Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/378

 lost sight of by the general public. The great power of his bowling lay in its good length and unvaried precision. He could break both ways, but got more work on the ball from the off; and he was one of the few bowlers who could very quickly cause a batsman to make a mistake if he was too eager to hit. An impatient batsman might make two spanking hits in succession off him, but he would not make a third. Shaw was sure to take his measure and get him in a difficulty.

On a good wicket, when batting against him, I did not find it difficult to play the ball; but I had to watch him carefully, and wait patiently before I could score. Some days he was irresistible; and there can be little doubt that for the M.C.C. and his county few bowlers have done such good service. He had wonderful stamina, in some seasons bowling as many as 8,000 to 10,000 balls; and he was a very fine fieldsman as well. He was on the bowling staff of the M.C.C. in 1865, '66, and in '67, and again from 1870 until he gave up first-class play; and he captured 10 wickets in an innings for that club against the North in 1874.

His best bowling years were:


 * 1867 || 885 || 435 || 957 || 96 || 9.93
 * 1870 || 1171 || 645 || 1289 || 103 || 12.53
 * 1871 || 1404 || 755 || 1467 || 98 || 14.95
 * 1872 || 1006 || 498 || 1109 || 92 || 12.5
 * 1873 || 1317 || 630 || 1638 || 128 || 12.102
 * 1874 || 1461 || 722 || 1729 || 131 || 13.26
 * 1875 || 1741 || 1022 || 1499 || 161 || 9.50
 * 1876 || 2546 || 1470 || 2515 || 178 || 14.23
 * 1878 || 2522 || 1512 || 2084 || 196 || 10.124
 * 1879 || 1575 || 924 || 1259 || 134 || 9.53
 * 1880 || 1994 || 1231 || 1525 || 177 || 8.109
 * }
 * 1875 || 1741 || 1022 || 1499 || 161 || 9.50
 * 1876 || 2546 || 1470 || 2515 || 178 || 14.23
 * 1878 || 2522 || 1512 || 2084 || 196 || 10.124
 * 1879 || 1575 || 924 || 1259 || 134 || 9.53
 * 1880 || 1994 || 1231 || 1525 || 177 || 8.109
 * }
 * 1879 || 1575 || 924 || 1259 || 134 || 9.53
 * 1880 || 1994 || 1231 || 1525 || 177 || 8.109
 * }
 * 1880 || 1994 || 1231 || 1525 || 177 || 8.109
 * }

James Shaw (cricketer) was born at Sutton-in-Ashfit Nottinghamshire, 11th April, 1837. His height was 5 ft. 9 in.; weight, 12 st. Very few bowlers have a