LORD BESSBOROUGH ON CRICKET
By The Right Rev. H. H. Montgomery
(Written in 1889.)
Perhaps there is no living authority on cricket greater than Lord Bessborough. Years ago he figured in all the best matches as the Hon. Fred. Ponsonby, and now he has become a link between the past and present race of cricketers. I myself owe him a deep debt of gratitude for many hours' 'coaching' at Harrow. It was, I think, a happy thought to ask him his opinion upon many a point of the game. The questions and answers are given below.
Did you know W. Lambert, the old Surrey player?—'I never saw Lambert. He had been excluded from Lord's and from other great matches, but he continued to play in the country for many years, and Mr. R. Grimston once played a match with him in Surrey. He was old then, but Taylor told me he must have been a very fine bat, and was still a good bowler. On talking over the old players with old Clarke, the Nottingham bowler, he said, "Lord Frederick Beauclerk and Beldham were very good bats, but Lambert was the best batsman I ever saw, and Pilch comes next." Old Mr. Bowdler, an old Winchester cricketer, also told me he thought Lambert was the best bat he had ever seen till Pilch came out. That was before Grace's day. He used to stand with his left foot out a very long way and then draw it up rapidly on playing. He thought it put the bowler off his pitch.'
Did you ever see Beldham play?—'I never saw him play; but I always heard cricketers of old times speak of him
