days was useful where there were no boundaries; he was a first-rate judge of a run; and, lastly, he understood the game thoroughly, and was, perhaps, the best professional captain who ever lived. He also could bowl lobs fairly.
Mr. Mitchell had a short life in first-class cricket: in fact, it corresponded almost exactly with his Oxford career; so it happens to be difficult to exactly estimate his powers. But I have talked with several of his contemporaries and have seen him myself, and I have found several who agree with me that if Mitchell had been able to devote himself to the game in the way that Jackson, Stoddart, and others do now, he would have been the second batsman of the world, next, in fact, to Grace. With great height, strength of arm and wrist, punishing powers all round the wicket, a temperament that made him equal to a supreme effort when it was wanted, and great patience and knowledge of the game, Mitchell was a terror to his opponents. He could play well on bad wickets and was a
