Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/110

 The All-England v. United England, and Gentlemen v. Players matches, though far ahead of the Eton and Harrow match in a cricketing sense, were not to be compared with it in attendance. The Players were still far ahead of the Gentlemen, and that year's defeat made the eighteenth in succession.

But, undoubtedly, the most encouraging feature of that season was the progress made by the counties. Surrey county had a very fine record: 14 matches played 8 won, 1 lost, 5 drawn.

A very sad show for Kent, considering that 13 of that club played an Eleven of England twice that year.

Lancashire played 9: 3 won, 3 lost, 3 drawn; most of them against minor counties and local clubs. Hampshire played n matches of one kind and another, and Buckinghamshire played two against Middlesex. Amateur Elevens were quite as busy; the I Zingari playing 23 matches, the Incogniti 23, and the Free Foresters 14.

I began to take an active part in first-class cricket in 1865. I was only sixteen years of age, but I was over 6 feet in height and n stone in weight. Before the end of the season I had played for the Gentlemen of the South, the Gentlemen of England., England v. Surrey, and for the Gentlemen v. Players twice, with what success will be seen later on. Before touching