Lives in Cricket No 7 - Richard Daft

All England Eleven, Gentlemen v Players, and the Notts match against Surrey all came and went. The All England match at Derby is of historical and sentimental interest, as it was the last one played by the travelling Eleven. Richard showed his loyalty to the Eleven by this last appearance, and he still continued to give his connection with it pride of place in his business advertisements. It must be said, however, that the final All England Eleven consisted of nine Notts players, together with Richard Barlow and William McIntyre of Lancashire. Richard was bowled for two, in his only innings in a match which was won by England inside two days. North v South, the sides captained by Daft and Grace, was played at Trent Bridge as a belated benefit for George Parr, who went away with £250, ‘a pecuniary result not as great as his old friends anticipated’, according to Wisden . Then it was back to the front line. Richard journeyed to London for the fixture at Lord’s for the Players beginning on 8 July, 1878. This match, which the Gentlemen won by 206 runs, saw a lot of good cricket, but not from him. The first six professional batsmen failed both times, but none fared so badly as Richard, with totals of one and nought. ‘ Green Lilly’ did not pull its punches: ‘Richard Daft fielded badly, his sight is clearly going as he funked the ball. If he had not been playing, everyone would have complained: but evidently Richard is not himself.’ He failed, too, at Trent Bridge, contributing only two, but as Notts defeated Surrey it hardly mattered, and there were many failures, the highest individual score in the match was Shrewsbury’s careful 27 not out. Surrey could make no more than 45 and 84 in their two innings and the only time runs came with any ease was when Oscroft and Shrewsbury knocked off the 42 needed for victory. He returned to Lord’s for Bob Thoms’ benefit match between Middlesex and Notts, who were set 271 for victory. Richard joined William Oscroft with the score at 113 for two; his partner played a fine, free game until he was well caught for 77, when the score was on 151. Richard, who had made a useful 25 in the first innings, forced the pace in company with Wyld until at 6.20 pm he was caught at point for 40 at 224. The scoreboard showed that 47 runs were then needed as Alfred Shaw advanced to the wicket with only Morley to follow; with three minutes left a victory for Middlesex was still possible, but Shaw held on for a draw. Lillywhite’s Companion was critical: ‘The weather was 84 Arrival of the Australians