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64 professionals for several years could not play their best eleven. This was one, but not the main cause why after 1864 the Gentlemen had a great run of success. In 1865 the Gentlemen won at Lords for the first time since 1853; George Parr played his last and Grace his first match, and a revolution in cricket began. The Players for some reason began to fall off greatly in batting; but Grace was the mainspring of the strength of the amateurs, and in these matches he established records that will never be equalled. At Lords there have been, since 1850, twenty centuries obtained, and of these Grace has made seven. At the Oval, out of seventeen centuries, Grace has made four, while on other grounds Grace has made four out of nine hundreds. Up to 1874, taking Lords and the Oval, the Players lost twelve matches in succession, mainly owing to Grace.

I have briefly touched upon these matches, and it is to be hoped that in future one match a year will be played, and that on Lords, as the still old and historical ground.