Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/162

 In 1877 County cricket had taken a firm hold, and created greater interest than the All - England and United South Elevens ever did. There were as many as nine first-class counties playing: their contests were very exciting, and their doings were followed carefully from the beginning to the end of the season. "Who is going to take first place in county honours this year?" was a question that was repeatedly asked. But it was one that required special knowledge to answer. Gloucestershire did great things in 1876, and was conceded pride of place; and when it was announced that Midwinter, an Australian of high reputation in both bowling and batting, had returned to England, and would now play for that county, every one concluded that it would again be well to the front. Midwinter was the first professional who played for Gloucestershire, and his bowling considerably strengthened it.

For some years Gloucestershire and Middlesex had been called the counties of amateurs, and it was entirely owing to their great batting skill that they had held their own against what may be called the professional counties. We have only to refer to the batting averages to find that the professionals were still very far behind the amateurs in that branch of the game. The fact seems to have impressed itself rather strongly upon the Lancashire and Surrey Committees about this time; for we find their elevens with a good sprinkling of amateur talent in them, by which they were much benefited. Mr. A. N. Hornby, at the head of the Lancashire eleven; Mr. G. Strachan, at the head of Surrey; and Lord Harris, at the head of Kent, were infusing vigour into their teams, and producing good results. Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, while possessing the very best professional bowling talent of the day, were lacking in amateur batting, and did not do so well as they would have done ii they had possessed both.