Cricket 1883

24 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. MAKCH 16, 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 ! ! ! F irst P riz e M ed a l at M e lb ou rn e E x h ib ition , 1880. JAMES L I L L YWH I T E , F R O W D * C o . Manufacturers of all articles nsed 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 now patent “ Special Driver” Bat, which drives better, are 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 LILLY WHITE’S CRICKETER’S ANNUAL. Manufactory and Warehouse :— 1 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 and Association Football, Cricket', Lawn Tennis, &c . , &c., will be sent gratis and post free to any address. WARD’ S WAKEHOUSE IS THE BEST FOE Footballs, etc., etc. Send for Samples. NOTICES. THE NEXT NUMBER OF C R I C K E T APRIL 19th. C ricket this week consists of sixteen pages and a wrapper. C ricket can be had at W . H. Smith and Son’s Book StallF. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. C ricket trill be published weekly, commencing xcith the next number (24) to be issued on April l$th It will be forwarded by first post on Thursday morning to any address in Great Britain, on receipt of a Postal Order (not Stamps ) for the amount of the subscription (4«. 10 d.for 23 numbers, including present issue). Post Office Orders and C leques can be made payable to W . R. W r ig h t , at the head office, and crossed “London and County, Holborn .” C ricket will be published monthly during the winter from October to April, on the last Thursday in the month. C ricket is registered for transmission abroad and can be sent, postfree, at the regular newspaper rates ofnostage to any part of the world. A few copies of Vol. I. are to be had bound, price 7a. 6 d. It contains Portraits and Biographies of all the members of the Australian Team of 1882, “ Cricketers of my T i m e b y J ohn N yren , and a number o f interest­ ing articles by the best writers on the Game. TO ADVERTISERS. C ricket presents an unequalled medium for announce­ ments in connection with the game, as the circulation is already 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 ricket 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 over the globe. A limited number of high-class Advertisements will be taken on terms to be obtained of the Manager. For ordinaryAdvertisements,the charge will be 3/- per inch narrow column. C t t c f u t t A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. FRIDAY, MAKCH 16, 1883 THE LAWS OF THE GAME. I t will be a matter of satisfaction to the general body of cricketers to learn tliat the Marylebone Club has at last taken a decided move towards the production of a more comprehensive and explicit code of rules. Indeed we are officially in­ formed that the cricket public will, before the next number of this paper sees the light, have had the opportunity of reading, markirg, and inwardly digesting the “ Proposed revision of the laws of Cricket ” as formulated under the authority of the premier club. As a matter of fact for some weeks past the committee of the M.C.C. have been busily engaged in revising the code of rules now in force. We have ourselves so strenu­ ously advocated the necessity of modernising the laws of the game with a view to greater complete­ ness, that we hail the action of the Marylebone authorities, tardy as it has been, with nnmixed satisfaction. The imperfections of the existing code are so numerous, and have been so frequently pointed out, that the con­ tinued disinclination of the law-makers to introduce reforms so obviously neces­ sary has been the more surprising. It has certainly been a little anomalous that the written laws contain no pro­ vision of any kind for some of the most essential points in the conduct of the game. It would hardly appear to be credible that there should be 110 explana­ tion of how a run is obtained, nor even the mention of a bye in any one of the forty-seven rules which have served to regulate the game of cricket for so many generations. The present code, in fact, teems with errors and discrepancies which only a long experience is able to reconcile. We could, without difficulty, point out numerous irregularities calcu­ lated to trouble and vex the minds of even the cleverest students of cricket lore. To be of universal value, a code of laws for a game so complex as cricket should be clearly expressed, so as to be thoroughly within the comprehension of those who are learning as well as those who have learned the game. What faults there are at present it will be admitted are faults of omission rather than those of commission, but stiil they are defects which tend to reduce the practical utility of the rules. A few amendments to legalise points which really figure in the unwritten though not in the written laws would materially improve the code as a whole. The labours of the committee of revision will have to be submitted to the general meeting of the Marylebone Club for approval, but, before the end of this month, or early in April at the latest, they will be published for the information of cricketers. Everyone will be glad to hear that the committee of the Marylebone Club have taken the matter in hand, and the result of their deliberations will be awaited with con­ fidence. The alterations required in 110 way affect the working of the game ; indeed, the known conservatism of the old club is sufficient guarantee that there will be no radical change in the rules themselves. The reforms necessary rather point to an official notification of the laws written— as well as un­ written—than any modification of or variation in the practice of the game. We fully expect that the new code, carefully analysed as it has been by a representative and capable sub-committee, will meet the general approval of cricketers. Even if it fails to give universal satisfaction, there is a certainty that it will approach nearer to perfection than that which has governed the game for many years. Public opinion is strongly against any change tending in the smallest degree to alter the grand old game which Englishmen are proud to claim as the national inheri­ tance. Everyone, though, will hail with pleasure the forthcoming revision, if only on the ground that it will make the laws more easy of comprehension and cer­ tainly of more real practical value than they undoubtedly are at the present time. T jic k l e y P abk C l u b . — A complimentary din­ ner was given recently by the members of this club to their retiring Hon. Sec. and Treasurer, Messrs. A. S. (ledge and J. M. Curwen. It was held at the Cafe Boyal, Regent Street, and some forty-five members and friends were present, the President of the club, Mr. T. Spiller, in the chair. The toast of the evening was proposed in hap­ py terms by the chairman. He reminded those present that Messrs. Gedge and Curwen were two of the original members of the club in 1868, and that the position the club at present held in the suburban cricket world was greatly due to the untiring zeal and energy displayed by these gentlemen during their long term of office—Mr. Curwen haying acted as Hon. Treasurer for eleven years, and Mr-.Gedge as Hon. Sec. for ten years. On behalf of the members, he asked the latter to accept a hand­ some silver salver and a cottage piano with the best wishes of the members of the club on his approaching marriage. He also wished Mr. Curwen’s acceptance of a silver loving cup as a token of esteem from 'lis numerous friends in the club, and with the thanks of the B.P.C.C. for all that his family and he had done to promote its welfare. Both gentlemen returned thanks in suitable terms. A most pleasant evening was speut. C ricket . —A song written and composed by J. H. Smith, and dedicated to A. N. Hornby, Esq. “ It will be welcomed heartily by all lovers of the national British game.”— Era Post free, 18 stamps of author, 22, Cliiton-stxeet, Wolver­ hampton.—Advt.