Cricket 1897

“ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. No. 4 44. VOL. XT I. THURSDAY, APEIL 15, 1897. PRICE 2d. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. ROBERT ABEL. In the distant days when Abel retires from the game some chronicler will be found to make a list of the endearing epithets which have been applied to the famous little Surrey cricketer, and the list will be of astonishing length. It is no wonder that Abel is a favorite, for since 1881 he has been a constant member of the county team, and has hardly ever had an unsuccess­ ful season. He has, it may be taken for granted, played more innings for the county than any other man who has represented it. Last year, to the surprise of himself, he had his most successful season so far, and made three hundreds in the first three matches, his highest score being 231 against Essex. Quite recently he has gone into partnership with Mr. J. Lane, at 310, Kennington Eoad, three minutes’ walk from the “ Horns ” Assembly Rooms. The speciality of the firm, who are athletic out­ fitters, is the manufacture of the patent “ Flexible ” cricket ball, which is beginning to attract much attention, and also the patent “ College ” ball. Asked to describe the points about this ball which made it different from other cricket balls, Abel said: “ There is a thin layer of rubber between the inner and and outer quarters of the cover, the quilt, and this seems to take away a lot of the sting and hardness of the ball. I had often thought that there might be some way of making a ball less liable to hurt the hands, with­ out taking away from its advantages. As far as I can see myself it certainly seems to answer the purpose, is more durable, and goes off the bat very neatly, and has stood the severest test. While sPea't^nS ° f cricket balls I should like to say that speaking from my own experience as a boy, and from my expe­ rience of my son Bob’s attempts at cricket, it is a great mistake for small boys to use a full sized cricket ball. You will notice, especially among the board school children, that a number 5 bat is generally used, and how on earth a boy can possibly be expected to hit a full sized ball with this I cannot imagine. Apart from, this mis- KOBEP.T ABEL. take youngsters generally stick up their wickets about 24 yards apart. Fancy bowling with a full sized ball at this distance! And yet it is constantly done —almost invariably. This ought to be discouraged by everyone who has autho­ rity over schoolboys.” “ Does your son take kindly to cricket ? ” “ Yes. But I don’t know whether he thinks it too hard work. To become a cricketer, more especially nowadays, you have to do something to keep your place. I have been one of the comparatively few fortunate ones able to keep their place for years, but to do this I have had to give up everything else. I sacrifice everything for cricket, never stop out late, and always take the greatest care of myself. But I am sound in health, and for sixteen years I have never had anything the matter with me during the summer. In the winter I have had illnesses occasion­ ally, for one is apt to take cold. In the summer, what with running and walking, and tussling about, one’s muscles get hard, and one feels fit for anything. I don’t think there is any game so effective in this way as cricket. My illness connected with my eyes two years ago was not caused by anything in con­ nection with cricket, but followed after diphtheria. For five days I was blind. Then Mr. Boyington, the county scorer, saw me, and at once went to the county authorities, who wired to Dr. Critchett, the famous oculist, asking if he would see me on the next day—a Sunday. This was an unusual thing for him to do, but he kindly con­ sented, and if there is one person more than another to whom I am deeply grateful it is Dr. Critchett. I went to him on the Sunday, and he made me sit for an hour with something in my eye, to see whether it acted on the pupil. At the end of this time he said ‘ It is all right, and I can make you see again, but if you had come to me only a day later you would have been permanently blind in the left eye.’ In about a week I could open my eyes and could see, and in about three weeks my sight was strong again. To Dr. Critchett and the county committee, who acted so promptly and so kindly, I owe a very great deal.”