting coupled with splendid defence! He deserves to be placed alongside any of the great all-round players who have come forward since the game of cricket began.

Yorkshire has been extremely fortunate in having a captain like Lord Hawke, who, besides being so useful a bat himself, has so thrown himself heart and soul into the task of managing the team, that their occupying the proud position they do at the present time is in no small measure due to him. Haigh is a fine fast bowler, and Rhodes last year proved himself worthy to wear the armour of Bobby Peel.

Lancashire can now boast of having a batsman who holds the record of the highest individual score ever made in first-class cricket. Mr MacLaren is a batsman of the very highest type, whose equal it would be difficult, and whose superior impossible, to find. His defence is superb, his back-play almost unequalled, and his aggressive strokes are grand in the extreme. Alas! like so many more of the very best batsmen, we seem fated to see little of him. Like the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, Canon M'Cormick, Mr R. A. H. Mitchell, and others, he is able only to devote part of the summer to cricket. For a model for young players of the present day to copy, I can think of no one more suitable than Mr MacLaren. Tyldesly last year scored with a con 0

242 REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

sistency which I should say was almost a record for so young a player, and in the ordinary course of things there is a great future before him. Albert Ward is a batsman with a particularly strong defence, and as a fast bowler Arthur Mold ranks amongst the very best. The name of Mr A. N. Hornby, beloved of all cricketers, has virtually disappeared from the ranks of the county he served so faithfully and so long.

Surrey have a lot of talent in their midst, and still occupy a leading position amongst the other great elevens of the country. Abel, that most wonderful of all little players, is still well to the fore. During his career his performances with the bat have been indeed almost superhuman. The two great secrets of his success have been undoubtedly a straight bat and patience. His defence is as strong as a brick wall. It used to be said that he did not play with quite a straight bat. I once asked a cricketer if this really were the case. "It is quite straight enough!" I was curtly informed;"and so you'd find out after you'd bowled at him for three or four hours!" Brockwell has, perhaps, hardly come on so much as one might once have expected. He has, however, played some exceptionally fine innings in a style well worth looking at. There is something bright, bold, and manly about his play which is very refreshing to behold. Holland, too, has a very taking style, his on-side hitting being particularly

SURREY—MIDDLESEX.

243

fine, reminding me somewhat of William Oscroft. Surrey has an excellent captain in Mr Key, who, though now getting past his best as a batsman, still at times shows all his old brilliant form. He has ever been a batsman of the courageous order, and could often turn the tide in favour of his side when it appeared to be going dead against them. Lockwood, taking his splendid bowling and batting together, would in himself form the nucleus of a very fair team. His coming back to form last year caused delight to all lovers of cricket. Tom Richardson I have always considered to have been one of the finest fast bowlers that has ever been seen. When we take into consideration the great pace he bowls, with such accuracy of pitch, which he is able to keep up for so great a length of time, it causes us to wonder. Tom Hayward has proved himself a worthy namesake of his famous uncle. Like him, he possesses a fine free style, though little resembling the old Cambridge batsman. The difference in their respective physique is sufficient to account for this. The uncle was slight and delicate, the nephew is big and strong.

Middlesex has now an excellent team—stronger, perhaps, than they have ever had before. Mr A. J. Webbe has at last retired, leaving behind him the record of a career of exceptional brilliancy. In Mr MacGregor they have a wicket-keeper who, in my humble opinion, has only been surpassed by Tom

244 REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

Lockyer and Blackham. I have always, from the fact of his having been so closely associated with Australian cricket, taken a peculiar interest in the career of Mr Stoddart. Though now past his prime, he is still one of the best bats and finest hitters we possess. His hitting is almost peculiar to himself, and is of a different order to that of Mr C. I. Thornton, the late George Ulyett, and others. I always think that Mr Stoddart drives more with the arms and less with the whole body than any other hitter of note that I have seen. For so powerful a driver, too, he holds the bat lower down the handle than any one else I can call to mind. His defence is equal to his hitting powers, and his name will be handed down to posterity as one of the greatest batsmen that has ever been. When speaking of hard hitting, the name of another celebrated Middlesex player naturally occurs to the mind—Mr F. G. J. Ford. He is a terror to all bowlers, and his being a left-handed bat ds not make matters more pleasant for them. Mr Ford is one of the hardest hitters and the quickest of run -getters, and the spectators may always feel confident of being kept interested during the time he is at the wickets. Sir T. C. O'Brien is a fine free bat with a beautiful style; and Mr P. F. Warner will, if I am any judge, soon become one of the very best bats in the kingdom."In my opinion the coming bat is Warner," were the words

KENT—SUSSEX.

245

used last summer by an old fellow-cricketer of mine, now one of the county umpires. Middlesex used at one time to be noted for its strength of batting only, but now it is much noted for its first-class bowlers as well. J. T. Heame is of course one of the leading bowlers of the world, and on Lord's ground in particular his achievements with the ball have been very wonderful. Albert Trott, too, is very destructive, possessing great command over the ball, with a big break and a great variety of pace.

Cricket still flourishes in the time-honoured old counties of Kent and Sussex. The county of the White Horse can still hold its own in the cricketfield, as was shown by the brilliant victory obtained over the champion county last year. Mr J. R. Mason is a beautiful bat, whose forward play is exceptionally fine. The Rev. W. Rashleigh, too, is still a splendid bat on all kinds of wickets, as are likewise Mr W. H. Patterson and Mr C. J. Burnup. Alec Hearne keeps up the old family name with both bat and ball.

