even one out of three of possible chances, has proved, in his experience, good average wicket-keeping; for, think of leg-shooters! though Mr. Ridding could take even them wonderfully well.
"I have seen," writes Mr. E. S. E. H., "Mr. C. Taylor—who was capital at running in, and rarely stumped out, having an excellent eye, and if the twist of the ball beat him it was enough to beat the wicket-keeper also—I have seen him, after missing a ball, walk quietly back to his ground, poor wicket-keeper looking foolish and vexed at not stumping him, and the ring, of course, calling him a muff." Really, wicket-keepers are hardly used; the spectators little know that a twist which misses the bat, may as easily escape the hand.
Again, "the best piece of stumping I ever saw was done by Mr. Anson, in the Players' Match, in 1843. Butler, one of the finest of the Nottingham batsmen, in trying to draw one of Mr. Mynn's leg shooters, just lifted, for an instant, his right foot; Mr. Anson timed the feat beautifully, and swept the ball with his left hand into the wicket. I fancy a feat so difficult was never done so easily."—"I also saw Mr. Anson, in a match against the Etonians, stump a man with his right, catch the flying bail with his left, and replace it so quickly that the man's surprise and puzzle made all the fun: stumped out, though wicket seemingly never down!" Mr. Jenner was very
