[Now First Published.] KINGS OF CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 30

[Now First Published.] KINGS OF CRICKET.

REMINISCENCES AND ANECDOTES, WITH HINTS ON THE GAME. By Richard Daft, Member of the All England Eleven, ex-Captain of Notts County, Captain of the AngloAmerican Team 1879, &c, &c. Thk Rights of Reproduction are SrnicrLT Reserved. THE FAMOUS UNITED ELEVEN. The rival of the All England, the United, was composed of the principal players of the South of England with a few from the North, notably Carpenter and one of my own countrymen, James Grundy. No cricketer was better known in those days than old Jemmy. He was one of tho best slow round-arm bowlers then about, having great command over the ball, but had not much break, and consequently on a good wicket was not difficult ; but if the pitch broke up a little and he found a " spot," he was then very dangerous. This happened on one occasion when Notts and Yorkshire played on Trent Bridge many years ago. The victory appeared to be as good as won by the latter, who had few runs to get and plenty of wickets in hand. Grundy, however, got on a worn place and kept pegging away at it with such persistency that the iforkshiremen's wickets fell one after the other in a most remarkable manner, and the home county achieved a brilliant victory.

I never in my life, I think, saw so much excitement as was evinced by the spectators on this occasion. When the match was won the uproar was indescribable. Old Charloy Brown, whom I spoke of in the early part of these reminiscences, seeing as he thought inevitable defeat for his county, had gone home and to bed hours before, and many of the spectators surrounding his house on their way from the ground made Charley get up and put his head out of the window to hear the result of the match, which he no sooner understood than he declared he would dress himself and come out and make a night of it, and which I have no doubt he did.

Grundy always wore a black velvet cap ; which, when bowling, he generally took off his head and thrust in his belt. He once at Lords bowled to G. Parr and myself 21 overs withour our scoring a run. Grundy's delivery was wonderfully easy, and he could bowl for almost any length of time without fatigue. He was a remarkably neat, bright-looking man, always as keen as possible when in the field. He had a great weakness for fat mutton chops, and I have often seen him cut the fat off several chops and devour it all eagerly. Tom Lockyer I have already mentioned in another place. A very good man the United possessed in John Lilly white, of whose batting George Parr had at one time a very high opinion. His defence and hitting were both excellent. Tom Hearne was another most useful allround man. He made lets of runs and took plenty of wickets. He was more successful with the old-fashioned " draw" than any batsman I

can remember. In one match at Lord's a curious incident occurred. A pigeon came flying across the ground high in the air, at which Hearne threw the ball, hit the bird, which dropped dead at his feet. The pigeon Tom afterwards had stuffed.

1 never saw anything of this kind done on a cricket ground before or since. But I saw a dog killed only four years ago, when some friends and niyself were practising cricket on an asphalt tennis court, which I have at my house. The dog was a fox terrier belonging to one of my friends. It happened to run across the pitch just after the ball had left the bowler's hand, which, striking the dog full on the head, killed it instantly. Young Walker, a son of the old groundsman at Trent Bridge, was the bowler.

Of William Caffyn's play I cannot speak too highly. It is a pit^ such players ns he should ever grow old. A superior man in every way was Caffyn. He always dressed well, and had a smart and neat appearance at all times. I have often heard related a trick which that great practical joker, Sam Parr, once played him during a tour they were on. Caffyn always took with him when travelling a hat box in which was a splendid tall silk hat that he wore on Sundays.