Sussex has of late years become very prominent, chiefly from the fact of those world-famed players Prince Ranjitsinhji and Mr W. L. Murdoch having become qualified for the team. It is impossible to speak too highly of the play of Prince Ranjitsinhji, and to attempt to praise a batsman who has so recently established so great a reputation seems

246 REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

almost a superfluity. His career is without a parallel. Probably no other batsman has made such a careful study of the science of batting as has the young Indian Prince, whose deserving efforts have been crowned with such splendid success. He has, as we have been told by Mr Fry and others, made a careful study of certain strokes of certain players, and has never rested until he has not only mastered them but improved them almost beyond recognition. The wickets are so good nowadays that many strokes may be taught and learned successfully which would have been waste of time to have attempted forty years ago. One might just as well then have tried to practise elaborate billiard strokes on an old wooden bagatelle-table. But let the wickets be never so perfect, I question whether there is another batsman alive who could have brought to such perfection some of the strokes adopted by Prince Ranjitsinhji. He seems to possess a quickness of eye, a suppleness of wrist, and a freedom of limb which places him apart from all other players. He is"a law unto himself," and however much we may admire his play, I would caution the young player to be very careful not to try to imitate him. The Indian Prince has endeared himself to all Englishmen, and has for ever dispelled the old-fashioned idea that only Englishmen can succeed on the cricketfield. It is gratifying to know that in 1899 we

MR W. L. MURDOCH—PRINCE RANJITSINHJI. 247

may welcome him once more in our midst. Mr W. L. Murdoch, "the prince of Australian batsmen," as he has been aptly styled, was so successful last season as to cause us almost to believe that he was as good as when he used to delight us with those superb innings played in the early "eighties." Any one who desires to see a better innings than one of Mr Murdoch's best is indeed hard to please. For neatness of style combined with sound correct cricket, Australia never produced a batsman to equal him. Mr C. B. Fry was last year one of the hers of the English cricket season. His success with the bat was phenomenal, and I sincerely hope he may be found to be equally fortunate in the season now at hand. He has improved in his batting immensely during the past few years, and there is no reason why he should not find himself in the ranks of the English Eleven when the test matches against our friends the Australians take place.

As Prince Ranjitsinhji has returned to Sussex, the position of the county will in all probability be much higher than it has been for many years. With such players as Prince Ranjitsinhji, Messrs Newham, Brann, Fry, Murdoch, Latham, and others, there can never be any doubt about Sussex not being a difficult side to dispose of.

For elegance of style Mr Lionel Palairet has very few equals as a batsman. Perhaps he resembles Fuller Pilch in his graceful style of forward play

248 REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

and forward hitting more closely than any other batsman now living. His brother, Mr R. C. N. Palairet, is likewise a fine correct player. The name of Mr S. M. J. Woods conjures up before our minds all the great all-round players we have ever heard of, and takes a place amongst them. Great with the bat as well as with the ball, he also has ever been noticeable for his indomitable pluck and untiring energy, and many a match has he been the means of saving for his side. He has been of inestimable service to his county and to the Gentlemen of England, and it is doubtful if the latter ever possessed his superior as a fast bowler alone, to say nothing about his batting abilities.

Hampshire has been styled "the cradle of cricket," and it seems only right and proper that this county should once more figure in the leading contests of the day. Though Hants ds not at present occupy a very high position, it has of late years possessed some very fine cricketers in the persons of Captain Wynyard, Captain Quinton, Major Poore, Mr A. J. L. Hill, and a good many more.

Cricket ds not flourish in the Midlands quite to the extent that one would expect. Nottinghamshire, once so famous, appears to have almost exhausted her stock of useful talent, a matter of as great regret to the country at large as to the county itself. Shrewsbury against medium pace or slow bowling

ARTHUR SHREWSBURY.

249

appears to be as safe and reliable as ever; but the great batsman must soon, in the natural order of things, be on the wane. An extraordinary career, indeed, has been his. His magnificent defence has of course always been the chief feature of his play, and it must be remembered that his defence has been equally pre-eminent on either fast or slow wickets. Shrewsbury has always been master of the grand secret of playing a totally different game when on a hard wicket to when on a soft or sticky one. For a batsman to be really great, he must, to my mind, realise the necessity of this and cany it out. How many batsmen do we see who can bat beautifully on a fast, good wicket, who, by persisting in playing a similar game on a slow one, become utterly helpless? Such batsmen may in a dry season come out high in the averages, but where would they be in a wet one? I used to think that Richard Daft and Tom Hayward, good as they were under all conditions, were seen at their best on fiery, bumpy wickets. It was then that their extraordinary ability to keep down rising balls shone forth, and, on the other hand, the superb defence of Arthur Shrewsbury appears to me to become most noticeable when on a difficult sticky wicket. There is,

I have always thought, something different in the defence of Shrewsbury to that of other batsmen of these or of former times. When playing either forward or back, his whole body, together with the

250

REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

bat, seems to advance or recede as though worked by a spring. He always gives me the impression that when well set it is quite impossible to bowl him out. His colleague William Gunn, though also a batsman of the defensive type, is of quite a different style. With Gunn it seems to be his great powerful arms and shoulders that do all the work. With one swing he plays forward, the bat coming straight as a line down the wicket,—so straight, indeed, as almost to appear to hide the three stumps from view. Gunn can hit exceedingly hard when so minded, and had he always gone in for that style of play he would most likely have been classed amongst the gigantic hitters of the day, but whether in such case he would have ranked as high as a batsman as he now ds is very doubtful. Attewell, after being nearly twenty years before the public, is still doing good work with the ball. Never probably in the history of county cricket has the bowling rested so much on the shoulders of one man as has been of late years the case with Attewell when playing for his county. He has been a worthy successor of Alfred Shaw, who at one time was described as the most accurate bowler in the world. Mr Dixon, the captain of Notts, is quite as good with the bat as ever, and it is earnestly to be hoped that before he retires he may see his county in a position more nearly resembling that which it used to occupy. The best and almost the only"find" Notts have

LILLEY—STORER.

