Cricket 1883

120 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. MAY 21, 1883. C R I C K E T ! L A W N T E N N I S ! ! F O O T B A L L ! ! ! irst P r ize M edal at M elbourne E xhibition , 1880. JAMES L I L L YWH I T E , F R OW D d C o . Manufacturers of all articles used in the above and other Athletic Sports. Specialite for the highest class Goods. Bats specially seasoned for hot climates. Price lists and all particulars may be had post free. Shippers supplied at wholesale prices. J. L., F. and Co. are the sole manufacturers of Frowd’s new patent “ Special Driver” Bat, which drives better, ars less, and averages ounces lighter than any other B at; universally allowed to be the greatest improvement made in Bats since cane handles were introduced. Pub­ lishers of JAMES LILLYW H ITE’S CRICKETERS’ ANNUAL. Manufactory and Warehouse:— 4 and 6, Newington Causeway, and 73 and 74, London Road, London. UPON APPLYING AT W A K D ’ S ATHLETICWAREHOUSE, Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, The Laws of Rugby aud Association Football, Cricket, Lawn Tennis, &c., &c ., will be sent gratis and post free to any address. WARD’ S WAREHOUSE IS THE BEST FOR Footballs, etc., etc. Send for Samples. NOTICES. CR I CKE T IS PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE, 17, PATERNO STER SQUARE. LONDON, E.C. It will appear every Thursday morning until September 22nd, and Monthly from October until April next. C rick e t can be had at W . H. Smith and Son’s Book Stalls, and of all Newsagents. Agents for Cambridge, Metcalfe & Son, Trinity Street. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. C rick e t will beforwarded byfirst post on Thursday morning to any address in Great Britain, on receipt of aPostal Order (not Stamps) for the amount Of the subscription (38. 7 d. for 17 numbers , up to September 22nd, or up to April next , including six Winter Numbers for 5i. 2d., with present issue). Post OJice Orders and Cheques can be made payable to W . R. W rig h t, at the head office, and crossed "Londonand County, Holborn.,i C rick e t is registered for transmission abroad and can be sent, postfree, at the regular newspaper rates ofvostage to any part of the world. A few copies of Vol. I. are to be had bound, price Is. 6 d. It contains Portraits and Biographies of all the members of the Australian Team of 1882, “ Cricketers of my Time," by Joh n N yren , and a number of interest­ ing articles by the best writers on the Game. TO ADVERTISERS. C rick e t presents an unequalled medium for announce­ ments in connection with the game, as tho circulation is alieady in advance of any newspaper of the kind. The scores of most of the principal Clubs will appear exclusively in its columns, and there is already a large number of sub­ scribers, including most of the leading players of the day. C rick e t will be filed, too, for reforence in the pavilions of all tho principal Clubs, and it will thus appeal directly to every class of cricketer. It is also filed in most of the public libraries of Australia, and numbers among its sub­ scribers cricketers and dealers in cricket materials all over the globe. A limited number of high-class Advertisements will be taken on terms to be obtained of the Manager. For ordinary Advertisements, the charge will be 3/- per inch narrow column. K E N N I N G T O N OVA L . T O -D A Y (THUR SDAY ). First County Match of the Season. SURREY v HANTS. A d m i s s i o n S I X P E N C E . OVAL, THURSDAY NEXT — SURREYV. GLOUCESTERSHIRE. CRICKET. To Journeyman Ball Makers- GOOD WORKMEN WANTED. Apply to DUKE AND SON, P E N S H U R S T , K E N T . C r t r i ic t : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1883. ON TEIAL. N e a rly a fortnight has elapsed since the enactment passed by the Committee of the Marylebone Club for the stringent enforcement of Law X. was issued. The measure was admittedly a tentative one, and many grave doubts were expressed as to a speedy solution of the difficulty the resolution of the M.C.C. was passed to meet. S o far, except that it has no doubt tended to check in some measure the tendency to throw among the more prominent of the school of cricketers against whom the recent agitation was mainly directed, there has been no ap­ parent result. N o instance has—at least, as far as we are aware—been recorded in a match of importance of any usage of the powers vested in the umpires in the event of a reasonable doubt of the legitimacy of a bowler’s delivery. In only two minor contests has, to the best of our knowledge, any bowler been no­ balled for the infringement of Law X. In the Kentish Colts match a youngster, Eldridge, was no-balled by Goodhew four times in his second over, and as this experiment was properly regarded as satisfactory, no further attempt was made to utilise his services. At the Crystal Palace on Saturday, in a match between the Will of the Wisps and the Crystal Palace Club, an amateur, well- known as one of the most successful wicket-getters in connection with the local club, was no-balled more than once by one of the most efficient, if not the most capable of all our umpires, Robert Thoms. The result, in this case, so far bore out the apprehensions of those who doubted the perfect working of the new rule, that the bowler whose delivery regarded as at least open to suspicion was by an official, not only of the highest integrity, but the most varied experience, was, by a removal to the other wicket, allowed to continue without a protest of any kind from a less sensitive or less in­ dependent umpire. Our contention, throughout, has been that the success of the measure would depend, in a great degree, on the response given to the ordinance of the Marylebone Club by the more representative order of umpires. The disinclination to initiate amovement which might have the effect of seriously interfering with vested rights, were the delivery of certain bowlers, whose action is open to doubt, called into public question, is natural enough, we readily admit. An ordinary umpire would be chary of risking the disapproval of those whose interests he has to serve were he to have recourse to such a definite line of action as is necessitated by a faithful adherence to the spirit of the new text of the M.C.C. He might reasonably argue that while the chosen officials of the premier club hesitate to enforce the regulation, it would be unbecoming, as well as ill advised, of him to make him­ self unduly conspicuous even in the cause of law and order. As a rule, no doubt, a spirit of uncertainty exists in the minds of the less responsible umpires as to the proper course of procedure, and it is reasonable to assume that they will act contrary to the tenour of the expressed wishes of the Marylebone Committee in giving the bowler the benefit instead of the disadvantage of the doubt. None the less it is pleasant to think that there are umpires with the courage of their opinions, and resolute enough to give expression to them. The step recently taken by the counties with a view to secure a less dependent class of umpires, is in the right direction, and in the long run it will produce good results. Meanwhile the experience of this season will show how far the recent action of the Marylebone Chib will tend towards the encouragement of a fairer style of delivery. In any case there will be the evidence of a practical trial to guide the law-makers of cricket in the procedure they will have to adopt when the revised laws come on for approval, to carry out in its strict integrity the law relating t o fair bowling. O n Whit-Monday, for Mr. G: H. Wood’s Eleven v. Beaconsfield Club, J. H. Farmer was credited with fifteen out of eighteen wickets which fell to the bowler. His analysis was—First innings, 46 balls for 9 runs and 7 wickets; second innings, 50 balls for 60runs and 8 wickets, or in all 15 wickets for 25 runs.