CHAPTER XI.
CRICKETERS I HAVE MET.
IN order to facilitate reference, I have adopted the plan of placing "Cricketers I have Met" in alphabetical order.
Robert Abel was born at Rotherhithe, Surrey, November 30th, 1859. His height is 5 ft. 5 in.; weight, 10 st. He played his first match for Surrey in 1881; but showed very little promise with either bat or ball until a year or two later. In the year 1885 he came to the front very quickly, and, with the exception of 1887, has been well up in the first-class batting averages ever since. His bowling has not improved to the same extent; but then his county has been so well off in that respect the last two or three years, that he has rarely been called upon to bowl for it.
As a batsman he is in the first flight, having exceptionally strong defence and patience, and for his size he hits very freely all round. His pluck and cheerfulness are really first-rate, whether they are required in fighting an uphill game with the bat or in the field. He has played many fine innings in first-class company, but the best I have witnessed was his 105 in the second innings of the South v. North at Scarborough on the 7th September, 1889. He went in first, and with myself, in three hours and three-quarters, put on 226 runs before we were parted; and his defence and hitting were as fine as any cricketer could wish to see. He is a brilliant fieldsman, very certain with plenty of dash, and has been one
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