Page:The international cricket match.djvu/25

Rh The batters were much more cool and collected than I expected they would be, placed in the very trying position to their nerves of having to open the ball before such an assembly.

Parr delivered the first ball. Lang on the third ball scoring a single by a fine cut. "Over" being called, Lang drove the first ball of Jackson for 1; after scoring two singles more, Waller was unfortunately run out. H. Sharp took his place, when Lang having made one more, was bowled by Parr. Hammond joined Sharp, the latter was stumped by Lockyer with the most consummate skill. The ball was coming with uncommon celerity; one of Jackson's fast ones; Sharp got out of his ground for a moment, when lo and behold, Lockyer stopped this ball right over the wicket, and off went the bails. It was Sharp work indeed, so much so as to elicit from the vast crowd who witnessed it, by a long and hearty applause, appreciation of his masterly dexterity in his own particular branch of the game. Gibbes now faced Hammond with a calm and gentle air. He is about six feet in height, of a kind but determined aspect, well made, and strong in arms and limbs, and such readiness in using them, that he may, with his other good qualifications, well be regarded as he is, one of the best models in our country for a gentleman Cricketer!

Great was the disappointment then among his admiring friends when the first ball this accomplished player received from Jackson knocked of his bails, going from his pad to the wicket. To show what a glorious uncertainty there is in this game, we had the pleasure of witnessing a fine innings played by this gentleman the following week at Philadelphia, against the same bowlers. I must allude to it here, for another opportunity will not present itself, and it deserves to be recorded, for it was, by long odds, in the eyes of all who know the game, the best play in the whole match on the American side—it was the only time when the English players felt they had anything to do. On the occasion I allude to, Gibbes had Wister for a companion, who batted admirably. I never shall forget the grace with which Gibbes took his position at the wicket— full of resolution, with a watchful untroubled countenance as the first ball was bowled to him. It was a beautiful ball, hard to ward off, but Gibbes at once showed his fine defence by the manner in which he stopped it. Here followed a succession of fine bowling on one side, and glorious defences on the part of those at the wickets. What prudence and caution they showed by judiciously blocking some balls, and making runs off others by scientific cutting, or