Well, during this tour Sam Parr happened to find a dead mouse, which, having flattened out as well as he could, he deposited under the lining of Caffyn's hat. This was early in the week, and the weather being very hot, the dead vermin soon began to bo very offensive. Caffyn, who kept the hat in his bedroom at the hotel where he was staying, soon perceived this, and declared something was wrong with the drains ; but when Sunday came, and the hat was required, of course the mystery was solved. He at once suspected who had played him the trick, and was so exasperated that Sam thought it advisable to keep out of his way for some time after. Old Tom Box was the victim of a still more cruel joke of Sam's about this time, when the All England were playing away somewhere. Sam, seeing a barber's shop, went in to be shaved, and told the proprietor he had come to see the great cricket match, and that he was in charge of a gentleman who was not quite right in his mind, and that as the weather was warm he intended bringing him to have his hair cut very short on the following morning. "It will I be so much better for him, this hot weather," Sam said, " though he has a great objection to having much taken off," but you never mind what he says and dash away with the scissors, and be sure and keep him away from a looking glass till it is over." All this the barber promised to carry out. Now if there was one thing Old Box was prouder of than another it was his hair, which he wore rather long (the short crops of the present day were then unknown), and he was always extremely particular about the way he had it cut. It was not difficult for Sam to persuade him to go and have it trimmed on this occasion, and away the pair went, and the "mad gentleman" was soon under the hands of the barber. Sam diverted Old Tom's attention by keeping up a conversation while the scissors were being plied freely. "Be sure and don't take_ too much off," Tom kept saying,. "All right, sir," replied the hairdresser ; " pray be calm and leave it to me." And such good use did the latter make of his time that Tom soon had his head shorn as close as a convict's. Sam had quietly disappeared before the performance came to an end. The barber at length finished his task, for there was literally nothing left for him to do, and Tom rose up and walked to a mirror to look at himself. He had no sooner done so than he cursed the unfortunate barber till he was black in the face, and the latter now perceiving for the first time the absence of the keeper of the supposed lunatic, fled for his life. Sam had meanwhile made his way back to the hotel, where were the rest of the Eleven at breakfast. Ho told them of the whole performance, and presently when poor Box arrived minus his hair,

he wasreceived with roars of laughter. " Well," eaid Tom, after a consider ible flow of strong language, "I intended going home at the week end, but I'll be hanged if I do so till my hair grows again, if I stop away faix months ! " John Wisden was for years one of the best all-round men in England, being a splendid fast bowler with a beautiful length, and a grand little batter, and an excellent fellow withal. Wisden was known as the " pendulum " player, from the way in which he swung his bat backwards and forwards. As I said before, the match, England v. United, was always one of the. best of the season. This match was not confined to Lord's, but sometimes took place at the Oval and elsewhere. Once, when it was played at Manchester, I made 111 for All England. For really enjoyable games, both for spectators and players alike, there never .have been, in my opinion, and never again will be, any to equal those played by the All England and United Elevens in their best days. Many of the