251

made of late years is Mr A. O. Jones, who is a fine free punishing bat, and who ought to rise to a very high level.

In W. G. Quaife Warwickshire can boast of owning one of the finest little batters in the world. He did so well last year that it almost inclines us to the belief that to be small in stature must really be an advantage to a batsman rather than not. Mr Bainbridge is an excellent captain; and this county has in Lilley a player who is as good with the bat as he is with the gloves.

The mention of Lilley naturally causes one to speak of Storer, the Derbyshire player. To find a parallel of this great cricketer we must turn from modern players to those of ancient times—to Tom Lockyer and H. H. Stephenson. Storer is a grand wicket-keeper, and though by no means a pretty bat, is a very effective one. When we add to these that he is, besides, an extremely useful bowler, I think we may safely say we have described what is truly an "all-round" cricketer. Old Clarke used to declare that in the selection of a team the wicketkeeper ought always to be the first man chosen. Whether he could bat or not was only a secondary consideration. With this I entirely agree. If, however, a wicket-keeper can combine such batting with first-rate wicket-keeping as that shown by Lilley and Storer, their side is immensely strengthened accordingly. Indeed there is no reason why a wicket

352

REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

keeper should not be a first-rate bat. Many of them have been, and worth playing for their batting alone. There were the Hon. A. Lyttelton, Tom Lockyer, Tom Box, H. H. Stephenson, Ted Pooley, in times past; while to-day we have two striking examples in the wicket-keepers of Warwickshire and Derbyshire. Derbyshire, we hear, is about to lose its captain, Mr S. H. Evershed. This is much to be regretted, as he is now playing quite as well as ever he did, if not better, and his office of captain will be difficult to fill.

Leicestershire seem down on their luck at present. The captain, Mr C. E. de Trafford, has not been so successful with the willow as of old. C proved himself' a good all-round man last season, and the county has a fine rising bat in Mr H. H. Marriott. It is to be hoped that this midland shire, so eminently a sporting one, will soon rise higher in the list of first-class counties at cricket.

Worcestershire has done so well amongst the "minors" during the past few years that she has deservedly been promoted, and her career in the higher sphere in which she now finds herself will be watched with the greatest interest.

In Mr C. L. Townsend Gloucestershire has one of the best amateur bowlers and all-round players of the day. Very tall, with a long arm, his high delivery must be puzzling to those opposed to him; and he is, I have been told by those who have

w. G. GRACE.

From Photo by F. Hawkins Co., Brighton,

DR W. G. GRACE.

253

played against him, able to vary his pace, pitch, and break in a more deceptive manner than almost any other bowler. Mr Gilbert Jessop is one of the hardest hitters and pluckiest batsmen of modern times, and when once set going appears able to hit to the boundary almost any ball sent down to him. Mr Troup's strong defence was last season of the greatest assistance to his county, as was the fine batting of Mr C. O. H. Sewell.

No book written either now or in remote ages to come would be complete without containing a few words about the greatest of all cricketers, Dr W. G. Grace. My own experiences of his great performances have been chiefly from a spectator's point of view, and I have often felt pleased that I witnessed some of those great innings of his from the cool shelter of the pavilion rather than from "third man," "long-off," or any other position in the field! Some of the great feats I have seen Dr Grace achieve with the bat have left a lasting impression on my memory. His like will in all probability never be seen again. At the same time, while cheerfully acknowledging him to have been the greatest of all batsmen, one cannot help but smile when reading some of the articles which have been written concerning him of late years. We have been told that he invented modern batting; that no cricketer before his time left any permanent impression on the game; that before Dr Grace

254 REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

appeared the old cricketers used to hit the ball along the ground, and that the great Gloucestershire batsman was the first to show how it should be hit in the air! I wish some of the gentlemen who write in this strain had had to bowl against Alfred Mynn, Fuller Pilch, or Mr Hankey. As a matter of fact, Dr Grace more closely resembles some of the old players than most of those of modern times resemble him. No batsman has more strictly adhered to some of the old rules than has "W. G.," such as playing with a straight bat, not moving the right foot, and not allowing an off ball to go past without dealing with it. If it were possible to see Dr Grace and Mr Hankey at the wickets together, each well set, and each unknown to the spectators, they would in all probability pronounce Mr Hankey the finer batsman of the pair. There was, in my opinion, no hit on the board which Mr Hankey was unable to make equally as well as Dr Grace or any one else; and so it was with many others of the old players. So, indeed, is it with some of the present day. What, then, has been the cause of Dr Grace's phenomenal success? What has caused him to be greater than all others? In my opinion it has been from the fact of his making fewer mistakes than any other player. Dr Grace would go to the wickets accompanied by another famous batsman, and each would make perhaps 50 runs, Dr Grace's partner appearing

HIS PLAY.

