Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/388

 to the standard of Spofforth, who visited England with the first team in 1878. I first met him when I took a team out to Australia in 1874, but I little thought then that he was to stir the whole cricket world some four years later. We can all remember the impression he made in the memorable match against the M.C.C. and Ground the first year he came to us, and how before the season was over he challenged the best of our English players for first place. Right well he proved his title to the name of "demon" bowler which had been given him on the other side. He came with every team down to 1886, and maintained his great reputation in all of them.

His style has been described many times: right-hand, round-arm, a high delivery and fairly fast, with a break from both sides, but chiefly from the off. He was most successful with his medium-pace balls, which, when he was in form, he could pitch where he liked. Whether he broke six inches or two feet, so wonderful was his command of the ball that if it beat the batsman it invariably hit the wicket. His very fast ones were generally yorkers, which were delivered without any apparent alteration of pace. Length and accuracy were his great characteristics, and it used to be said of him that, if he were allowed to pour water on a space six inches square on a dry and hard wicket, he would bowl out the best eleven in England for a very small score. Though he has not played much of late years, I believe with practice he would prove as effective as ever. His performances must speak for themselves. The following are confined to eleven-a-side matches played in England for the Australian Elevens:


 * 1878 || 717 || 264 || 1198 || 108 || 11.10
 * 1880 || 240 || 82 || 396 || 46 || 8.28
 * 1882 || 1592 || 700 || 2282 || 188 || 12.26
 * 1884 || 1544 || 649 || 2642 || 216 || 12.50
 * 1886 || 925 || 372 || 1528 || 89 || 17.15
 * }
 * 1884 || 1544 || 649 || 2642 || 216 || 12.50
 * 1886 || 925 || 372 || 1528 || 89 || 17.15
 * }
 * 1886 || 925 || 372 || 1528 || 89 || 17.15
 * }