Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/369

 October, 1860. His height is 5 ft. 8½ ins.; weight, 11 st. 7 lbs. He has the entire credit of having taught himself, and in the full sense of the word may be called a self-made player. Until he was 17 years of age he played little or no cricket, but after that he cultivated the game with great perseverance, and he is now one of the most punishing and dangerous bats in England. His defence is excellent, and he can play all the correct strokes characteristic of a good batsman; but he has two strokes of his own which have puzzled many a bowler. A ball well up on the off-side and breaking away from him, he drives over cover-point's head; if it is breaking into him, he pulls it perfectly square to leg. How on earth he makes the latter I know not. He scores very rapidly, and made sad havoc of my brother E.M.'s lobs on one occasion at Thornbury, actually scoring 53 in three overs—four balls to the over.

He is a good change bowler, with a big break from the off, and only wants practice to become first-class; and he is a very good field and safe catch. So far his fine performances have been made for Gloucestershire, which he has represented since 1886; but he has represented the Gentlemen against the Players, and performed brilliantly once or twice against the Australians. He played for Somersetshire in 1885.

For Gloucestershire his best years have been:


 * 1886 || 22 || 590 || 104* || 26.18
 * 1889 || 24 || 568 || 101* || 23.16
 * }
 * 1889 || 24 || 568 || 101* || 23.16
 * }

Mr. Walter Read was born at Reigate, Surrey, on the 23rd November, 1855. His height is 5 ft. 11½in.; weight, 14st. 5 lbs. He will stand out as one of the great batsmen of the age. For excellent defence and vigorous hitting he has had few equals; and to-day, though in his 36th year, his form is almost up to his best