THAT YEAR OF GRACE

Evening Star, Issue 22086, 20 July 1935, Page 12

THAT YEAR OF GRACE

1895—AND ALL THAT. Just 40 years ago, at the end of May, 1895, the British cricketing world was all agog with excitement over the phenortienal achievements of W. G. Grace, the “champion,” but more familiarly apd affectionately known as “ W.G.” Public interest was focussed on him in that year for two reasons. Up to May 30 he had scored 910 runs during the first month of the season, and, hopes were at fever heat that he would accomplish the hitherto unprecedented feat of completing 1,000 runs in May. History now records the fact that the champion did not disappoint his countless admirers. At the age of 47 he staged what is called in boxing parlance a marvellous “ come-back,” scoring hundreds in match after match, and, incidentally bringing his total of centuries to over 100. It may interest cricket lovers if I recapitulate briefly the part played by “ W.G.” in that glorious May of long ago.- To begin with, 1895 was a remarkable summer. We had day after day of continuous, sunshine, and.' in consequence, the wickets were a batsman’s paradise. Nevertheless, this in itself would scarcely account for Grace’s extraordinary revival of form. During the seasons immediately preceding he had done nothing unusual, and the critics were fairly unanimous in deciding that his day was past. In the summer of 1890 “ W.G.” made only one century—lo 9, against Kent. He failed to reach three figures again until 1893 —except for an innings of 159 against Victoria whilst touring Australia with. Lord Sheffield’s team - in 1892. In 1893 his aggregate was low,, and contained only one century. Next year saw a slight imnrovement, with three contributions exceeding a hundred. But nobody could have anticipated such a successful season for him as that of 1895. ,

The start was decidedly unpropitious. Going in first for M.C.C. v. Sussex, on May 9, the champion was caught by the famous Ranjitsinhji after reaching an ominous 13. But m his second innings “W.G.” showed a glimpse of his true form by hitting up 103 before being dismissed —again by “ Ranji.” This brought his total of centuries up to 99, and from that moment the eyes of the cricketing world were upon the black-bearded giant. What a figure of a man he was! I can see him now, in my mind’s eye, a. huge, t brawny ; and swarthy specimen of humanity,' m whose giant hands the bat looked a toy, who played cricket because he loved it, and whose equanimity nothing ever, disturbed. What cared he for “ body-line ” bowling!—which, incidentally, was quite often in evidence, not by design, perhaps, but, nevertheless, sometimes disastrous to life and limb, caused mainly by the comparatively rough pitches of those days. “ W.G.” used to describe how a professional player named Sum-

mers was killed in a match at Lord’* in 1870. “I think the ball must have struck a small pebble, as it rose • from the pitch with lightning, swiftness, and the crack it made when poor Summers was hit on the temple could be heard all over the ground, the blow later proving fatal, having fractured the skull.”-

“W.G.” hims*elf frequently sustained considerable punishment at the hands of fast bowlers. On one. occasion he entered the dressing room at lunch time, and, taking off his upper garments, disclosed to astonished onlookers a mass of black bruises all over his chest and shoulders. “ But never mind,” he is said to have remarked, “ I’ll show ’em presently they can’t have it all their own way!”—and he did. After lunch he hit up a double century off the demon bowler.

So much has f been written about Jack Hobbs and Don Bradman in recent years that not many people are aware of\ the records made by W. G. Grace which have yet to be equalled. Here is one of them. In 1876 he made the following scores in successive matches:—l69, 114 not out, 126, 344, 177, 318 not out. _ The last three scores, it will he noticed, _ totalled 839, made in consecutive innings, an achievement not paralleled by an other cricketer in history.

But to get back to 1895. On May 17 of that memorable year “ W.G.’’ reached his hundredth century, and he did it in characteristic style, making assurance doubly sure by scoring 288 against Somerset at Bristol. A week ■ later, playing for Gloucester v. Kent, • his scores were 257 and 73 not out. Two minor innings in the .next game brought his aggregate for May up ta 910. - ’ '

Then, against Middlesex, at Lord’s, on May 30, he hit up 169, thus exceeding 1,000 runs in May - for the first time in cricket history. And, lot me add, it was not' until 32 years later that this record was equalled, by W. R. Hammond, in 1927. Charles Hallows also achieved the same distmc-' tion a year or two afterwards; but it is a feat that will never become common, for two reasons—first, continuously fine weather is essential, an all too rare occurrence in an English. May; second, it requires a batsman of the care-free, forceful type, whose chief idea in cricket is to get runs. Britain’s national game has produced many outstanding figures, and a few heroes, but, take him for all in all, we shall ne’er look upon the Ilk* of W.G.” again.