A thick, round-shouldered man, Lumpy Stevens was one of the great bowlers of the 18th century, able, according to John Nyren, of bowling "the greatest number of length balls in succession" and all at brisk medium pace. He was gardener to Lord Tankerville, a cricket fanatic who lived at Walton in Surrey, and Stevens once won a £100 wager for his employer by hitting a feather once in every four balls while bowling at Laleham. In 1775 he bowled John Small three times, the ball passing through the two stumps on each occasion - a third stump was added shortly afterwards.
Martin Williamson