James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1885

175 M ( i 1 1 1 t * Ilf the 5th September, 182G. For more than 20 years Wisden had retired from first-class clicket, but in his day he was probably the best all round man in England. His height was only 5 ft. 41 in., so he was certainly one of the shortest men who ever obtained great celebrity at the game. He first appeared at Lord’s on the 29th June, 1846, playing for Sussex against the M.C.C. In 1850 he was at the very height of his fame, and in that year perfoimed a feat which has never since been equalled in a great match. Playing for the North against the South, on the 15th July, lie bowled down the whole ten wickets in the second innings. At that time his bowling combined great pace with a fine break from the off. Another fine performance of his, in 1850, was for Sussex against Kent at Tunbridge Wells, when, against the bowling of Alfred Mynn, Martingell, and Adams, he scored 21 and 100. His style of batting was very upright, and, with the exception of Thomas ITearne, he was, perhaps, the last man who habitually practised the draw. He met with an accident in I860 while playing racquets, took no part in cricket that year, and scarcely played after 1863. In his prime he would probably have been unapproachable at single wicket. , • • ’ 4 H on . ROBERT GRIMSTON, born 1816, died at St. Albans, on April 7, 1884.—Had he lived a few months longer he would have com­ pleted his 68th year. His death removed from the cricket field one of the most familiar figures. His career dated back to 1838, when he first appeared in the Oxford eleven against the M.C.C. At Harrow he was twelfth man, but never succeeded in getting the eleventh place. At the time of his death he was President of the M.C.C. He had years before given up the active pursuit of the game, but his interest in it never decreased. Day after day he was to be seen at Lord’s watching the great matches with as keen attention as men of half his years. More than anywhere else he will be missed at Harrow, where the coach­ ing of the school eleven was his unceasing care. Though best known to the public in his connection with cricket, Mr. Grimston was an a ll­ round sportsman. He was for years an ardent fox-hunter, and in his young days a capital boxer. Of. his personal qualities this is scarcely the place to speak, but it may be safely stated that he enjoyed the esteem and affection of all with whom he came in contact. He was in the very best sense of the word an English sportsman, thorough in all he undertook, sound and impartial in his judgment, and fearless in express­ ing his opinions. The Pavilion at Lord’s will hardly seem itself in the absence of his stalwart figure and broad-brimmed hat. Mr. Grimston appeared once only in the Oxford and Cambridge match, but he played three times with the Gentlemen against the Players—1842, 1846, and 1849 One of his best performances was in 1849, for Married against Sino-le when he scored 26 and 76 against the bowling of old William Lilfywhite Hillyer, Clarke, Dean, and Alfred Mynn. It is recorded of him that when he had to face Mr. Mynn’s fast bowling he always took two bats to the wicket. One of his last public actions in connection with, the game of which he was so fond, was to assist in the test practice of the Surrey Colts at Kennington Oval. He was one of the original founders of the Zingari, in 1845, and retained till his death the office of treasurer and auditor of that club. * w >