Yorkshire was the most successful county that year, entirely owing to the very fine bowling of Freeman and Emmett. Lancashire showed a slight improvement; but Nottinghamshire, Kent, and Sussex did not come out favourably; while Surrey had an unprecedented run of ill-luck. I threw all my energies into Gloucestershire matches, and felt specially gratified at the results of our first year's play. We played Glamorganshire once, Surrey twice, M.C.C. and Ground once, winning them very easily. The first match we played was against Surrey, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th June, on Durdham Downs. Our eleven was made up entirely of amateurs, while Surrey played ten professionals and one amateur. It was the closest match we played, and created considerable interest in Gloucestershire. Quite a large crowd turned out, and we had some difficulty in getting them to stand far enough back. I remember that in the first innings Pooley, who was batting very well, would not go on until they were moved. Eventually they did go, and he said he could now hit out to leg to his heart's content; but the change worked in another way it enabled long-leg to go farther out, and the first or second ball bowled Pooley hit into his hands, to the delight of the spectators.
Reference to the batting averages will show that Messrs. W. B. Money, A. N. Hornby, I. D. Walker, and W. Yardley were in great form. Nearly every innings played by them was full of dash, and they scored at a great pace against all kinds of bowling. Mr. Hornby, in particular, hit very hard, and exceeded the hundred eight times during the season, two of them in first-class matches. That feat I performed, as I have said, nine times, five of them in first-class matches; the highest and best being 215 for the Gentlemen v. Players, at the Oval.