players, amateurs and professionals, whom t have mentioned, I shall refer to more fully later on in a chapter entitled "The Development of Cricket during the last Fifty Years/* in which also I hope to describe many celebrated players whom I have not yet referred to. The following are scores of a few games be« tween the All England and tho United • Played at Lords, 1863. All England. J. Rowbotham, run out 12 b Reynolds ... 17 W. O3croft, b Gruudy... 1 lbw, b Green- _, wood 0 I\. Daft, c Carpenter, b Grundy 25 b Greenwood ... 0 T. Hay ward, c Atkin- c Carpenter, b' son, b Grundy ... 13 Reynolds ... 21 G. Parr, c Biddulph, b c Carpenter, b Grundy •16 Iddison ... 48 G. 1 arrant, c Thewlis, b Iddison 40 b Atkinson ... 26 & Anderson, c Bid- c Thewlis, b dulph, b Reynolds ... 3 Greenwood... 24 ii. btephenson, b Green- c Thewli3, b Id- , v wo ° d ••• 59 dison G \\ ootton, b Greenwood 10 b Reynolds ... 17 « r^n,? 011 ' b Reynolds 17 not out 5 K. C.linley, not out ... 3 b Atkinson ... 12 Byes 4, leg byes 3, Byes 6, leg wulcsl 8 byes 2, wides2... 10 To *al 207 Total ... 186 United. C.Krainpton.bTarrant 6 c and b Tinley 3G J . Thewlis, b Tarrant ... 0 c Tinley, b Jackt J Io \ me ?' VV T TfU> rant... 2 c and b Tinley 3 J. Smith, b Wootton ... 4 b Tarrant :.. 4 H Carpenter, b Woot- «*??>• " t ••,• V 17 b Jackson ... 1 R. Iddison, c Jackson, b c Wootton, 1) Tinley... 30 Tinley ... 12 J. Grundy, not out ... 57 b Tinley 1 L. Greenwood, b Jacks'"l.. ••• , ••• , ••• :! *«nout 8 G. Atkinson, b Jackson 43 stStophenson.b S. Biddulph, run out ... 0 not out... 18 F. Reynolds, b Woottou 8 b Tinley 11 Bye 1, leg byes 4, ft ye 1, leg wide 1 6 byes 2 ... 3 Total 170 Total ... 151 Umpires— Royston and Chattertou. Played at Dewsbury in 1865, the United winning with eight wickets to spare. Score :: — ■ All England. J. Smith, cPluinb, b Freeman 1 run out 13 A. Shaw, b Freeman ... 4 b Freeman ...IS W. Ohcroft, c Emmett, b Freeman 7 b Freeman ... 8 T. Hay ward, b Emmett 10 b Howitt ...15 It. Daft, c Carpenter, b Freeman 36 runout 14 George Parr, b Freeman 8 not out 14 G. Tarrant, c Freeman, b Emmett 3 c Darnton, b Freeman ... 0 J. Itowbotham, b Emmett 0 b Howitt ... 0 G. Finder, c Iddison, b Freeman 11 b Howitt ... 4 R. C. Tinley, c V. Coward, b Kmmett ... 4 b Howitt ... 8 J.C.Shaw, not out ... 0 runout ... 8 Wide 1, byes 2, leg bye 1, no ball 1... 5 Byo 1, leg byes 3 4 Total ( )5 Total ... 10K United, T. Darnton, c Parr, b J. C.Shaw 29 not out 17 J. Oscroft, b Tarrant ... 9 c and b Tarrant 7 C. Coward, b Tarrant ... 13 not out !> R. Carpenter, c Daft, b Tarrant 27 R. Iddison, c Finder, b Shaw 3 George Freeman, b Tarrant r. 12 F. Coward, b Tarrant ... 3 T. Emmctb, c Tinley, b Shaw 5 T. Plumb, not out ...40 not out 8 George Atkinson, b Tarrant 11 G. Howitt, b Shaw ... 3 Bye 1, leg byes 3 ... 4 Leg byes ... 2 Total 150 Total ... 43 Played at Lords in 1861 for the benefit of the cricketers' fund. All England. A. Diver, c Carpenter, b Caffyn 1 b Caffyn ... 13 R. Daft, c Carpenter, b Caffyn 1 b Grundy ... 48 E. Willsher, b Caffyn... 7 c Hearne, b Bimiess ... 4 T. Hay ward, b Buthess 11 b Buthess ... 5 Or. Parr, run out ... 2 b Buthess ... 0 G. Anderson, b Caffyn 10 runout 24 H. H. Stephenson, c c Grundy, b Lockyer, b Caffyn ... 22 Caffyn ... 3 J. C:usar, b Buthess ... 8 c Caffyn, b Buthess 2 G. Tairant, c Caffyn, b Buthess 0 not out 2 J. Jackson, c Griffiths, c Lockyer, b b Buthess 1 Grundy ... 41 R. C. Tinley, not out ... 7 c Carpenter, b Buthess ... 4 Extras 4 Extras ... 6 Total 74 Total ... 152 United. T. Hearne, b Willsher 4 c Willsher, b Hay ward ... 16 E. Stevenson, c Parr, b Jackson ... 4 b Tinley ... 2 R. Carpenter, c Diver, b Willsher 8 c and b Willsher 29 J. Grundy, b Jackson... 5 c Anderson, b Tinley ... 16 iW. Caffyn, b Jackson... 8 b Willsher ... 15 G. Griffith, b Willsher 8 b Hay ward ... 45 John Lilly white, b Jackson 7 b Hayward ... 0 J. Wisden, b Jackson ... (j c and b Jackson 8 T. Sewell, juu., b Jackson 0 not out 14 T. Lockyer, not out ... 6 b Jackson ... 7 W. Buthess, b Jackson 1 runout 0 Extras 4 Extras ... 8 Total ■ (51 Total ... 160 The All England won this match by 5 runs only. _ From an old paper I see that the following distinguished persons were present at the mateh :— The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, Marquis of Anglesea and family, Marquis of Huntley and family, Earl of Dudley, Earl of Uxbridge, Earl of Sefton, E.irl Vane, Earl Fitzwilliam, Earl of Haddington, Lord Sondes, Lord F. Fitzroy, Lord Haliburton, Lord Wilton, Lord Ebury, Lord VVaterpark, Lord A. Paget, Lord H. Paget, Lord B. Paget, Lord C. Russell, Lord Dacre, Lord Skelmersdale, Lord Grey de Wilton and Lady Grey, Lord Stormont, Lord Stanhope, Lord Bingham, &c. r &c, &c. At Kennington Oval, July 19, 20, and 21, 1860. All England. E. Willsher, b Grundy 55 c Stephenson, b Grundy ... 2 R. Daft, c Lockyer, b Grundy 7 b Lilly white ... 18 G. Anderson, c Carpenter, b Grundy ... 14 bSo well ... 21 T. Hayward, run out ... 28 c Mortlock, b Caffyn ... 67 G. Parr, c Bennett, li c and b LillyGrundy 25 white ... 44; A. Diver, b Grundy ... 0 c Bennett, b Lilly white ...

