James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1885

Certainly he is not *compelled to give up the game by any reason of failino- powers. It w ill be hard indeed to imagine the Middlesex Eleven without him, for so long as the present county club has had an existence he has been a prominent member of the team. At the annual meeting in November his resignation was accepted, and Mr. Webbe was appointed captain. Mr. Pearson worked as. hard as Mr. Walker, and not only batted well, but fielded at point with exceptional brilliancy. The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton only played in three county matches, and though he was far from equalling his extraordinary achievements of 1883, he played fine cricket both at Sheffield and Cheltenham. Mr. Webbe started well, but at the height of the season his cricket was interfered with by domestic trouble. Apart from the ten county matches, Middlesex met the Australians at Lord’s and suffered a crushing defeat. May 26, Lord’s. 2nd Inns. 113 186 Total. 348 350 * • lBt Inna. Middlesex 235 N o tts . * V . 101 Notts won by 6 wickets. Up to a certain time the Middlesex eleven had all the best of the match, their advantage on the first innings being 71. Then came a complete change, for on going in a second time they could make very little stand against the splendid bowling of Attewell. The performance of the 3 roung and now famous Nottingham bowler was one of the best of the season. With the ground in very good order for batting, lie took 7 wickets in 25 overs, and 2 balls for only 21 runs. Notts bad 186 to get to win, and made the runs in most brilliant style for the loss of 4 wickets. For the winners, Scotton made 1 and 101 not out,, (a very fine innings, barring a chance when he had scored 81), Barnes 21) and 55, and Shrewsbury 70 and 0. For Middlesex, Mr. C. T. Studd scored 41 and 23, Mr. Vernon 50 and 0, and Mr. O’Brien 37 and 12. '' ' . 1st Inns. 2ndTnns. Total. -> June 5, Middlesex 62 — - 6 2 Lord’s. • Yorkshire — —. — Drawn. Middlesex had lost 2 wickets. Owing to had weather there was no play after luncheon on the first day, and the match had, of course, to be abandoned as a draw. Mr. I. D. Walker scored 40 (not out) and Mr. Webbe 13. Both the wickets that fell were taken by Ulyett. • . ■ June 9.—Oval.—Middlesex v. Surrey .—(See Surrey ). Total. 491 369 June 12, Lord’s. 2nd Inns. 345 150‘ 1st Inns. . Middlesex • 146 Gloucestershire- 219 Middlesex won by 122 runs. It was in this match that Mr. W. G. Grace strained the sinews of liis leg. The accident was a peculiarly unfortunate one for Gloucestershire, as at the time i t happened the western county had decidedly the best of the game. Mr. Grace, who scored 94 and 10, had a man to run for him after he was hurt, and could not bowl a ball during the long second innings of Middlesex. The loss of his services had naturally enough a lno.'t dispiriting effect upon the Gloucestershire eleven. Bain had vr* wicket, and Mr. W. G. Grace, on winning the toss, put if iadlesex m to bat, a daring policy which at first answered very well r n; winners, Mr. T. 0 O’Brien scored 12 and a very brilliant 119* %/