Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/94

 Tinley's first over I played carefully; in the second I decided to hit, and hit him into the scoring-tent. The hit was loudly cheered; I was pleased, felt elated, got over-confident, and paid the penalty. In my haste to repeat the stroke, I ran out too far in the third over, missed the ball altogether, and was clean bowled. I had scored 32, at 15 years of age, against the All-England Eleven, the heroes of the cricket world, and there is no need to say that I was delighted.

But my delight did not cause me to slacken my desire to progress. On the contrary, I realised that I had given promise of excellence, and must strive harder not only to justify it, but to improve on it.

The All-England Eleven made a poor show in its first innings, Jackson and H. H. Stephenson scoring 33 between them, the others 53; total, 86. A small total we thought, and due to the effective bowling of E. M. and E. T. Daubeny, who divided the wickets.

E. M. justified his selection as captain. When E. Stephenson and Willsher got set in the second innings, I was put on to bowl, and E. M. went out to the longfield. "Throw up one or two for Stephenson to hit," said he, which I promptly did, and E. M. brought off a magnificent catch the first over.

The All-England Eleven was defeated by an innings and 20 runs.

To be asked to play for the All-England Eleven may be considered a distinct step forward. That was my position in the early part of 1864, when I was in my sixteenth year. E. M. had not returned from Australia with the other members of Parr's team, and I received an invitation to play against Eighteen of Lansdown on the 30th of June. For some reason or other, Lansdown had not then asked me to play, and I accepted the All-England Eleven invitation with much pleasure. Henry was equally pleased, though playing for the Eighteen,