standard of previous years. Two amateurs Messrs. Frank Townsend and J. M. Cotterill took a high position, and Messrs. C. J. Ottaway, I. D. Walker, A. N. Hornby and C. I. Thornton were consistently good; but the number of batsmen who averaged 25 runs per innings was below that of 1871. The proportion of amateurs in the list was greater than ever. Daft and Jupp were now the only two professionals who could be classed with the best of the amateurs; for at last the years began to tell upon Carpenter, and his wonderful skill was beginning to desert him. Emmett proved that he could handle the bat as well as the ball, and Charlwood and Lockwood were doing excellent work also.
But a colt appeared that year who was to raise the standard of professional batting far above everything yet reached. Arthur Shrewsbury made his first appearance at Trent Bridge Ground on the 14th and 15th of April, playing for Twenty-two Colts against Notts County. He was 17 years of age, and scored 35 by scientific cricket, against A. Shaw, J. C. Shaw, M. Mclntyre and F. Morley, four of the very best bowlers of that or any time. His defence was perfect, and his patience, for so young a player, exceptionally good. A month later at Lord's he confirmed the good opinions formed of him, scoring 4, and not out 16 for Fifteen Colts of England v. M.C.C.
The amateurs were to receive quite as valuable a recruit in their ranks before the season was over. Mr. W. W. Read was but 17 years of age when he was considered good enough to represent his county. Before the season was over, he played for Surrey v. Yorkshire at the Oval on the 11th and 12th of August. Few cricketers have delighted the cricketing public more than Mr. W. W. Read and Shrewsbury during the last ten years. For their counties and in representative matches they have won many a great victory, and
