Cricket 1895

4 3 6 CR ICKET A W E E K L Y RECORD OF THE GAME. O c t . 3 1 , 1 89 5 . these Melbourne reports, and have re­ ceived a fresh proof of the abundant vitality of the game in our distant Colony, For a few years the Club was served by an honorary secretary; to-day that de­ partment accounts for £875. Since 1878 Major Wardill has filled the secretarial chair, with what splendid results to the Club we all know full well. We are anxious to learn the personnel of the cricket team which will visit us next year under the auspices of the Cricket Association of Australia. Again I must express an earnest wish that the authori­ ties at home could have received them on the same terms as were offered to our own men during their last visit to the Colony. Shall we get any fresh wrinkles from our visitors P One would have said, No, prior to their first appearance here iu 1878. But he would be either densely obstinate or densely ignorant who would maintain that we learned nothing from Blackham’s stumping or Spofforth’s bowl­ ing. Since then, long-stop has disap­ peared from our first-class cricket, whilst our bowlers have found out that varia­ tion in pace and break without alteration in delivery is one of the fine arts of which Spofforth was so able a master. It may be that by this time next year English cricket will have acquired some new secret worth knowing. Anyhow, we shall be glad to welcome our brethren from over yonder. I wish I had space to do justice to a sumptuous book recently received, “ Sixty years of Canadian Cricket,” the joint work of Messrs. Hall and McCulloch. It is of royal 8vo. size, and contains 572 pages. Perhaps, the handsomest work on cricket that has ever appeared, quite putting into the shade Charles Box’s “ English Game of Cricket.” Paper and type are delightful to persons whose sight is not as keen as it once was, whilst some dozens of portraits on special plate paper add to the attractiveness and worth of this truly monumental book. I have no idea of the cost of it, nor do I know whether it is on sale in our own country, but it ought to be added to every cricket library. Many columns could be filled with interesting quotations. It is pleasant to come across again the doings of our several teams from England, the earliest of which was George Parr’s in 1859, a complete account of which Fred. Lillywhite published in about the most readable story ever written about such tours. All the great cities of the Western world figure here, Toronto, perhaps, leading the way, ahead even, from a cricket standard, of the capital, Ottawa. When Canadian matches were first reported—in 1834—-the fielder’s and bowler’s names were not both given, any more than they were in England. For six years no foreigners visited Canada on cricket bent. New York turned up in 1840; and then for three years not a cricket match is recorded. Was there no cricket played during these years ! Many of the chapters in this book are written by different hands, yet there is a charming unity about it from the first page to the last. The chapter of chief interest is that devoted to the Inter­ national matches—Canada v. United States, which have been played since 1844; 26 in all, none being played between 1846 and 1853; 1860 and 1865, 1865 and 1879. Of these Canada has won 8, lost 16, whilst two have been drawn. The centojries are given, but it is a pity that the bowling and batting averages have not been drawn up. It is a pleasure to see presentments of cricketers known well to us by repute, notably Parsons, Phillips, and Terry, and Dr. Ogden, though one is at a loss to discover why the same portrait of T. S. Saunders should be inserted twice. On the whole, the compilers are to be congratulated on the style and judgment and patience with which they have done their work, the literature of Canadian cricket being very scarce. I was surprised to read the unqualified condemnation of the League system by the esteemed president of the Lancashire County Club, and am driven to the con­ clusion either that Leagues have done an incalculable damage to the game in Lancashire, or else that our old friend, A. N. Hornby, has had but scant oppor­ tunities of seeing them at work. As one who dislikes utterly certain features of this new competitive form of club cricket, may I be allowed to recordmy impressions of Leagues so far as Yorkshire is con­ cerned. I can speak of the West Riding League, which embraces nearly all the large towns in that division of the County. I have no official connection with this League, but am simply an ordinary member of one of the affiliated Clubs. Of course, it will be imagined that I do not like the keen competitive spirit that characterizes this League, but then I am no more in love with the same spirit in County cricket. Some of us wish devoutly that cricket were more of a sport and less of a business. At the same time the most ardent lover of the past must admit that in the good old times rivalry insport was always the verybreath of life of it, and that modem cricket is largely indebted to the early rivalry between the Counties of Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and Surrey, and the various clubs in these counties which ‘ ‘ Scores and Biographies” have immortalized. That Leagues have done some good must be freely admitted. For instance, “ time” is kept; matches must begin at the hour announced; the umpires have special instructions on this matter. Now, all who have any experience of Saturday afternoon cricket know well enough, that in nine cases out of ten, 2 p.m. means 2.45 p.m. But in all these matches I have witnessed it is quite a novelty if the first ball is not bowled within five minutes of the advertised hour. It is also an undoubted fact that better cricket is shown; there is a smartness in the fielding, which contrasts very favourably with the dolcef a r niente air of the average week-end fielding. As to whether this is not the result of novelty, and will not wear off in time, is not for me to say. Here it is, and, as I cannot tolerate slackness in the field, and would get rid of any batsman who could not hold catches, I rejoice in this improved order of things. It may be retorted that club cricket has in consequence ceased to be an enjoy­ able pastime; and to a certain extent I endorse that remark, provided you will allow that this does not mean the lackadaiscal disposition to which I have just before referred. The fact is this, the general publicwillhavethesport served up in an attractive form to-day; sport must be exciting, and as the voice of the B.P. is paramount in all things, cricket must be in the modem fashion. The gate has to be considered. I don’t know whether the average cricket crowd knows what really good cricket is, but it thinks it does, and this league business is just to its taste, and as all such matches have threepeny and sixpenny gates, clubs are only too willing to provide the most attractive form of cricket. Is betting a prominent feature of these matches? I cannot say that it is. The walls of cricket grounds are decorated with ample posters for­ bidding gambling; and I am bound to say that though I move about with tolerable frequency at all these matches, visiting every part of the enclosure, I have never once heard a bet made; and, remember, my lot is cast in a town down the streets of which it is impossible to pass without hearing men and even women discussing the odds against horses. I go to a football match, and betting is carried on openly. From cricket, to the best of my knowledge, this is excluded. I don’t mean of course, that no money does change hands, but it is on so small a scale as to escape notice, and consequently is not worth mentioning. The paid element in these matches is, in my judgment, the worst feature about the League. Each club can play two professionals, and it can allow for broken time to any other players. And nq money limit is fixed. That, I imagine, will be governed by the demands of the players and the finances of the several clubs. There is the necleus of a very real danger. Clubs, without a conscience, but with a heavy money-bag, may play half-a-dozen such men. And thus the amateur will in time be barred from active cricket. If I had my way, pro­ fessional cricketers, outside county matches, should be engaged for net practice only, but the matches of private clubs should depend exclusively on bona fide members, members who have paid the regulation subscription and are amateurs, pure and simple. To me there is no honour in my club winning a match if the leading performers have only a pecuniary connection with the club. I want to see how the purely local talent will aquit itself when neighbouring clubs meet. It is for this reason that I prefer the clubs in and about London, of which years ago I had a somewhat extensive acquaintance. On the whole I am disposed to say that so far these Leagues have done more good than harm to cricket. Anyhow, an eleven could be picked out of the West Hiding League alone which would make a capital fight with the county team. I speak deliberately when I say that the second best bowler in York­ shire to-day belongs to a League club,