Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/346

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
338
CRICKET.

varying it with a faster one, breaking slightly from the off to leg. But the ball he has been as successful with as any is a simple straight good-length one without any break. The batsman expects something exceptional from him every ball, and never thinks that he will treat him with such an easy one, and so while he is looking for the break his wicket is bowled down. He has a brilliant future before him, possessing good health, strength, and stamina. His greatest performances in first-class cricket so far have been:

BOWLING.

Overs. Maidens. Runs. Wickets. Average.
1885 1264 592 2030 142 14.42
1886 1715 809 2425 160 15.25
1887 1634 737 2404 154 15.94
1888 1649 783 2280 209 10.190
1889 1614 646 2714 202 13.90
1890 1759 737 2998 220 13.138

BATTING.

Completed Innings. Runs. Most in an Innings. Average.
1887 33 843 115 25.18
1890 43 832 57 19.15

Mr. Alfred Percy Lucas was born in London, February 20th, 1857. He is indebted to H. H. Stephenson for his early coaching at Uppingham and the foundation of a batting style that has been the admiration of every first-class player. At school, in 1874, he had the exceptionally fine average of 50.1 for 14 innings. He represented Cambridge against Oxford in 1875, and continued to do so until 1878; and, by right of residence, he played for Surrey in 1874 and most years down to 1882. The year after saw him playing for Middlesex, the county of his birth, and his form that season in county matches and for the Gentlemen v. Players was equal to anything he had shown previously. Of late years he has played for Essex. He has also represented England against