Lives in Cricket No 17 - Fuller Pilch

It was reported later that the paid attendance at sixpence a head on the first day was 4,480, producing revenue of £112. Even the local military were caught up in the excitement, as The Times noted: ‘So great was the interest excited respecting this match, that Sir Hussey Vivian, who had fixed an inspection of the 7th Hussars, now lying here, for Monday and Tuesday, changed it to the two preceding days (Saturday and Sunday) for the purpose of enabling an officer of that regiment, Lieutenant Cheslyn, who is on the side of Sussex, to play in the match.’ The home side were strong favourites to win and Lillywhite and Broadbridge appeared unplayable again when All England crashed to 27 all out in their first innings with six noughts in the scorebook. Desperate times called for desperate measures and all restrictions on round-arm bowling were removed so that Knight could finally prove his case on the field and bowl the way he wished. This was a turning point and when Sussex received a taste of their own medicine they were less successful with the bat and All England won by 24 runs. The visitors could now return to their own counties, while Knight went back to Lord’s to continue to argue for a change to the Laws, leaving at least one man in Brighton less than pleased with the result. The Times reported: ‘There has been a good deal of money lost and won by this match. Lieutenant Cheslyn, of the 7th Hussars, who played on the side of Sussex, had, it is said, lost £300.’ Fuller had made only a handful of runs and taken no wickets at Brighton, but now his presence was needed back at Bury for the Club’s most important game in its history on its own ground. Round-Arm bowling proves its case 25