Lives in Cricket No 43 - John Jackson

43 At the Height of His Powers on 11 and 13 June. He took eight for 23 in Sheffield’s first innings in 23.1 overs, and three for 27 in 40 overs in the second. Tinley was the only other bowler that Nottingham used. In all matches Jackson had added a further 238 wickets to his growing tally which represented a remarkable achievement in such a wet season where the wickets rarely had any pace and were much more suited to slow bowlers. Jackson played in fourteen first-class games in the 1861 season. Still at the height of his powers, he took 81 wickets at an average of 13.50. He bowled 598.2 overs, conceding 1094 runs. On nine occasions he took five or more wickets in an innings, and twice he took ten or more wickets in a match. One of his finest performances was in the Players match against the Gentlemen at Lord’s on 1 and 2 July in which he took six for 31 in 17 overs in the first innings of the amateurs, and five for 68 in the second in 31.3 overs. He bowled unchanged throughout both innings with E.Willsher, and it should be pointed out that as the Gentlemen followed on, this meant that he bowled 48.3 overs consecutively from one end. It was very rare for only two bowlers to be used by a side in an eleven-a-side match. The Players scored 246 and the Gentlemen replied with 70 and 116, the Players winning by an innings and 60 runs. The professionals duly completed the ‘double’ over the amateurs at The Oval on 4, 5 and 6 July, winning that match by an innings and 68. The Players amassed 358. The Gentlemen failed with the bat, making 154 and 136. Jackson did little bowling, only 5 overs for 10 runs in the first innings, and 6 overs to take one for 14 in the second. The first of the great tussles between the professional Elevens took place at Lord’s on 3, 4 and 5 June again for the benefit of the Cricketers Fund Friendly Society, raising a sum of £137.9s. A very close and exciting match was won by the AEE by a mere 5 runs. The AEE were bowled out for 74 with Caffyn taking five for 41 and W.Buttress four for 29, but Jackson blasted out the UAEE, bowling 24.2 overs and taking seven for 31 in an innings of 61 all out in a great display of hostile fast bowling. Three of the UAEE players scored 8; nobody reached double figures. Unexpectedly leading by 13, the AEE fared better in their second innings with Richard Daft scoring 48, George Anderson 24 and John Jackson a hard-hit 41. The total was 152 and the UAEE needed 106 to win. G.Griffith made 45, R.Carpenter 29, and the total was 160 for nine, or 6 needed to win when the last of the UAEE batsmen was run out. Jackson had taken two for 55 in 27 overs. The return match was played at Old Trafford, Manchester 11, 12 and 13 July and was badly interrupted by rain which allowed only ten minutes play on the first day. The match was played for the benefit of the two Elevens with each player receiving over £10 per man. Jackson taking five for 64 off 25 overs. In a third match at The Oval on 5, 6 and 7 August, the UAEE won by 115 runs. Jackson bowled 13 overs in the UAEE second innings, taking two for 40. Jackson took part in two county matches for Nottinghamshire in 1861,