CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1915, Page 11

CRICKET.

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS. A WONDERFUL CAREER.

(Christchurch Sun). Cricket has lost its greatest institution—the splendid figure of the champion of champions. Into his G7 years of life--be was born on July 18, Igls. at Downend, near Bristol—(he'latc Dr. William Cilbert Grace crowded a wonderful and glorious career of cricket. A member of a noted cricketing familv —his father, Dr. IT. M. Grace, and his brothers were line players—he look to the game at a remarkably early age. He was coached by his uncle. Alfred Pocock, and when only seven years old he lirst played in a club match, amongst adults. Before his 10th birthday he scored 170 and sti not out for the South Wales Club against the Gentlemen of Sussex. These were the days when top-hats had not quite gone out of fashion in cricket. Before he was 17 he represented the Gentlemen of England against, the Players, and he took part in these classic matches for over 40 years. In that time he scored, in these matches alone, fIOOS runs at an average of 42, and took 271 wickets for IS.7H runs apiece. When he was 18 years old he scored 224 not oat for England against Su"'oy.

Columns of prirtt could be occupied with a recital of the noteworthy performances of ''W.G.," but only a' selection need be made. In consecutive innings, from 1871 to 1873, for the Gentlemen he scored 217, 77 and 112, 117, 163, 158, and 70. Altogether, he played no fewer than 15 three-figure innings for Gentlemen v. Players. In IS7O he aggregated in all matches :)fi9(i runs for 03 innings, of which 273 ii were made in iirst-class cricket. That aggregate for first-class matches was a record for 25 years, and then in 1S!)(! K. S. Rttnjitsinhji scored 2709. His 50th century in first-class cricket was made in 1805, and his 200 th century in all matches in 1902. Thrice he played innings for over 300 runs in first-class cricket; and once, in a match against odds, he made 400 not out. He played 13 innings for 200 runs or more. On seven different occasions he scored over 1000 runs and took over 100 wickets in the same season.

In 1895, when he was just on 47 years of age, "W.G." gave a remarkable feat of endurance in a match between Gloucestershire and Kent. He was on the field while every ball was bowled, and he scored 2.57 and 73 not out, his wonderful batting, combined with Painter's unexpected success as a bowler in Kent's second innings, giving Gloncostersliiro a brilliant vetory. He was a very successful howler. In 188G he took all 'ten wickets in an innings of Oxford against M.C.C., and he also scored 104 for M.C.C. in the match. Another noteworthy bowling performance was taking 17 Notts wickets for 89 runs, in 1877. At one period in that match be got seven victims in 41 balls, without having a run scored off him.

Dr. Grace visited the United States and Canada as a member of R. A. Fitzgerald's team in 1871. Two years later he paid his first' visit to Australia, as captain of the third English team to visit Australia. That was the year of his marriage. He scored 758 runs, at an average of 39, in that tour. In 1891-92 he visited Australia again, as captain of Lord Sheffield's team, and scored 921 runs, at an average of 32.20, and took 53 wickets, at an average of 11.7. Altogether, in England and Australai, he played in 22 test matches, scoring 1098 runs, with an average of 32,3. His highest score in a test match was 170, in 1886.

For 30 years Dr. Grace captained Gloucestershire. Then, in 1899, he vacated his post to found the London County Club at the Crystal Palace. Id the last few years he appeared fairly regularly in club cricket. Dr. Grace was a fine runner and hurdler in his younger days. Away back in the 'sixties'lie won a 440 yds handicap in 52 2-ssec, from scratch. He was never beaten over the 440 yds flat or the 200 yds hurdles, and he won about 70 cups and prizes in athletics. Until late years he ran regularly with beagles. He also played golf and bowls, and was for some time president of the English Bowling Association.

At the funeral of the late Dr. W. G. Grace, at Elmer's End cemetery, Bcckenham, the Marylcbone and other cricket clubs sent wreaths. Many well-known cricketers worn present, including Lord Havvke' and Ranjitsinghi.

NOTES. Many cricketers will have read with sincere regret of the death in action of Sergt.-Major H. J. Dunham, formerly of Hawera (says the Star). He was a fine type of man, quiet iti demeanour, but really genuine. One can imagine he welcomed the call to service, and died the death any soldier would wish. His is another name to be added to the ever-growing list of players who have made the supreme sacrifice.

"A Gentleman in Black," in the course of an interesting article in the Sportsman on cricket and war, says (inter alia): "It is safe to say that, in our wars of the last 200 years at least, many cricketers have played their part and played it well. I am not without hope that some day a volume devoted to their .services in the present upheaval will'be given to the world, for tie response they have made to their country's call in the hour of trial has been beyond praise, and is worthy of permanent record."