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Chap. XIL] |
Cricket. |
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the introduction of the Earl of Chichester that I was sent to the "Chichester House School" at Brighton. Dr. Gary was not only an active player, considering his age (which was much over 50), when I came under his scholastic control, but he was keen at watching the game when great matches were in progress. He himself always played in a " chimney-pot " hat, which was the full-dress headgear in those days, though it was permissible for boys to wear flannel skull caps with peaks. Once or twice we were taken for special "treats " over to Lewes to meet a Lewes team at the " Dripping Pan." On one such occasion, I remember Major H. P. Molineux (not then a major) or perhaps it was a brother, who was one of the spectators. Another brother (G. F. M.) was in our Brighton team. Date—August 29, 1854.
The Brunswick Ground at Hove was the great Sussex County centre for cricket in the " Fifties," and between 1853 and 1856 I must have seen many of the most celebrated players in England. I remember in particular the names of the following who played at Brighton :—For Sussex : Box, Dean, J. Lilly white, Mr. H. L. Nicholson, Wells, and Wisden; whilst the Kent men I remember were : Mr. A. Mynn, Pilch and Willsher.
On August 21,1855, I was at the Brunswick Ground on the third day of a well-contested match between Kent and Sussex, in which Kent scored 278 and Sussex 216. The first day had been so wet and stormy that play was suspended, and the great Sussex bowler, Wisden, went for a walk, thinking there would be no more play, but there was; and two Kent batsmen (Mr. A. Mynn and Adams) took advantage of Wisden's temporary absence, and ran up unexpected scores.
Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire were the only cricket counties in the first rank in my younger days. Hampshire and Middlesex might be allowed a second class place, but all the other counties were nowhere. The names of two Clubs were well known, but only those two, namely: "I Zingari " and "Marylebone." Slow "underhand" bowling was just being replaced by fast " roundhand" bowling. The
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