Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/348

 University, the Gentlemen v. Players, England v. Australia, and for Middlesex.

As a batsman he had a most commanding and beautiful style, and scored at a very fast pace aga111st.all kinds of bowling. I remember hearing some one remark that his style was the champagne of cricket, and I thought it hit the nail full on the head. He has done mariy fine performances with the bat chief of them, to my mind, being his 181 in the memorable partnership with Mr. I. D. Walker for Middlesex v. Gloucestershire, at Clifton in 1883. His wicket-keeping was always firstclass. There was no fuss or show about it, and I have rarely seen him knock the bails off unless there was a possible chance of stumping. He was very quick, and took the ball on both sides with equal ease and certainty. His best batting years were:


 * 1876 || 15 || 383 || 83 || 25.8
 * 1877 || 21 || 611 || 101 || 29.2
 * 1878 || 19 || 476 || 72 || 25.1
 * 1879 || 24 || 688 || 102 || 28.16
 * 1880 || 13 || 378 || 47* || 29.1
 * 1883 || 8 || 555 || 181 || 69.3
 * 1884 || 16 || 417 || 103 || 26.1
 * }
 * 1880 || 13 || 378 || 47* || 29.1
 * 1883 || 8 || 555 || 181 || 69.3
 * 1884 || 16 || 417 || 103 || 26.1
 * }
 * 1884 || 16 || 417 || 103 || 26.1
 * }
 * }

The Hon. Charles Lyttelton, 8th Viscount Cobham, now Lord Cobham, was born at Hagley Park, Stourbridge, on 27th October, 1842. His height was 6 ft. 2 ins.; weight, about 13 st. He was at his best when I appeared in first-class cricket, and I was delighted with his free, hard-hitting style. His cutting in particular was most brilliant, and the ball travelled with startling rapidity after it left the bat. There were no boundaries at the Oval in those days, and the sound of the ball hitting the palings was heard all over the ground with a clearness and distinctness that told of the force and skill put into the hit. He is senior member of a distinguished family which