Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/407

 the Oval in 1865, when I made my first appearance in the same match. It was a splendidly hit innings, the highest in the match; and as he took four of the Players' wickets for 55 runs in the first innings, two for 47 second, and caught out two others as well, the performance may be considered an exceptionally good one. He was a good slow round-arm bowler, and one of the best changes I ever met, frequently obtaining wickets when others had failed.

Mr. V. E. Walker was born at Southgate, Middlesex, 2oth April, 1837. His height was 5 ft. ii in.; weight, 13, st. He represented the Gentlemen v. Players when he was but 19 years of age, and was chosen to represent England when he was 21, and took all ten wickets in the first innings; and scored 20 not out first, and 108 second, for England v. Surrey, when he was 22. In the year 1860 he was paid the compliment of being chosen in the First Eleven of England v. Next Fourteen. He was one of the most brilliant fieldsmen of his day, his fielding at point being very fine. He bowled underhand lobs, not quite so accurately as Clarke; but what he lacked in accuracy, he almost made up by his wonderful fielding. His sprinting powers up the pitch, or to mid -on and mid -off were exceptional, and he seemed to divine where the batsman meant to place the ball. As a batsman he possessed good defence and fine hitting powers, and scored at a great rate.

He played quite up to his best batting form in 1866, when I began first-class cricket; for he could show that year the fine average of 42 for 18 completed innings; but his best bowling years were rather before that. All ten wickets in an innings is considered a remarkable feat: reference to the records in Chapter XII. will show that he is the only player, amateur or professional,