Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/363

 after he showed considerable improvement, and at the end of the season he took a good position amongst firstclass bowlers. Four years later he was admitted to be one of the best all-round players in the Yorkshire Eleven, and, indeed, was considered worthy of a place in any eleven. To-day he is still well to the front, and has lost none of his skill with bat or ball. He played with great success in Australia, and has been even more successful against the Australians in England.

What I like about Peel is his plucky, willing, cheerful way, and on that account I would as soon have him on my side as any man in England. Never a grumble comes from him, and he is ready at a moment's notice to go anywhere in the field. Now and then a bowler begs to be let off, alleging that he is either a little bit tired or that the end does not suit him. Peel is never tired, at least he never admits it, and he does not care whether he bowls up-hill, down-hill, with the wind or against it. He bowls left-hand, round-arm, slow medium, keeps a very good length, and breaks principally from leg, but occasionally he puts in a very fast one which comes with his arm. And he is not afraid of sending up a lofty toss to the off to tempt the batsman to hit. Of late years he has been very successful; and he is undoubtedly the best professional left-hand batsman in England at the present time.

His best years in first-class cricket so far have been:


 * 1888 || 1648 || 830 || 2091 || 171 || 12.39
 * 1889 || 1229 || 479 || 2054 || 118 || 17.48
 * 1890 || 1552 || 714 || 2239 || 172 || 13.3
 * }
 * 1890 || 1552 || 714 || 2239 || 172 || 13.3
 * }
 * }


 * 1887 || 33 || 835 || 91 || 25.10
 * 1890 || 44 || 817 || 83 || 18.25
 * }
 * 1890 || 44 || 817 || 83 || 18.25
 * }