Lives in Cricket No 43 - John Jackson

55 delayed until 12.30 pm whilst the new pitch was got ready, and play began with 6,000 people present. The ball was coming through at various heights, and Jackson and Willsher soon dismissed the first five batsmen for 16 runs. The batsmen were not the only ones having problems as the wicketkeeper, H.H.Stephenson, was poleaxed by a Jackson delivery which kicked terrifyingly off the pitch, and prudently retired to a safer distance. A recovery of sorts took the UAEE score to 109, bolstered by some 20 byes given away by some fumbling at long stop. Jackson finished with seven for 48 in 25 overs. The Times described the pitch as ‘very bumptious with the ball sometimes rearing head high or rattling about the batsmen’s ribs and hands and sometimes shooting along the treacherous ground’. It sounds like a typical Lord’s wicket of the time! Things got no better when the AEE batted, with only Hayward staying long and making 30 out of 92 all out. T.Hearne hit 44 and Carpenter 24 as the UAEE scored 150 in their second innings, Jackson taking one for 23. Needing 168 to win, the AEE could only make 97 and lost by 70 runs. Jackson’s county side, Nottinghamshire, played Yorkshire for the first time in 1863 with the inaugural match taking place at the Great Horton Road ground in Bradford on 22, 23 and 24 June. Yorkshire won by eight wickets with Jackson taking three for 48 in 41 overs in Yorkshire’s first innings of 144, and one for 23 in the 73 for two they needed to win in their second innings. Nottinghamshire totalled 128 and 88. In the return match at Trent Bridge on 9 July, Nottinghamshire gained revenge, winning by 6 runs after Yorkshire had scored 243. Jackson for once went wicketless, taking nought for 65 in 32 overs. Nottinghamshire batted steadily to make 162 and 181 with no batsman scoring more than 42 but nine passing 20. Yorkshire needed 101 to win but were bowled out for 93 with Jackson taking two for 32 in 32 overs. The real hero for Nottinghamshire was Jem Grundy who took five for 13 in 23 overs. On 11, 12 and 13 June Nottinghamshire played Kent at Trent Bridge in a match drawn in Nottinghamshire’s favour. Jackson bowled 22 overs in Kent’s first innings of 109, taking four for 43. The return match at Swift Park, Cranbrook on 23 and 24 July saw Jackson and Grundy bowling unchanged to dismiss Kent for 58 and 45, with Jackson taking six for 23 and six for 40 in a total of 63.3 overs. Nottinghamshire were in trouble themselves at 61 for six when Jackson came in to bat. Powerful stroke play quickly took the match away fromKent and Jackson hit his maiden century, finishing with exactly 100, R.C.Tinley helping with 63 as Nottinghamshire finished on 280 and won by an innings and 177 runs. The first of the North v South clashes was arranged by the Manchester Club and was played at Old Trafford on 21, 22 and 23 May. On the first day the South made 157 (H.Stephenson 60, Jackson nought for 44), and the North replied with 86 for five. Jackson batted well for 35 before being torpedoed by a shooter from Willsher. On the second day the total reached 286. The South scored 185 with E.M.Grace getting 43 and Jackson taking four for 54 in 32 overs. The North now needed 58 to win. Jackson opened the batting and taking an immediate liking to the bowling, hit an unbeaten 41 as the At the Height of His Powers