The Morning Post and Daily Advertiser, London: by D. Stuart, Saturday, August 23, & Monday, August 25, 1788, [nos. 4816, 4817], folio, each 4pp. The Saturday issue devotes one third of a column to "Cricket. Single Wicket. Lord Winchelsea and Five of All England against Mr. Talbot and Five of Hampshire" which had commenced the Thursday before, giving the scores to date and odds in favour of Hampshire, and mentioning the slow scoring of T. Walker, "decidely the first bat in the kingdom," while the Monday issue devotes a similar column length to the conclusion of the match, won by Hampshire. (2)

Details

The Morning Post and Daily Advertiser, London: by D. Stuart, Saturday, August 23, & Monday, August 25, 1788, [nos. 4816, 4817], folio, each 4pp. The Saturday issue devotes one third of a column to "Cricket. Single Wicket. Lord Winchelsea and Five of All England against Mr. Talbot and Five of Hampshire" which had commenced the Thursday before, giving the scores to date and odds in favour of Hampshire, and mentioning the slow scoring of T. Walker, "decidely the first bat in the kingdom," while the Monday issue devotes a similar column length to the conclusion of the match, won by Hampshire. (2)

Lot Essay

On the Friday, Thomas Walker (1762-1831) of All England was apparently taking an uncharacteristically long time to score. "T. Walker went in, and what is very remarkable only got FIVE RUNS in 230 trulls -- and what is yet further remarkable, he made only ONE RUN in 189 trulls. T. Walker is decidedly the first batsman in the kingdom -- his patience is invincible -- his caution (though a very young man) is superior to any veteran in the field -- and the instances of his raising a ball are very rare." Yet we learn that on the Saturday, Walker "re-commenced his innings, but was bowled out the third trull." All England scored only 8 and 19 in their two innings, Hampshire 24 and the "four notches" they needed to win.

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