Cricket 1886

“ Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. No. 113. VOL. v. Registered for Transmission Abroad. THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1886. PR ICE 2d. W IL L IA M B E LDH AM . T here were brave men before Agamemnon Even so there were good cricketers before the king ol (bats) men, His Grace of Gloucestershire, the grand old sportsman, W.G., first appeared to dazzle the public with his brilliant all-round play. There were giants, indeed, in the early days of our national game as there are giants now. It must not be forgotten that the heroes who made their reputations on the cricket field when the sport was still in its infancy, had not the benefit of the appliances which science has intro­ duced to protect the per­ son of the player of to­ day. It required, too, no small amount of pluck to stand up to face the fastest bowling on the grounds as they were some hundred years ago, before the turf was re­ duced by the aid of the roller almost to the level of a billiard table, as it is in these more favoured days. And what cricketer of the present day has not heard with unmixed delight of the doughty deeds of the warriors in the brave days of old. How. it kindles the blood of any one who takes real interest in the game and its history to read of the doings of famous Ham- bledon Club. And what a stirring sight Broad Halfpenny Downs must have presented on the occasions when the men of Hambledon were en­ gaged. What cricket student but has revelled in the description given by that best of chroniclers and most cheery of gossips, John Nyren, of the Hambledon matches and the festivities which accompanied them. A good oldEnglish picture, it is truly. “ It was a heart-stirring sight,” says old John, “ to witness the multitude, forming a complete and dense circle round that noble green. Half the County would be present and all their hearts with us.” They must have been, too, a fine combination, as the game was, that old Hambledon team. Nyren, in his description of the- various players who chiefly helped to uphold the high reputation of the club, places William Beldham in a position by himself. Born at Wrecclesham, near Farnham, on February ,0th, 1766, Beldham learned his cricket, it is said, from Harry Hall, a ginger­ bread baker, from Farn­ ham. His record was indeed an extraordinary one, for he figured in great matches without a break for thirty-five 37ears. He was for many years the crack batsman of England, and in proof of the wonderful reten­ tion of his powers, it need only be said that his -name is to be found in the match between Gentlemen and Players up to so late a date as 1821. According to John Nyren, he was the finest batter of his own, or per­ haps, of any age. Ny- ren’s description of him, though, is good enough to stand by itself. William Beldham was a close-set, active man, standing about five feet eight inches and a-half. He had light- coloured hair, a fair com­ plexion, and handsome as well as intelligent features. We used to call him ‘ Silver Billy.’ No one within my re­ collection could stop a ball better or make more brilliant hits all over the ground. Wherever the ball wasbowled, there she was hit away, and in the most severe, venomous style. Besides this, he was so remarkably safe a player; he was safer than the Bank, for no mortal ever thought of doubting Be ld l iam’ s stability. He received his instructions from a gingerbread baker at Farnham, of the name ! of Harry Hall. I once played against Hall, and found him a very fair hand, yet nothing |remarkable; he knew the principle of the Igame, yet, like many of inferior merit in