255

perhaps to play the more brilliantly of the two. But Dr Grace would continue to occupy the wickets long after his companion had been compelled to retire to the pavilion, and instead of having 50 attached to his name, 100, 200, or perhaps 300 would appear there instead. When the famous old prizefighter Deaf Burke had been defeated by Bendigo for the English belt, he was asked by his patron, the Marquis of Waterford, whether there was anything of special peculiarity about the fighting of his redoubtable antagonist. "Well, my Lord," replied

the old pugilist, "he hits d d hard, and the

worst of it is he keeps on a-doing of it!" That has been the grand secret of Dr Grace's success —"he keeps on a-doing of it." His has been no "flash-inthe-f>an" success. He has been more consistent than any other player, past or present. He is not so liable to be caught in two minds as other batsmen, and this, combined with his great science and splendid physique, practically allow him to have, so to speak, three innings to another batsman's one. He possesses every essential necessary to the making of a great batsman: first, the natural gift, without which no man can, I think, ever become really great; and next, the greatest coolness while at the wickets, playing with as great an amount of head work as of physical power. For one fully to appreciate Dr Grace's play as it deserves, we must not judge him by one fine innings or by

256

REMARKS ON MODERN CRICKET.

one brilliant season,—we must judge him by the whole of his career; and when we come to consider the length of that career, equally successful under all sorts of conditions and under all sorts of difficulties, we shall then, and not till then, fully understand how great a cricketer he has been.

I am often asked whether I consider the cricket of to-day superior to what it was when I was a young man. A friend of mine lately sent me an eleven on paper, composed of old players, which he declared would equal any eleven of the present generation. In this opinion I entirely concur. The old eleven, as given by my friend, is as follows:—

Hon. C. G. Lyttelton.

Parr.

R. A. H. Mitchell.

Cafiyn.

V. E. Walker.

Willsher.

Hayward.

Lockyer.

Carpenter.

Jackson.

Daft.

And now I must draw to a close. It is a long way for me to look back to the time I first played cricket on the old Reigate ground. I have seen many ups and downs since then, and have lived out most of my old comrades. Of Clarke's famous Eleven only Anderson and myself remain . 1 All the rest have been "bowled out." On the 2nd of Feb 1 The celebrated umpire of nearly fifty years' standing,"Bob" Thoms, can scarcely be termed a member of the old All England Eleven.— Editor.

"over." 257

ruaiy last I completed my seventy-first year, and so the title of * Seventy-One Not Out ' has been given to this book. As, 1 am thankful to say, I am blessed with exceptionally good health, I hope I shall be able to "continue my innings" for some time to come, and perhaps even may be permitted to"complete my century."

R

INDEX

Abel, 333, 234, 243.

Adams, T., 61, 80 et seq., 121.

Alexander, Capt, 11, 12.

Allen, 222, 223.

All-England Eleven, 10, 11, 17, 32, 34, 36. 43, 64 et seq., 66, 74, 113, 228. See also Matches.

America, first English team to, 141 et seq,

Anderson, George, 24, 39 et seq,, 51, 59, 121, 163, 167, 185, 197-199, 204, 205, a °8, 3 io, 215, 255.

Armitage, 59.

Arnold, Charles, 62, 83, 87.

Arnold, near Nottingham, 83.

Atkinson, George, 85, 157, 192,

Attewell, William, 62, 250.

"Auberies," the, n.

Australia, first English team to, 171 et seq .—second team to, 196 et seq.—Caffyn's stay in, 218 et seq.

Bainbridge, Mr, 251.

Baldwinson, Sam, 51, 59.

Banbury, 68.

Bannerman, Charles, 225.

Barker, Tom, 3, 159.

Barnes, William, 128.

Bateman, Mr, 187.

Bath, 71, 86.

Bathurst, Sir F., 20, 52.

Beagley, Thomas, 81.

Beldham, William, 68.

Bell, Fred., 103, 105, 113.

Bennett, Geoige, 172, 175 et seq., 181, 183, 192.

Bickley, Jack, 61, 62 et seq., 67, 77, 80, 87, 90, 92, 94, 109, 126, 127.

Bignall, 229.

Bingham, 92.

Birmingham, 64, 95, 171.

Blackham, 244.

Box, T., 12, 24, 28 et seq., 39, 41, 52, 62, 106, no, 252.

Bradford, 63, 75, 105, 163.

Brampton, 92, 127.

Brann, Mr, 247.

Brighton, 23, 29, 64, 91, 94, xoi, 107, 1 18, 120, 124, 191.

Brighton College, 230.

Bristol, 89 Broadwater, near Godaiming, 67, 92.

Brockwell, George, 55, 242.

Brown, Charles, 51, 55*57 ctseq., 76, 9i, 9*i 115> 137, 158, 159. 334, 240.

Brown, G., 71.

Bryant, 222.

Bull, Mr F. G., 240.

Burbidge, Mr F., 104 et seq., 131, x66, 191.

Burn up, Mr C. J., 245.

Burrup, Mr John, 121.

Burrup, Mr W., 121, 131, 15a, 163, 171-173, 188, 191, 226.

Bury St Edmunds, 12.

Butler, G., 55.

Buttress, WY, 50, 53, 63, 66, 68, 89, 99, 167, 168.

Caesar, Frederick, 94.

Caesar, Julius, 13, 14, 24, 36-39, 55, 57, 61, 67, 68, 74, 85, 89, 92, 94, 96, 97, 99, I02,"cs 113, ii 5, 133, 141, 144, 146, 165, 166, 197, 203, 208, 210, 214.

Caffyn, Walter, 8, xo.

