Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/131

 England, and played their first match at the Oval on 25th and 26th May. They played 47 matches during the season; winning 14, losing 14, and 19 were drawn. In strength they were about equal to third-class English teams; and the result of their visit was satisfactory and encouraging to them in every respect. I had not the pleasure of playing against them; but I believe it was generally admitted that two players, Mullagh and Cuzens, showed very good all-round form.

County Cricket still progressed; Yorkshire holding its own, but not shining so conspicuously over the others as it did the previous year. Nottinghamshire played Lancashire for the first time, and home-andhome matches were resumed with Surrey.

Gloucestershire made a start, playing the M.C.C. at Lord's on the 25th and 26th June, and winning by 134 runs; but it was two years later before the club was formed on a sound basis, and engaged in contests with other counties.

My brother Fred played on this occasion; but he had made his first appearance at Lord's on the 1st and 2nd of the same month, playing for England v. M.C.C. He was only 17 years of age at the time; but he had already earned a great reputation in local cricket, and had represented the South of the Thames v. North of the Thames in 1866. I was of the same age when I first played for England, and I believe we are the only two players who have represented England so young. Fred had played for the United South also, and was thought good enough to go in first with me; and we now continued to represent that Eleven most years.

Before the season was over I accomplished two or three good batting performances. On June the 1st and 2nd, for England v. M.C.C., at Lord's, played for the benefit of the Marylebone Cricketers' Fund, I scored