Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/389

 Mr. Allan Steel was born at Liverpool on the 24th September, 1858. His height is 5 ft. 8 in.; weight, about 11 st. 7 lbs. It is very difficult to arrive at a proper estimate of his abilities as a cricketer. Before he had completed his sixteenth year he had played well enough to warrant the prediction that he would do as well as any one since the game began. Unfortunately, professional and other duties have interfered very much with his cricketing career; for while he has performed most brilliantly with bat and ball, he has not been able to develop his powers to the extent everyone sincerely wished he would. For weeks and months he would be unable to play in first-class cricket; and then suddenly he would appear in some great match, and astonish everyone by his brilliant form.

From the time he first represented Cambridge University in 1878, his form was indeed remarkable. He was in residence there until 1881, and it maybe safely said of him that no more brilliant player ever represented either eleven in the Inter-University matches since they were first instituted. During the four years he represented Cambridge v. Oxford he played 6 completed innings, scored 182 runs; average, 30.2; and bowled 317 overs for 342 runs, 38 wickets; average, 9.

He played for the Gentlemen v. Players when he was but nineteen years of age, and nearly every time he appeared afterwards he was very successful. Lancashire, too, was strengthened by his fine play; but that eleven has also had to bear with his occasional presence. For England v. Australia he has come off on more than one occasion. He was eminently successful for the Hon. Ivo Bligh's team which visited Australia in 1882-3. In all matches he played 18 completed innings, scored 551 runs; average, 30.11; and bowled 800 overs, 390 maidens, 999 runs, 152 wickets; average, 6.87.

He bowls slow medium pace, round-arm, breaks both