26 o

INDEX,

Caffyn, William, cricket at the time of his birth, i etseq.—bom at Reigate, 8—passion for cricket, 9—begins playing in matches, 10— engaged by Capt Alexander, 11— first appearance in first-class cricket, 23 —first appearance at Lord's, 15— place in first-class cricket established, 16—engaged by Clarke for All-England Eleven, 27—style of play against twenty - two, 33— cricket season of 2851, 49 et seq .— 2852, 66 et seq .—1853, 77 et seq .— 2854, 88 et seq .—at Eton College, 99—at Oxford, 99 et seq .—season of 1855, 100 et seq.— 2856, 207 et seq.—again engaged at Oxford, 115— season of 1857, 215 et seq .— at Winchester College, 222— season of 2858, 222 et seq .—1859, 134 etseq.—with the first English team in America, 241 et seq .— season of 2860, 256 et seq.—2861, 264 etseq.—with the first English team to Australia, 272 et seq.— season of 2862, 285 et seq.—2863, 291 et seq.—with the second Australian team, 296 et seq.—residence in Australia, 228 et seq.—marriage, 222—removal to Sydney, 223—return to England, 228—closing years of his cricketing career, 228 et seq.

Cambridge, 50, 225, 264.

Canterbury, 22, 62, 85, 94, 104, 212 *

Carpenter, Herbert, 240.

Carpenter, R., 45, 203, 227, 222-124, 129, 232, 235, 236, 139, 241, 142, 244, 246, 148, 252, 257, 162, 264268, 170, 185, 189, 195, 197, 203, 204, 208, 210, 216, 228, 234, 240,

• 55- ^

Carter, Canon, 225.

Chadband, Mr Charles, 232.

Chatterton, G., 51, 205.

Chatterton, H., 227.

Chertsey, 96.

Chester, J., 55, 201 et seq.

Chichester, 204.

Clarke, Alfred, 55, 89, 227, 257, 185,

"Sks? 8 *"*â–

Clarke, William, 3, 10, 22, 16-20, 24, 42, 52, 52, 55, 59, 64, 67, 74, 75» 77-80, 82, 86, 87, 89, 90, 9295* 97» 100, 201, 213, 216, 235,

155* 252.

Clifton College, 252.

Cobham, Viscount See Lyttelton, Hon. C. G.

C, 252.

Conway, 222.

Cooper, Mr B. B., 225.

Cosstick, S., 277, 223.

C ran brook, 27, 20, 59.

Croydon, 20.

Daft, H. B., 55.

Daft, Richard, 40, 55, 82, 82, 127130, 236, 257, 264-167, 270, 172, 285, 286, 189, 298, 228, 249,

Dark, Mr, 15, 216.

Darnton, T., 157.

Davis, T., .227.

Day, Daniel, 24, 55, 74.

Dean, J., 25, 49, 52, 75, 200, 103, 204, 222, 224.

Derby, 22, 223.

Diver, 96, 225 et seq., 226, 242-144, 152, 264, 167.

Dixon, Mr, 250.

Dorking, 22.

Dowson, Mr E., 266, 292.

Drake, Rev. E. T., 202, 229. Dublin, 87, 97, 123.

Earle, Mr R. B., 227.

Edinburgh, 64, 66, 97.

Ellis, 59, 292.

Enville Hall, 86, 103, 221.

"Esfom." See Morse, Mr C.

Eton College, 99.

Evershed, Mr S. H., 252.

Farnham, 68.

Felix, Mr N., 5, 20, 24, 29 etjeq ., as, 55, 62, 67, 86, 95, 138.

Fellows, Mr Harvey, 20 et seq. Fellows, Mr Walter, 229.

Ford, Mr F. G. J., 244.

Freeman, George, 63.

Fry, Mr C. B., 246, 247.

Gibson, R., 227.

Glasgow, 64.

Godaiming, 38, 68, 252. *

Grace, Dr E. M., 292, 293, 295-297, 203, 205, 207-222, 226, 227.

Grace, W. G., 28, 82, 89, 229, 239

/»., 353-356.

Gravesend, 82, 95.

Gregory, Edward, 227, 224, 227. Griffith, George, 228, 238-240, 270,

INDEX,

26l

172, 175-178. 180, 182, 183, 192, 196.

Grimston, the Hon. Robert, xi. Grundy, James, 24, 34-36, 52, 55, 69. 75 . 97 - 99 . 127. *36, I 4 I- 143 . 146, 15a, 167, 168, 186, 189, 194, 229.

Gunn, William, 233, 250.

Guy, Joseph, 12, 21 et seq, f 24, 2 6,

53. 55. 71. 78, 131

Haigh, 241.

Haileybury College, 230.

Halton, 157.

Hankey, Mr R., 108 et seq. t 1x9,

H St,, Lord, 241.

Haygarth, Mr A., 52, 135. Hayward, T., 103, 117 et seq., 124, 129, 134, 139, 141, 142, 144, 146, 157, 162-166, 170, X89, 194, 197, 202, 203, 207-209, 21 1, 213, 217, 228.

Hayward, Tom (younger), 233, 234,

243,249,255.

Hearne, Alexander, 245.

Hearne, J. T., 245.

Hearne, T., 124, 135, 168, 172, 182. Heath, J., 55.

Heath, Tom, 3.

Hentley, 8.

Hereford, 64, 113.

Hertford, 39, 230.

Hewett, 222.

Hill, Mr A. J. L., 24a

Hillyer, W., 12, 24-26, 41, 42, 80,

83, 131 Hinkly, Edmund, 60, 63, 80, 86, 90, 99, 11 5 *

Hoare, C. H., 55.

