Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/308

 he began his season by making over a hundred against an eleven from Yorkshire, which has some grand bowlers. We wonder if Cranston is the same man who was tried for Warwickshire a few seasons ago and rejected. But, of course, ability to make a hundred in such cricket as he is now playing is no criterion of his capacity to make runs for Warwickshire."

Now that is very funny, and very sarcastic; but I am sure Mr. Cranston will agree with me when I say that he was living in the country at the time, where he could get very little, and no good practice, and was consequently not in his best form.

Mr. Cranston plays with a very straight bat, and comes down on the ball very firmly. He drives and cuts well, and rarely allows a ball to pass. He is very good in the long-field, and, though not so brilliant as he was ten years ago, can always be relied on for a catch. He represented the Gentlemen against the Players in 1889-90, and England v. Australia in 1890. His best batting years have been:


 * 1881 || 12 || 317 || 63 || 26.5
 * 1889 || 23 || 709 || 130 || 30.19
 * 1890 || 34 || 978 || 152 || 28.26
 * }
 * 1890 || 34 || 978 || 152 || 28.26
 * }
 * }

Mr. was born at Nottingham, 2nd November, 1835. His height was 5 ft. 9, in.; weight, 11 st. He was the most finished and graceful batsman in England for a great many years. It seems but the other day that I was playing against him; and I can hardly believe that he belonged to the great players when I was in my ninth year and quite unknown. He originally played as an amateur, but joined the ranks of the professionals in 1859. From that year until 1876 he was the most scientific batsman amongst the professionals, delighting everyone by his upright, manly style of defence and exceptional wrist-power. The