Cricket 1896

“ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. no. 4 ie . v o l. x v . THURSDAY, APEIL 30, 1896. f b i c e 2 d. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD- M r . SYDNEY H. PARDON. To all first class cricketers, Mr. Pardon is as well known as his brother Charles was before him. In connection with the Cricket Reporting Agency, he has been present at almost every great match for many years, and isparticu­ larly pleased to remember that he saw W. G. Grace make his 344 at Canter­ bury. With the exception of Hastings, Leeds, and the new county ground at Bristol, he has been on every important ground in England. He has seen every famous player of the last twenty years, and has been thoroughly intimate with all the Aus­ tralian teams, with the exception of that of 1880. Since 1890, Mr. Pardon has been the editor of Wisden. It will be re­ membered that in the annual for 1895 many of theleading cricketers gave their opinions on the sub­ ject of throwing, and anyone acquainted with its editor, knows that he himself feels very strongly that throwing is far too common in first-class cricket, and ought to be stamped out. “ There is nothing in connection with cricket about which I feel so strongly,” he said, “ as the want of backbone shown by our great amateurs in dealing with throwing. Lord Harris was the one man who had the courage to grapplewith an evil which nearly every disinterested person has admitted. I altogether repu­ diate the idea that unbiassed experts find any difficulty in telling a throw from a fairly bowled ball. All the hesi­ tation about dealing with throwing, whether by amateurs or professionals, has arisen from feelings of private friendship, want of courage, or regard for the well-being of a side. In Wisden of 1895, I was able to get expressions of opinion from many experts. Among them Lord Hawke, Lionel Palairet, and Ernest MR. SYDNEY H. PARDON. From a Photograph by Sarony, Scarborough. Smith, were strong in their condemna­ tion of throwing, while E. M. Grace very clearly expressed his opinion that there had been some throwing in 1894. If a dozen leading amateurs had put aside all other considerations but the welfare of the game, they could have stopped the whole thing. In connection with throw­ ing, I remember that years ago I wrote some very strong things about Walter Forbes after a match at Scarborough. One night afterwards, A. G. Steel said that Mr. Forbes wanted to speak to me. The old Etonian was verypleasan t, but said that my remarks were severe. I asked him what he thought about it himself, and he laughed and replied that he did not think he always threw.” “ In what do you think the game has altered most since you first saw it played ? ” “ The one remarkable and unlooked for develop­ ment in cricket has been the bowler who can almost combine the pace of Freeman with that of Southerton. The bowler of all paces is entirely of the present generation, and Spofforth, Palmer, Lohmann, and many o th ers are distinct developments of the age. Before Spofforth came prominently into notice, a writer in Bell's Life ventured on a prophecy, which was destined to be fulfilled in a truly remark­ able manner three or four years afterwards. It was to the effect, that the next thing which would be seen in cricket was a bowler who would com­ b in e th e distinctive qualities of Martin Mac­ Intyre (who, you will remember, was very fast) and Southerton, the slow bowler. There would have been nothing out of the common in this if the fulfilment of the prophecy had been brought about in twenty years, but to find it fulfilled so soon was extrordinary. I am inclined to