Wilkins, however, took a far more modest view of his position. The
notion of leading a happy band of cricketers from Shields' into the
field had, it seemed, small attractions for him. But he went so far as
to get a house list, and help choose a really representative team. And
as details about historic teams are always welcome, we may say that
the averages ranged from 3.005 to 8.14. This last was Wilkins' own and
was, as he would have been the first to admit, substantially helped by
a contribution of nineteen in a single innings in the fifth game.

So the team was selected, and Clephane turned out after school next
day to give them a little fielding-practice. To his surprise the
fielding was not so outrageous as might have been expected. All the
simpler catches were held, and one or two of the harder as well. Given
this form on the day of their appearance in public, and Henfrey might
be disappointed when he came to watch and smile sarcastically. A
batting fiasco is not one half so ridiculous as maniac fielding.

In the meantime the first round of the house matches had been played
off, and it would be as well to describe at this point the positions
of the rival houses and their prospects. In the first place, there
were only four teams really in the running for the cup, Day's (headed
by the redoubtable Henfrey), Spence's, who had Jackson, that season a
head and shoulders above the other batsmen in the first eleven--he had
just wound up the school season with an average of 51.3, Donaldson's,
and Dexter's. All the other house teams were mainly tail.

Now, in the first round the powerful quartette had been diminished by
the fact that Donaldson's had drawn Dexter's, and had lost to them by
a couple of wickets.