Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/74

 omnipotent. Mr. M. Kempson was in residence at that time, and by his fine all-round play gave the West Gloucestershire many a hard day's work. He gave them a taste of the bowling skill which was to be of somuch service to his side in the Gentlemen v. Players match in 1853. Mr., now Sir Henry, James was there also, and helped with both bat and ball, and altogether the match was the most exciting and enjoyable of the year. I ought to say matches; for most years two were played. The annual fixture was in the month of June; but hardly a year passed in which a second was not played in September or October when the boys returned from the holidays.

The year 1846 was the club's first experience of very fast bowling. Mr. Marcon was in the neighbourhood that year, and played against them. Their wickets went down like ninepins, and half of the batsmen never saw the ball when he bowled. Every fieldsman was behind the wicket, and there were two longstops: the first stood fifteen yards behind, and was supposed to be the wicket-keeper; and the second about thirty yards farther away. Mr. Marcon did not trouble about the length of the ball. He aimed at the wicket, and the ball flew straight from his hand to it without touching the ground; and nearly every time it hit the bottom of the stump, the stump was smashed. Runs were scored now and then from a snick to leg or slip, but not one of them could hit him in front of the wicket. A member of the team said it could be done ought to be done, and he would do it!

"It is no use grounding your bat and waiting until he bowls," said he. "No! have your bat in the air in hitting position, and let fly at him." He was certainly big enough and strong enough to do as he said; so in he went, and stood waiting with the bat in the air, ready to hit.