Hoare, Mr H., 82.

Holland, 242.

Holmes, Rev. R. S., 128.

Hornby, Mr A. N., 242.

Hornby, T., 157.

Hoyle, Mr A., 127.

Huddersfield, 63.

Huddlestone, 222.

Humphrey, T., 188, 229. Hungorford, 71, 82, 95.

Hunt, T., 51, 59.

Iddison, Roger, 172, 175, 182. Ilkeston, 63, 75.

Ipswich, 67, 86.

Jackson, Mr F. S., 235, 241, 255.

Jackson, John, 69, 72-74, 107, 108, 116, 1x8-120, 123, 127, 130, 131, 137, 141-143, 146, 153, i 56 - x 58 i 166-168, 194, 197, 203, 208-2x1, 214, 229.

I ackson, Mr, of Fairfield, 139. arvis, George, 3. essop, Mr Gilbert, 253. ones, Aaron, 09. ones, Mr A. O., 251. upp, H., 188, 229.

Kelly, 222.

Kent, Tom, 9.

Key, Mr, 243.

Killick, Richard, 8, xa Kortwright, Mr, 240.

Lambert, 9.

Lanaway, 9.

Lane, Mr C. G., 107 et seq ., 131. Lang, Mr Henry, 10.

Langton Wold, 103.

Latham, Mr, 247.

Lawrence, Charles, 172, 175, 182, 183, 212, 2x3, 224-226. Leamington, 17, 21, 34.

Leeds, 43, 85.

Lilley, 251. *

Lillywhite, F., 141, 145, 149. Lillywhite, F. W., 11.

Lillywhite, John, 70, 97, 100 et seq ., xio, 1x4, 1 18, 120, X2i, 141, 142, 146, 152, 189, 190, 192.

Lillywhite, William, 14 et seq., 42, 82.

Liverpool, 141, 152, 173, 197. Lockhart, Mr W. P., 161. Lockwood, 234, 243.

Lockyer, Tom, 10, 14, 55, 56 et seq., 88, 91, 96, 106, 1 12, 1x5, 120, 137, X41. * 44, 146, 149, 16x, 165, 194, 197, 200, 204, 207, 208, 211-213, 244, 251, 252, 255.

Lord's, 2, 5, 10, 14-16, 17, 20, 25, 35, 36, 41, 42, 46, 52-54, 58, 60, 6a, 67, 71, 73, 77-79. 82, 88, 92, 94, xoo, 102, xo8 - ixo, XI2, 1 16, 119, X2I, 122, X24,

130, 131, 135-137, 156, I6x, 165, 166, 185, 186, 193.

Luton, x12.

Lynn, 67.

Lyttelton, Hon. Alfred, 165, 241, 25 2 «

Lyttelton, Hon. C. G., 165, 189, 355

262

INDEX.

Macclesfield, 95.

M'Cormick, Canon, 113, 241.

M' Donga 1, Mr A. W., 127.

M*Gahey, Mr, 240.

MacGregor, Mr, 243.

M* Intyre, 229.

Maclaren, Mr, 233, 241.

Maldnson, Mr Joseph, 162.

Mallam, Mr, 271.

Malpas, Mr, 83.

Manchester, 39, 43, 112, 140, 160, 162, x68, 189, 192.

Mariott, Mr H. H., 252.

Marsden, Tom, 3 et seq,

Marshall, Mr Alexander, 67, 94, 226, i 53 >

Marshall General Sir Frederick, 172.

Marshall, MrG., 202.

Marshall, Mr Henry, 252.

Marsham, Mr C. D., 120 et seq.,

130*

Martingell, W., 12, 24, 26, 27 et seq ., 4*> 55» 6a> 67, 68, 161.

Mason, Mr J. R., 245.

Matches:—

All- England v, twenty-two at Banbury, 68—v . Bath, 86—v, twenty-two at Bingham, 92—v, twenty-two at Birmingham, 64, 95—v. Bradford, 75—v . Cheshire, 96—v . West Gloucester, 89—v, Godalming, 68—v. Hereford, 64—v, Hungerford, 72, 82, 95—v . Ipswich, 67, 86—v, Kent, 20, 59—v, Landsdown Club, 72—v. Leeds, 85—v, Leicester, 43—v, Lynn, 67—v, Manchester, 39, 43—v, M.C.C., 52—v . M.C.C. and Metropolitan Clubs, 49—v . Newark, 22, 61— v, Newcastle, 51—v . Preston, 66—v . Reading, 40—v, St Helens, 89—v . St Ives, 49—v, Scotland, 64—v. Sheffield, 52— v. Sleaford, 53—v. Lord Stamford's twenty -two, 86, 92—v, Suffolk, 12—v . Surrey, 22, 53, 70—v. Sussex, 64—v. United Eleven, 46, 216, 122, 222, 232,

• 34> *35> 161, 166 et seq .,

i&S* J 93—v * Wiltshire, 90—v. Worcester, 61—v . eighteen at York, 43.

Brighton v. Mitcham, 10.

England first eleven v, next fourteen, 162.

