James Lillywhiite's Cricketers' Annual 1874

2 5 Ishall pass over the events of the first innings of the Amaphrodites , with the only comment that they put together 138 for their first innings , by some very good cricket , and that our captain , taking counsel , did not bowl " Cuttles ," but kept himin reserve for the great trial of the second innings . The sanded parlour of the Chequers was that night invaded by a dense throng of Gumble- tonians . The Pro., too, was there , whosaid that Billy's innings was not cricket ; that he shut his eyes and lammedat every straight ball-good, bad, or indif- ferent ; that the two gentlemen were the only real cricketers in the Eleven, and as to Barlow-why, he might as well have had a broomstick as a bat in his hand. Billy modestly replied that they all " notched " in the game, and that no doubt, if he had some of the " Pro.'s " tuition , he might improve. Great was the speculation on the result of the match. The Gumbletonians were pretty confident , but so, for the matter of that, were the other side , and every- one agreed that they had had a capital day, and had seen some good cricket . At twelve o'clock punctually , the same order being preserved , two Gumble- tonians appeared at the wickets . I am sorry to have to record that the fielding of the Amaphrodites was not quite so perfect as that of the previous day. There was a good deal of sprawling about , whilst the incessant pop of the soda -water corks , whenever the chance occurred , told its owntale . The G. C. C. , too , were not in their wonted form . Billy was caught at deep square leg for a " duck ," Mr. Barlow carried his bat out for seven runs-got in his usual style , said the Gumbleton Advertiser , which graphic description I do not wish to improve upon ; under any circumstances , Gumbleton succumbed for 65 runs. It will be remembered that the Amaphrodites had put on 8 runs to the good on the first innings , and consequently they required but 73 runs to tie , and 74 to win. Confident was the " Pro. " of an easy conquest ; why, any one of them was good for that if he got set . Cuttles grinned and swung his arm round , the Gumble- tonians looked nervous and trembled for the prestige of the great Cuttles . Confident Muddletonians , too, prophesied that he would be hit out of the ground; and nowthe bell rings . The Captain of the Amaphrodites and their slow bowler walk to the wickets , and the Gumbletoneleven take their places . Thefirst over is delivered by Master George, and results in a square leg hit for four . Over , calls the Umpire , and Cuttles takes the ball ; the field is rapidly changed ; long -leg comes up fine and sharp , short -leg gets forward , long -on comes over to very long -slip , and backs up long -stop , wicket -keeper drops back to short -slip , short -slip to sharp third man, cover -point well back and point for- ward, whilst mid-off falls back for a drive . Cuttles measures his distance eight paces behind the sticks , twirls round on his heel , to mark the place , motions long slip a little sharper , whirls his arm round like a flail and is ready. Mean- time the Captain of the Amaphrodites has taken his guard , and whilst all this preparation has been going on, has stood waiting for the ball , but when "Cutty " has finished his arrangements he evidently alters his mind. " Umpire," he calls , " I'll take middle. " Once more all is in readiness . Play ! calls the Umpire, and, whirling his arm round like a windmill , Cutty moves up to the wicket and delivers his first ball . Never shall I forget the look uponthe batsman's face . To attempt to play the ball was simply impossible , for straight f r o mthebowler's armit came like a bullet to the middle of the batsman's stomach , without touching the ground ; that individual avoiding instant dis- embowlment by turning abruptly round and running away from the wickets . The next, at a hundred miles an hour, striking the ground about a yard in front of Cutty's feet , took the off bail ; the batsman , as he himself affirmed