‘Not a bit of it,’ replied the veteran. ‘Ask any man who saw it, and I’ll guarantee he tells the same story. Is it not recorded in the annals of cricket?’
‘We’ve lost the toss,’ said Edgar. ‘The usual luck at Lord’s.’
‘I expect they will bat,’ said Robert Foster.
‘I doubt it,’ said Edgar. ‘The ground is a bit tricky and in favour of the bowlers. Grace has gone to have a good look at the wicket. He knows there are no chances to be thrown away.’
The tall figure of the English captain, with his black, bushy beard, stood out boldly against the background of people. It was in the days when Grace was at his best, and Dr. E. M. was another of the valiant brothers who took the field; Shaw and Morley, the famous Notts bowlers, were in their prime, and Daft had not yet retired from the field—when such grand men as A. P. Lucas, A. G. Steel, A. Lyttelton and Lord Harris were seen at nearly every big match. It was an anxious moment for everyone as Grace consulted with two of his team as to whether they should bat.
At last the decision came. The Englishmen were to bat, and a mighty cheer went up from the crowd.
‘The pitch is all right, or Grace would not have gone in,’ said Robert Foster.
‘Perhaps he thinks it will wear all right for their innings, and leave us with the ground cut up,’ said Murch.
People settled down in their places, and made themselves as comfortable as possible. As the Australians filed on the ground, headed by Murch, cheer after cheer was given them—for the ‘Kangaroo boys’ had become very popular.
The commencement of a great match is always fraught with intense excitement. How will the game go? Will there be a stand for the first wicket?