Matches—contd,

England v . I Zingari, 82—v. Kent, 22, 42, 62, 69, 79, 85, 94, 130—v. Kent and Surrey, 70, 102, 204—v"¢ Kent and Sussex, 63, 82, 209, 122—v. M.C.C., 80, 92, 222— v. Notts, 43 » 77, 88, 95— v. Oxford, 34, 136—2/. Surrey, 67, 70, 72, iox, 126, 130, 135, 162, 266, 189, 192—v. Surrey and Sussex, 67, 220—v . Sussex, 82, 94—v. Eighteen Veterans, 26, 132. Gentlemen v, Plavers, 42, 53, 72, 82, 92, 203, 108, 220, x18, 130, J 3S, 137, 162, 265, 285, 286, 294. Lancashire v. Yorkshire, 60. Married v . Single, 232.

M.C.C. v. Sussex, 25.

North v . M.C.C., 41— v. South, 54, 80, 200, 203, 208, 222, 2x9, 22i, 235, 286— v. Surrey, 288, 289, 292.

Notts v. Kent, 42—Players x/. Gentlemen of the County, 41, 42— Gentlemen and Players v. England, 43—v, Kent, 42. Oxford Players v. Undergraduates, 225.

Pilch's side v . Mr Felix's side, 42. Reigate v. Godaiming, 93. Sheffield v. Nottingham, 3.

Surrey v. Cambridgeshire, 37, 225, 227, 226, 264—v . Undergraduates of Cambridge, 234—v . the Colts, 230— t/. Gloucester, 230—v. Kent, 72, 86, 127, 192—x/. Kent and Sussex, iq 8—x/. Manchester, 228—x/. Middlesex, 230—x/. North of England, 128,

226, 232, 237, 140, 165, 166— x/. Notts, 54 et seq,, 68, 76, 86, 92, 226 ct seq,, 236, 258 et seq., 264, 287—v, Oxfordshire, 209,

227, 228—v, Sussex, 72, 74, 92, 96, 202, 207, 220, 228, 258, 292—v . Sussex and Kent, 224—v, Yorkshire, 58, 62, 292— Gentlemen x/. Players of the County, 22, 23-15, 20. See above, All-England, England, and North.

Sussex v, Kent, 33—v, Yorkshire, 3j. See above, All-England, England, M.C.C., and Surrey. United Eleven v, Bedfordshire, 204—v, Chichester, 204—v.

INDEX.

263

• â–

Matches—contd.

Dublin, 1x3— v. Gravesend, 95—v . Gentlemen of Hants; 74— v, . East Hants, 18 <—v, twentytwo at Langton Wold, 193— v. Luton, 1 13— v. Newmarket, 75—v. Christchurch, Oxford, 133—v, Reigate, 113, 156— v . Sheffield, 75— v. Lord Stamford's twenty-two, 103, in— v. Mr John Walker's sixteen, 137. See adove, All-England.

During tour in America:— English Eleven v, Canada and the States, 150—v. Lower Canada, 143—v. Upper Canada, 149—v, Philadelphia, 148—v. the States, 146.

During First Australian tour:— English Eleven v . Ballarat, 18x— v. Bathurst, 180—v. Beechworth, 177—v . Bendigo, 183—v. Castlemaine, 18a—v. Geelong, 178— v. Melbourne, 176, 178— v. New South Wales and Victoria, 180—v . Tasmania, 18 1—v. Victoria, 183.

During Second A ustralian tour:— English Eleven v, Ararat, 303— v, Ballarat, 303, 216—v. Bendigo, 302—v. Canterbury and Otago, 207—v. Castlemaine, 210— v. Christchurch, 208—v, Geelong, 215—v. Maryborough, 304—v . New South Wales, 212, 213—v . Otago, 207, 209—v » Victoria, 202, 216.

M.C.C., 5, xo, xi.

Mead, 240.

Miller, Mr F. P., 93, 94 et seq ., 101, 103, 104, xx8, 131, 140, 158, 173.

Mitchell, Mr R. A. H., 45, 192 et seq. t 224, 241, 255.

Mold, Arthur, 242.

Morley, Fred, 69.

Morse, Mr C., 52.

Morse, C., xi.

Mortlock, W., 169, 172, 179, 180, 183, 191, 194, 196.

Mudie, W., 138, 166, 172.

Murdoch, Mr, 129, 225.

Murdoch, Mr W. L., 245, 247.

Mynn, Alfred, 5, 9, 12, 20, 24, 26, 3051, 61, 83-85, 89, 95, no,

33, 4L 112, 131,

133, 254.

Napper, Mr Edwin, 94, 102, 152.

Napper, William, 102.

Newark, 21, 61, 72.

Newbury Park, 63.

Newham, Mr, 247.

Newmarket, 75.

Nicholson, Mr W., 52, 69, 88, 92, 1 10.

Nixon, T., 55.

Nottingham, 5, 17, 19, 75, 83, 91, 95 * "9, * 57 * 159 O'Brien, Sir T. C., 244.

Oscroft, William, 45, 85, 228, 229, 234, 243.

Oval, the, 11-16, ax, 26, 54, 61, 67, 68, 70, 71, 80, 81, 86, 87, 101, X09, ixo, 1x7, x18, 120, 124, 126, 127, 130-132, 136, 138, 158, 161, 162, 165, 166, 168, 185, 187-18% 191, 192, 194.

Oxford, 99 et seq., 1x5, X22.

Palairet, Mr Lionel, 247.

Palairet, Mr R. C. N., 248.

Paley, Mr, 133.

Palmer, 35.

Parr, Butler, 55, 78, 84, 198.

Parr, George, 17, ao, 21, 24, 26, 34, 38, 41-48, 55, 60, 66, 67, 76, 78, 79, 81-85, 91-94, 97, 98, 100, 103, 105, 108, 110, 113, 116, 120, 121, 126, 127, 130-132, 135-137, 140147, * 5 °> i§ 3 . 156, i 59 » 168, 171, 193. X96-198, 303, 206, 208, 2102 X2, 2X4, 215, 228, 229, 234, 255.

