Lives in Cricket No 43 - John Jackson

39 At the Height of His Powers out for 137. In their follow-on only two bowlers were needed – Jackson and Willsher – as the Gentlemen crumbled to 76 all out. Jackson took four for 32 in 25 overs. It was a fairly one-sided encounter. The first game between the great professional elevens took place at Lord’s on 28, 29 and 30 May for the benefit of the Cricketers Fund and raised £150 for that worthy cause. The AEE were victors by 21 runs. Jackson made 12* and 29, the 29 being his best score of the season. He took four for 42 and four for 41 in a match total of 79 overs. It was George Parr’s turn to hit a ball out of one of the major grounds, putting a huge square- leg hit over the Tavern off the bowling of William Caffyn. Parr’s second innings of 55 was easily the highest score of the match in which the AEE totals were 71 and 131, while UAEE made 89 and 92. The second match between the Elevens began on 19 July and was drawn. It was the first game between the Elevens to be played at the Kennington Oval. The AEE scored 156 (Jackson 2), and 221 (Jackson 4). The UAEE replied with 123, Jackson taking three for 58 off 35 overs. The UAEE needed 255 to win, and Jackson made a monumental effort to win the match for his side. He sent down 40 overs and took seven of the eight wickets that fell, conceding 40 runs. When stumps were drawn, the UAEE were 102 for eight. In county matches Nottinghamshire played home and away fixtures against Surrey. In the match at the Kennington Oval Jackson had the outstanding figures of six for 34 and nine for 49 in the Surrey innings and was rewarded with a collection, the proceeds being presented to him by the Surrey Club secretary. None of the Surrey players looked comfortable against him and he dismissed the first nine in the order in the second innings. He clearly won the match for Nottinghamshire whose scores of 83 and 105 were enough to beat the Surrey totals of 66 and 107 by 15 runs. It was rare indeed for a bowler to take fifteen wickets in an eleven-a-side match. At Trent Bridge in the return match on 26 July, Surrey had some revenge, winning by 30 runs with their star batsman, William Caffyn, hitting 91 in the second innings, despite a fierce assault by Jackson who knocked the bat out of Caffyn’s hand and struck him a severe blow on the knee with the next ball. Jackson finished with one for 22 and five for 78 off 53 overs, as Surrey made 109 and 247. The Nottinghamshire scores were 196 and 130. A ‘Champion’s’ match was played on the Old Trafford ground on 7, 8 and 9 June between the England XI which was made up of players who had toured America and Canada, and ‘Another’ England XI made up from players who had not. On a heavy and wet ground the lobs of R.C.Tinley were decisive. He took fourteen wickets for 59 runs for the ‘other’ England XI. Jackson took five for 19 and five for 38 in reply for the England XI, but the ‘other’ team won by three wickets. England made 83 and 57; ‘Another’ England scored 40 and 101 for seven. A match played at Lord’s on 24 and 25 July featured an Eleven of England (first chosen) pitted against a Next XIV in a match that the XIV won by eight