Cricket 1891

To ge the r jo ined in c r ick e t ’s m an ly to il Gr. Gc. H E A E N E , (M EM B E R OF TH E K E N T COUN TY X I.) M A N U F A C T U R E R O F C R Cricket, Football, and Lawn Tennis Outfitter (Wholesale, Retail, and for Exportation), 140, LEWISHAM HIGH ROAD , LONDON, S.E. GEORGE BENJAMIN NICHOLS. I t would be an unwarrantable reflection on the general excellence of the Somersetshire eleven were we to urge that the remarkable uprisal of the County during the last few years is attributable to the personal efforts of this or that person, however great his enthusiasm, however exceptional his individual capacity. At the same time it will hardly be disputed by those who have watched closely the development of Somerset­ shire cricket just latterly that its advance has been due in no small degree to the possession of a trio of bowlers of more than average merit. In this particular department Somersetshire has had, perhaps, more than its fair share. It is not every shire of even the first rank that can lay claim to four bowlers one and all of such a high class as Mr. Woods, Tyler, and Nichols, even omitting all mention of Mr. W. C. Hedley. Nor is it to disparage the amateurs in any way to place on record that a great deal of the success of the last two or three years has been the result of the excellent all-round cricket of the two pro­ fessors on whom has recently fallen the brunt of Somerset­ shire’s attack. No history, indeed, of the evolution of Somersetshire cricket would be complete without mention of the conspicuous part they have played. Though essen­ tially a West-countryman, still Nichols cannot claim to be a native of Somerset. Born on June 14,1863, at Fishpond, a village within imme­ diate hail of Downend, where the Graces learned their cricket, his early years were spent in close rela­ tionship with W. G. and his family. His first performance of any real note, at least, was for the Frenchay Club against E. M.’s team at Thornbury. “ The D octor” found to his cost that the youngster had some pretensions to be considered a good cricketer, for not only was he credited with the dismissal of all the Thornbury wickets (nine), but he supple­ mented this with a good performance with the bat, assisting Mr. E. J. Taylor to put on a hundred runs before a wicket fell. Playing for Clifton Victoria against Thornbury in 1880, he was equally successful, and on that occasion he obtained eight wickets of a strong batting side at a cost of only eighteen runs. It was in that year, too, that he joined the Bedminster Club, and it was for it that he made his first innings of three figures, 105 against a local club. Still in his teens he continued to do good service for the Bedmin­ ster Club, whose records of 1881 included two good performances of his, the first against Long Ashton where he took all ten wickets, the secoad against the Lansdown Club wherein he took eight wickets for eighteen runs. The promise of a likely recruit brought him just about this time under the notice of Dr. W. G. Grace. The opportunities of practice in the orchard attached to the Grace homestead at Downend, as well of subsequently under the watohful eye of W. G. himself on his lawn at Stapleton Road, were of the greatest value to Nichols, who, like many another youngster, has only been too proud to own his indebted­ ness to “ The Master” for the groundwork of his future success as a batsman. Nor was the Doctor (E. M.) slow to utilise the opportunity of strengthening the Thornbury team. Nichols, too, proved a valuable addition to the side, and his first year (1881) saw him well to the fore with two good scores of 136 not out against the Bristol Medical Students, and 117 against the St. George’s Club. His form, moreover, was quite good enough to warrant his trial in the Gloucester­ shire Eleven. Though he bowled well in the first match against Middlesex at Lord’s in 1881, still he had little luck, and, indeed, the only time he came off for Glouces­ tershire was a week or so later against Sussex at Brighton, when he got 36 in very promising style. His connection with Gloucestershire cricket, though, was of only brief duration. The summer of 1883 found him identified with East Somersetshire and to good purpose. One performance of 'his with the ball there, too, deserves special mention. Going on to bowl at ’Wel­ lington against a strong batting side when the score was 43 for no wicket, a run was made from his first ball. This, however, was the only one got from him, as he i took all the ten wickets without another run, and this on a fast pitch. His highest inn­ ings were 80 not out against Bridge­ water, and 62 not out against Mr. J. B. Challen’s Eleven, but his best records were as a bowler, and hig summary for the season was quite exceptional, showing sixty wickets at a cost of just over two runs a piece. Having meanwhile qualified for Somersetshire by residence and become a professional, he accepted an engagement on the County Ground at Taunton. His first ap­ pearance for Somersetshire was against Warwickshire at Bath in May, 1885. Nor was the summer without its success for him, though his best performances were a steady innings of an hour and three- quarters for thirty runs against Warwick at Birmingham, and a good show with the ball against Hampshire when he got six wickets at a cost of only 22 runs. Though he scored very heavily for the Somersetshire Club and Ground in 1887,he strained his leg in his first County match at Birmingham and never got quite into his batting form. Still his bowling was always of use, and on hard wickets he had m excellent average, taking