Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/370

 years. As far as I can learn, he had no special training, but his innate love for the game and unwearied perseverance brought him rapidly to the front. He was tried by the Surrey Committee at the early age of 17. His defence was excellent then; and great things were predicted of him when he reached the years of manhood. He always played with a straight bat, and, as the years went on and strength came, his hitting powers improved rapidly. For quick scoring he has few equals, and there is no one the cricket-loving public watches with greater delight.

The very first over he is on the alert for a loose ball, and I do not envy the bowler when he has got well set. Like most of our great batsmen, he has his pet hits. A long hop on the off-side is his especial delight. He makes no attempt to pull it to the on, as one or two powerful hitters do, but steps back with his right foot, and smites terrifically hard between point and mid-off. He plays every ball clean and hard, however good the length of it, and on the leg-side he is exceptionally strong in placing. Of late years he has fielded close in, but he is also good in the long-field; and it is an open secret that he can keep wicket fairly well, and bowl lobs at a pinch. In 1881, for Surrey v. Yorkshire, at Huddersfield, he kept wicket while Yorkshire scored 388 and did not give a single extra.

He first represented his county in 1873, an d was at the head of the averages in 1875. The year 1877 saw him representing the Gentlemen against the Players, and, with the exception of 1878 and 1879, not a year has passed in which he has not played a great part in all matches of importance.

To give every three-figure innings he has made would take too much space, so I confine myself to those scored from 1884 to 1890, when he was undoubtedly seen at his best:—