Cricket 1885

“ Together joined in cricket’s man ly toil.”— Byron. No. 95 VOL. IV . EUgtitered (or IrannmlHioo Abroad. T H U R SD A Y , JULY 9 , 1885. PRIOE 2d DR . E D W A R D M IL L S G R ACE . Who hath not owned with rapture smitten frame The Power of Grace, the magic of a name ? H ad Thomas Campbell the cricket-field in his mind’B eye when he wrote these stirring lines in that most exquisite of his poems, “ The Pleasures of Hope ” ? If not they mi^ht with singular appropriate­ lyess be applied tothe wonderful brother­ hood of sportsmen who have played such a conspicuous part in the history of our national game during the last quarter of a century. For what cricketer has not at one time or another felt their power, or owned the magio of a name “ at which the world grew pale to point a moral or adorn a tale.” And what changes have taken place in every­ thing but the substance of our national game since “ The Doctor ” first made the name of Grace familiar throughout the vast dominion of cricket. Old times have changed, old customs gone, as “ the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.” Yet, though another gener­ ation of cricketers has grown up since he first came into prominent notice, E. M. Grace still remains, if less active, as keen as of yore, even now a terror to timid batsmen at point, as well as a merciless punisher of every bell that is at all oft the wicket. Dr. Edward Mills Grace, born at Downend, near Bristol, on Nov. 28, 1841, is the third of five brothers, who have all dis­ tinguished themselves on the cricket- field. He is, though, the eldest of the three Graces who have immortalised themselves in the great world of cricket “ abovethereach ofordinary men." Like his brothers, E. M. was a cricketer even when he had just got into his teens. It is recorded at least that he was elected as one of the Twenty- two of West Gloucestershire to opposo the All-England Eltven on Aug. 7, 1853, at a time when he was still only thirteen years of age. It was not until 18C0, though, that he first came prominently before the public— entering on a career which has only been equalled in brilliance by that of his brother W G.—the “ Grand Old Man” —who, despite twenty years of hard cricket, has still no superior as an all-round player. The Doctor’s first appearance at Lord’s was for South Wales —a club which at the time did much to develop cricket in the West—against M.C.C and Ground on July 18, 1861. On that very day W. G. was celebrating his thirteenth birthday, and E. M. signalised the occasion by a double success with bat and ball. It was his day, indeed, with a vengeance, as in addition to a very useful second score of 41 not out, which greatly helped to give his side the victory, ha was credited with as many as fifteen of the seventeen Marylebone wickets which fell to the bowlers in the match. Though in the following season he represented the Gentlemen under Thirty against the Players under Thirty at Lord’s, his best performance of the year was reserved for the Canterbury week. His 56 for England against Fourteen of Kent in the opening match, excellent as it was, though, was eolipsed by his achievement, a few days later, for the Gentlemen of M.C.C. against the Gentlemen of Kent. Though not a member of the Marylebone Club he was allowed to play, and with such extraordinary success that he was presented with a bat, as well as the hall which he used so effectively, in commemoration of his all-round cricket. This was, in fact, the first of many exceptional feats recorded to his oredit during the next few years. Not con­ tent with going in first and carrying his bat through the Marylebone innings for 192 out of 344, he played even greater havoc with the Kentishbatsmen, taking every one of the ten wickets in the second innings. It was not until 1863 that “ the Doctor ” made his debut for the Gentlemen against the Players, and even then he was more successful as a bowler. On his first appearance at Lord’s he only scored seven and five, and though showing to better advantage at the Oval, where he was credited with thirteen and thirty-one, was still of greater use with the ball than the bat. During the early part of his career he bowled fastish round arm, and in the two matches of 1863 against the Players, of the twenty- two wickets obtained by the Gentlemen hewascreditedwithone half, a goodper- foimance. An invitation from George Parr to visit Australia with a team of English cricketers at the end of 1863 was readily accepted, and more than one noteworthy per­ formance was registered to his credit during this trip to the Antipodes. His batting average for the tour was under 18J for twenty completed innings, and the best of his achievements were