Julius Ciesar, c Carpen- c Griffith, b ter, b Grundy ... 11 Lillywhite ... 10 H. H. Stcphenson, b Grundy 0 not out 13 J. Jackson, c Carpenter, c Bennett, b '/tb Grundy 2 (Jaffyn ... 4 A. Clarke, c Griffith, b c Carpenter, b Bennett 0 Grundy ... 10 It. C. Tinley, not out ... 6 c Stcphenson, b Bennett ... 2b Leg byes 6, wide 1... 7 Byes 3, leg bye 1 ... » Total 156 Total ... 221 Bowlers. Balls. Runs. Wide. Bowlers. Balls. Runs. Caffyn... 76 4!) 0 Caffyn ... 17b 67 Grundy 102 43 1 £rundy l £ £ Bennett 133 5S 0 Bennett 48 3b Sewell ... 48 18 Griffith 24 16 Carpenter 28 6 Lillywhite 80 27 United. E Stephenson, b Jack- c C.-osar, b JackSOII 19 son 1 G. Bennett, b Jackson 7st Stephenson, b Jackson ... 5 G. Griffith, c Anderson, bWillsher 0 It. Carpenter, c Ctesar, c Tinley, b JackbWillsher « son 39 T. Hearne, run out ... 4 b Jackson ... 6 W. Caffyn, b Willsher 6 c Willsher, b * Jackson ... 21 J. Grundy, c Anderson, b Tinley 13 b Jackson ... 7 T. Sewell, jun., c Stephenson, b Tinley .. 14 b Jackson ... 10 John Lillywhite, c Jackson, b Tinley 32 bWillsher ... 2 T. Lockyer, not out ... 12 W. Mortlock, c Willsher. b Jackson ... 5 not out . ... 5 Byes 2, leg byes 3 ... 5 Byes 2, leg byes 4 b Total 123 Total ... 102 Bowlers. Balls. Runs. Bowlers. Balls. Runs. Jackson... 140 58 Jackson... 160 40 Willsher... 144 34 Willsher 148 42 Tinley ... S8 26 Hay ward 20 14 Umpires —T. Barker and G. Wells. Unfinished. This match was played for the benefit of William Martingell. All the matches previously played between these two elevens had come off at Lord's. In the United scoring book the analysis is different in several places, and which account is correct cannot now be said. E. Stephenson had before played for the All England Eleven, but now is found on the side of the United. (To be continued.)