Page:The Hambledon Men (1907).djvu/308

 'No doubt an average is a very uncertain criterion. Mr. Ward used to complain that the manager of matches had a great advantage in putting himself in when the light, the bowling, or the time of day was more favourable. To be ordered to go in at a quarter to seven o'clock in the evening tries your average hard, as compared with the man who can reserve himself for the next morning.

'Again, a good average is all in favour of the man who thinks more of his own innings than of the game.—Beldham told us that he "could never half play unless runs were really wanted". And this is very characteristic of a great player. Therefore, without depreciating Lord Frederick, we think it fair to observe, that while his position and his talent placed him high over all, he had no slight advantage where judged by the scorebooks.

'John Sparks told us that Lord Frederick lost all fondness for bowling from the time that Hammond set the example of running in to slow bowling. Hammond once hit back a ball so hard, that it whizzed dangerously past his lordship's head. Mr. Budd also said that there was something so powerful and menacing about Lambert's hitting—standing, as he used to do, so as to cover much ground before his crease, and swinging his bat in a wide-sweeping circle—that it was rather trying to the nerves of a bowler. What we have related of Hammond was not the only danger to which Lord Frederick was exposed during his long career. He broke a finger at Nottingham, and was threatened with lock-jaw. He had been scolding Sherman for slack play, and the next ball that came to him Sherman threw hard with a vengeance.

'Beagley and Caldecourt both said that his lordship was truly valuable as a general—not least because he was sure to be obeyed. Still, he was a perfect judge of the game; and, said Beagley, "he did find out a man's hit so very soon," and set his field to foil it without loss of time. Lord Frederick used to say of Budd, that he always wanted to win the game off one hit. The truth