Cricket 1900

438 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. O c t . 25, 1900. C R ICK E T REM IN ISCENCE S ; O R , C R ICK E T OF 1850 COM PARED A N D CONTRASTED W IT H TH A T A S P L A Y E D IN 1900. B y “ A n O l d H a r r o v ia n .” I wish to point out a few of the im­ mense advantages, all cricketers, namely batsmen, bowlers, wicket-keepers, and long-stops possess in 1900, and for several years past over those who flourished in 1850 and thereabouts. I have tabulated a list of bowlers of the last mentioned date, as well as I can remember, for I aim at demonstrating that bowlers of former days, were quite equal, if not superior “ in quality but not in quantity,” to those now playing, and though I shall no doubt find many to disagree with me, still I will try my best to prove what I assert by positive facts, here produced and com­ mented on. The following splendid array of howlers, many of whom were also first-rate bats­ men, participated in the great matches of the day, in and about 1850, and without wishing in the least to “ belittle ” those of 1900, it will be allowed that the list is wonderfully good, and excels that exist­ ing now. And it must be remembered and pointed out, that these bowlers of half-a-century back, had to deliver the ball with a “ tied-down arm ” if I may so call it. By a “ tied-dovm arm,” I mean that bowlers of 1850 and thereabouts, were compelled by the laws of the game as they then existed, not to raise the arm higher than the shoulder, or they would have been “ no-balled ” immediately. This restriction therefore was an enor­ mous impediment, and made the art of bowling, far more difficult and compli­ cated, as regards straightness and accuracy, and it will also account for the great number of “ wides ” delivered fifty years back and about that_date. In 1864 the law was altered, and bowling any height was permitted, but it is evidently most unfair and inexact, for comparison to be made between the number of “ wide-balls” delivered before that date and since. There never has been and probably never will be, a more perfect bowler, as regards length and straightness, than William Lillywhite, called “ the Non­ pareil.” He was indeed a phenomenon_and stood alone in his art and vocation. He scarcely delivered a single “ wide ba ll” during the whole fii his career, he having reached no less than about thirty- four years of age when he participated in his first match of note, and he was actually fifty-seven years old when he for the last time assisted the Players against the Gentlemen in their one annual contest at Lord’s in 1849, and “ Lilly ” always had to perform under the “ tied down arm ” regulation. All lovers of cricket, and especially of the antiquities of the “ noble game,” and also those who are well informed and versed in the deeds and feats of cricketers of fifty or even one hundred years back will acknowledge his splendid skill and merit. The Cricket Scores and Biographies also, in the fourteen volumes already pub­ lished, will prove the truth of this state­ ment, especially by referring to Yols. II., III. and IV. I wish also to mention here that the sole reason that bowling any height was allowed and begun in 1864, and which has continued ever since, was caused by the fact that it was impossible to find umpires to undertake the difficult and odious (to them) task of ‘ ‘ no-balling ” any bowler, let him be big or little, who delivered over his shoulder. Therefore was this law introduced and passed by the M.C.C. as a necessity, and fo r no other cause or reason. But much of the science of the game was destroyed by this compulsory altera­ tion, and the change was and is certainly to be regretted even now. AMATEUR BOWLEES WHO FLOUR­ ISHED IN AND ABOUT 1850. Alfred Mynn V. E. Walker H. W. Fellows R. D. Walker Sir F. Bathurst R. Lang E. Sayres C. D. Marsham A. Lowth R. Marsham C. Harenc A. Payne C. G. Taylor H. Arkwright G. Yonge E. W. Blore J. F. Fagge J. McCormick F. P. Miller W. F. Traill 0. G. Whittaker W. de St. Croix, H. Frere etc., etc. R. Hankey Many of these were first-rate bats also. PROFESSIONAL BOWLERS WHO FLOURISHED IN AND ABOUT 1850. J. Cobbett J. Grundy William Lillywhite J. Jackson James Lillywhite E. Willsher John Lillywhite W. Caffyn W. Hillyer T. Sherman W. Buttress H. H. Stephenson J. Wisden G. Griffith T. Nixon G. Armitage A. Diver G. Bennett W . Martingell G. Atkinson C. Arnold E. Hinkly J. Dean F. P. Fenner J. Hodson J. Bickley D. Day G. Tarrant John Bayley T. Hayward F. Tinley Isaac Hodgson R. C. Tinley T. Adams, S. Redgate etc., etc. William Clarke Many of these were first-rate bats also. These famous bowlers all having par­ ticipated in the great matches of the oay, and only about a dozen being now alive, had to deliver the ball on a level with, or below the shoulder, but no higher. In fact, their arm was tied down. No wonder then that the number of wides found recorded in the old scores of some fifty years back was excessive, the law in respect to bowling being different altogether to what is now. Cricketers of fifty years back, without doubt, played under many great diffi­ culties as regards batting, bowling, and fielding, and had to undergo obstacles which have not now to be met and endured. In and about the present date, the science of cricket is certainly very great, for all who follow the art, but let anyone only try and deliver the ball with his arm level with the shoulder and no higher, and judge for himself the difficulty, and mark the result as regards straightness and accuracy of pitch. Performers of the present day can fairly rejoice that they did not have to display their undoubted abilities and talent half a century back. For at that period, owing to most unfavourable surroundings in every way, they would have been greatly handicapped. Now the batsmen have “ billiard-table wickets” prepared for them, and the bowlers may raise their arm any height, while the fields­ men have a level and accurate surface to perform on, nor need they fear blows through faulty prepared grounds, which formerly were common everywhere. A summary of advantages possessed and enjoyed by all cricketers in 1900 over those who flourished in and about 1850. “ Billiard-table wickets ” to bat on. Skilled batsmen can now show their abilities on these “ over-prepared ” pitches, if they have only moderate pluck, with­ out being seriously injured, as formerly so often happened. Boundary hits innumerable can now be made, by which a batsman obtains most of his “ notches” without moving, thereby securing the immense advantage of not becoming winded or out of breath, as formerly when all hits had to be run out. He is consequently fresh for his next “ knock,” an enormous advantage indeed. In these days even on the fielding portion of the ground the ball when Lit away meets no rough obstacles and travels swiftly over the smooth machine-cut grass with the above-mentioned result. A white screen is placed at each end behind the bowler’s arm. This was loDg felt to be a necessity, but was not enjoyed in 1850, or even in 1860, but shortly afterwards. Umpires now have to wear white coats over their clothes. Fifty years back and thereabouts all umpires appeared in their own apparel and for years afterwards. JSets are used for practice now, but none had been adopted in 1850 or there­ abouts. No blows can any cricketer receive when using them at the present date, unless indeed the nets are faulty. Leg-before-wicket was strictly enforced in 1850 and about that period. There was plenty of leg hitting then, though there was none of what is called or named “ leg-play,” or stopping the ball with the legs in order to prevent it hitting the wicket. Paid amateurs as now arranged, are advantageous to all. Many amateurs could not possibly appear during a whole cricket season, if this system had not been introduced. Their talents would have been lost to the cricketing world had it been otherwise. But there were none in and about 1850. Highpay and large andhandsomepresents to all proiessionals being at least three or four times as much in 1900 to what was obtained in and about 1850.