Cricket 1883

15 2 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. JUNE 7, 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 rize 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. Bata 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 l i 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. THE V I CR IO K E T A i L i BATS, BA LLS , &C., THE Y LAW N A i L i T E N N I S GOODS Are undoubtedly the best and cheapest in the market, and can only be obtained at WARD’S. Price List with full particulars sent free upon applying at U f A D n ’ Q A T H L E T I C T V f f l l U 0 W AR EHO U S E , H E C KMO N DW I K E , YORKSH I RE . NOTICES. C R I C K E T IS PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE, 17, PATERNOSTER SQUARE . LONDON, E.C. It will appear every Thursday morning until September 22nd, and Monthly from October until April next. C r ick 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 wny address in Great Britain, on receipt o f a Postal Order (not Stamps) for the amount of the subscription (3«. 8 d. for 15 numbers, up to September 22nd, or up to April next, including six Winter Numbers for 5«. 0 d., with present issue). Post Office Orders and Cheques can be made payable to W. R. W rig h t, at the head office, and crossed "Londonand County, Holborn .” C r ick 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 7*. 6d. It contains Portraits and Biographies of all the members of the Australian Team of 1882, “ Cricketers of my T i m e b y John 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 the 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 r ick e t will be filed, too, for reference in the pavilions of all the 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 ovei e 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 OVAL - T H I S D A Y . GRAND CR IC K E T M A TC H . SURREYv MIDDLESEX. . V d m i s s i o i i — S I X P E N C E . OVAL, JUNE 14th — SURREY v- CAMBRIDGE UNIV CRICKET. To Journeyman Ball Makers- GOOD WORKMEN WANTED. Apply to DU KE AND SON , P E N S H U R S T , K E N T . Crtcftct t A WEEKLY RECORD OF TIIE GAME. THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1883. PAST AND PRESENT. T h e cricket of tlic present day, how much, if at all, is it superior to that of the past ? This is a question which gives rise to a fierce controversy at times. There are a few, laudalorcs temporis acli, loath to admit any very great improvement in the cricket of the new on that of the old school. The mention of \V. G. Grace brings a re­ joinder of Alfred Mynn ; Alfred Shaw would beget a comparison with the non­ pareil old William Lillywhite, and there would be a host of worthies, headed perhaps by Fuller Pilch, Felix, Wenman, C. G. Taylor and Guy, adduced to show that the cricketers of a past gene­ ration were quite skilful enough to bear the test of an analysis with some of the most renowned champions of the present age. Even as brave men lived before Agamemnon, so no one will dispute the existence of cricketers even in the pre­ historic era, as capable in their way and according to their lights as any we can muster at the present time. They had not, it is true, in the brave days of old the same advantages enjoyed by the modern School. The culture of cricket grounds had not come to be regarded in the light of a science. Batsmen were cot afraid to stand up with their limbs unprotected to face bowling as fast, we venture to think, aa any we see now, and on wickets certainly not tended with the same amount of religious care. In tho olden times cricket was certainly not practised under the same favourable conditions as in the present year of grace. Any comparison between the cricketers of the past and present would have to include an allowance for the improvement of the surroundings of the modern order of cricket. We venture to hold an opinion that there never was, possibly never will be, a cricketer so ex­ cellent at all points, as well as so thorough in hia pursuit of the game, to the minutest detail as Mr. W. G. Grace. The batting of to-day would appear to be better than of old, if reliance is to be put on the length of the innings occa­ sionally, and the very high scores attained at times by the more favoured batsmen. But against this it may be urged that the number of cricketers has increased a hun­ dred fold, that the grounds are all in favour of long scoring, that neither the bowling nor the fielding is quite as true generally as it was, and that all the best bowlers are thoroughly well known before the end of the season. The same argument used to explain the develop­ ment of run-getting might, though, be equally applied to account for any ap­ parent deterioration of the bowling. Tho perfection of wickets now-a-daya is not calculated to improve the general quality of the bowling, though it ought to have a perceptible effect in improving the tone of fielding. Whatever diversityof opinions may exist as to the character of the bowling and batting of the present in contrast with the past, wo do not our­ selves believe that there has been any improvement in the fielding. Whatever the causes, whether the institution of nets, or the want of confidence engen­ dered of big crowds, it seems as if the average of fielding was not so good as in the earlier stages of the game. There are conspicuous and brilliant instances of the highest skill in this department, but we believe that the average of good fielding has suffered materially during the last few years. It is rare, even in the best matches of the season, to find even an innings completed without ft dropped catch, and in some respects the length of the scores is somewhat attribu­ table to defects in this very im p o r ta n t branch of the game. Net practice has had much to do with the lack of e n c o u r a g e m e n t given to bowling and fielding, and we hold that even still distinguished ability in the field is not rewarded according to its merits. We should like to see a regular system of fielding enforced on every ground, and were a greater value placed on efficiency in the field, the mi3- takes which are often recorded, even in important matches, would soon he reduced to a minimum.