Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

72 Chapter Seven Surrey and England 1888/97 1888 Although his average was a little lower than the 40+ of the three preceding English seasons, Read recorded an individual score that was Surrey’s highest at the time and only half-a-dozen shy of W.G.Grace’s record of 344. Mr Read continued to score at a great rate, treating all the Oxford bowling with impartiality. Just as Mr Read was within six runs of reaching the highest score on record (Mr W G Grace’s 344 for MCC and Ground v Kent at Canterbury in 1876) he got under one and was easily had at slip. His 338, the second highest innings recorded in a first-class match was a remarkable display of well-timed vigorous batting. He was six hours and a half at the wicket and except for two very hot returns, at 55 and 76, to Mr Forster, gave no chance. His score was made up of one 5, forty-six 4’s, fourteen 3’s, twenty-nine 2’s and forty-nine singles. Surrey’s total of 650 is the highest in an important match, though it has been twice beaten in Australia. 130 Despite the advent of four-day cricket, better pitches and higher scores, Read’s 344 remains the second highest individual innings in Surrey history, surpassed in 1899 by Abel’s 357 against Somerset and, other than that, exceeded at The Oval only by Hutton’s 364 in 1938 and Fairbrother’s 366 in 1990. In complete contrast, Read produced virtually the only batting performance of any note in the match at Old Trafford on 2 August when Lancashire were beaten in one day by an innings and 25 runs. It was George Lohmann’s match in every way. He had eight for 13 followed by five for 38, but on what must have been the stickiest of sticky wickets, Read rose above the conditions to guide Surrey to a first innings lead of 88. It was enough. 130 Cricket 28 June 1888