Lives in Cricket No 7 - Richard Daft

as treacherous as it would without rain. The weather was bright, but, though of brief duration, the showers were heavy.’ In front of a crowd estimated at 25,000 on the Bank Holiday, Surrey accumulated a total of 176. The scene is set out for us by Leather Hunter , A.J.Gaston of Brighton, whose piece in the periodical Fores’s Sporting Notes gave Richard particular pleasure. He suggested that there was a treat at The Oval such as they never hoped for again. ‘Richard Daft was to figure in a first-class match once more! – in fact the match of the season – for neither Gentlemen versus Players, nor North versus South, excites the interest that Nottingham versus the premier county does; nevertheless, The Oval would certainly not have drawn twenty-five thousand together but for the presence of the veteran in the Midland team. What was our surprise when on Mr. Shuter’s putting Nottinghamshire in the field, our old friend was placed at point. The surprise grew more intense as we watch the neatness and smartness with which he answered each appeal of the batsmen. The wicket playing extremely dead . . . there was not the solitary chance of a catch, but many a run was saved by the wonderful power the veteran showed in “getting down to them.”’ Alas, Leather Hunter was unable to describe Richard’s innings, which did not start until the following day when there were 10,000 present; Richard himself wrote in Kings of Cricket : ‘On my leaving the pavilion for the wickets, I received such an outburst of applause as perhaps neither I nor any other cricketer ever experienced before. Much as I have valued all the hearty receptions I have received and the kind things that have been written of me during my long career, yet I declare solemnly I never felt such a thrill of gratitude as when I heard that mighty shout ascend from the vast multitude assembled on that time honoured enclosure, and for some minutes I was deeply affected. If I had been accorded this welcome at home, I should not have felt it so much, but to be received in this manner on the ground where I played my first great match was indeed affecting.’ The morning was bright and hopeful, and play started with the Notts score at 34 for two. With 20 added, Lohmann bowled Barnes, who was succeeded by Richard; he immediately went on the attack, three times driving Lohmann for two. With 10 more added, Gunn was caught at mid-on. Notts’ best chance of making a good response was gone – 64 for four. Joined by Attewell, Richard drove Lohmann to the off for four and to the on for two. The Times man A Match Too Far? 113