Parr, Henry, 127 et seq .

Parr, Sam, 26, 55, 70.

Patterson, MrW. H., 245.

Payne, Mr A., ixo et seq »

Peel, R.. 241.

Perkin, Mr Henry, 115.

Perrin, Mr, 240.

Picknell, George, 16.

Pilch, Fuller, 4, 5, 9, xo, 12, 22 et seq. t 24, 41, 42, 59, 61, 62, 81, 99> 102, 104, 1x2, 129,

247, 254.

Plumb, Tom, 74.

Ponsonby, Hon. F., xi.

Pooley, E., 166, 239, 252.

Poore, Major, 248.

Portsmouth, 74.

Preston, 66.

Pycroft, Mr, 81.

Quaife, W. G., 251.

Quinton, Capt., 248.

264

INDEX,

Radcliffe-on-Trent, 41, 83. Ranjitsinhji, Prince, 128, 245 et seq., 247.

Rashleigh, Rev. W., 245.

Reading, 40.

Redgate, Sam, 155.

Reigate, 8 et seq., 93, 112, 156, 196, 228.

Rhodes, 241.

Richardson, J., 234, 243.

Ridding, Mr, 95.

Robinson, T., 157.

Rotherham, 105.

Royston, H., 52.

Russell, Lord Charles, x6x.

Salisbury, 90.

Sampson, H., 59.

Sampson, S., 51.

Selby, 229.

Sewell, Mr C. O. H., 253.

Sewell, T., 42, 52, 89, 159.

Sewell, T. (younger), 138, 158, 166, 168, 169, 172, 178.

Shaw, Alfred, 229, 250.

Shaw, J. C. t 158, 229.

Sheffield, 2, 3, 6, 43, 51, 58, 60, 63,

75, JS 7, washerman, Tom, 10, 33, 55, 58, 67, 96, 97, 1 01.

Shrewsbury, 129, 248-250.

Single -wicket matches, 6, 96, 139, 154 etseq., 157, 178, 203, 204. Sleaford, 53, 79.

Slinn, William, 156, 157 et seq. Southampton, 64.

Southerton, James, 101, 125, 209. Southgate, 138.

Southsea, 185.

Southwell, 43.

Spalding, 83.

Spofforth, 225.

St Helens, 77, 89.

St Ives, 49.

Stamford, Lord, 87.

Stephenson, E., 120, 121, 140, 172, 181, 183, 184.

Stephenson, H. H., 39, 40, 90 et seq., 92, 93, 96, 98, 102, xo8, 118, 130-132, 141, 142, 146, 162, 172, 176, 180-182, 194, 196, 251, 252.

Stockton-on-Tees, 51.

Stoddart, Mr, 244.

Storer, 251.

Street, 189.

Stubberfield, 125.

Tarrant, George, 69, 73, 103, 156 et seq., 168, 197, 203, 204, 208-210, 214, 215, 228, 235.

Taylor, C. G., 82.

Teignbridge, 64.

Thirsk, 51.

Thoms, R., 24, 255^.

Thornton, Mr C. I., 244.

Tinley, Cris, 21, 51, 54, 61, 78 et seq., 87, 92, 95, 102, 112, 126, 127, 135, 140, 159, x6x, 163, 197, 203, 208-210, 213, 229.

Tinley, Frank, 21, 55, 63, 80, 127.

Tinley, Vincent, 61.

Torquay, 86.

Townsend, Mr C. L., 252.

Trafford, Mr C. E. de, 252.

Trent Bridge ground, 17, 19, 76.

Trentham, 63.

Trott, Albert, 245.

Troup, Mr, 253.

Tunbridge Wells, 82, 103, 119, 192.

Tunnicliffe, 234, 240.

Tyldesly, 241.

Ulyett, George, 244.

United Eleven, 32, 34, 66, 74 et seq . See also Matches.

Walker, Mr I. D., 135, 138.

Walker, Mr John, 92, 132, 137, 152, 186.

Walker, Mr v. E., 102, 130, 135,

137, 18 9 . 2 55 *

Walsall, 185.

Wanostrocht. See Felix, Mr N. Ward, Albert, 242.

Wardill, 222, 223.

Warner, Mr P. F., 244.

Watson, Mr J., 127.

Webbe, Mr A. J., 243.

Wellington College, 23a Wells, 96, 123, 133, 158, 172, 1 77. Wenman, E. G., 5, 22, 23, 59, 6i, 85, 102, 131.

Wild, 229.

Willes, Captain, 71.

Willes, Major, 95.

Wills, 222.

Willsher, Edgar, 40, 69 etseq., 85, 87, 99, 108, 112, 113, 119, I2i, 129, 167, 168, 187, 189, 190, 194,

® 55 Winchester, 154.

Winchester College, 123, 154. Wisden, John, 10, 11, 16, 17, 20, 24, 32-34, 49, 51, 62, 69, 71, 75, 80,

INDEX,

89, 94, 97, 1031 104, 106, 108, 109, Worcester, 61.

112, 113, 118, 130, 132, 134, 141, Wright, Harry, 51, 59. 142, 146, 168. Wynyard, Captain, 248.

Wood, Mr, 132.

Woods, Mr S. M. J., 248. Yonge, Mr G., 71.

Wootton, George, 167, 187, 229. York, 43.

THE END.

PRINTED BV WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONflL