Cricket 1900

86 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A p r il 2 6 , 1 9 0 0 . earnest until the beginning of May. When the game was last engaging public attention dissatisfaction was the dominant note. In every stratum of cricket it was realised that much interest was lost by the commonness of drawn matches, and this fact had gained peculiar emphasis from the tame result of the England v. Australia contests. To counteract the joint efiects of line weather, the perfection of the ground man’s art and slow batting, projects of all kinds were offered, and we were threatened with an enlarged wicket, a diminished bat, and fantastic systems of scoring, in which points were added or sub- stracted for maiden overs, or runs and minutes were balanced in debtor and creditor columns. It was even then, however, to be noticed that players on the active list were hardly to be found among the reformers, and now that the time is at hand for once more taking the field cricketers will feel content that no very revolutionary change confronts them. They will not be called upon to learn or unlearn anything in practice, unless per­ chance it be their lot to be chosen for the ludicrous expeiiments that, according to a passage from the draft report of the M.C.O. committee, are to be tried at Lord’s. Here “ it has been decided to inclose the ground with netting during club matches, and to dispense as far as possible with boundary hits.” Not that hits to the netting are to be run out, but they are to be “ dispensed with ” by the curious plan of giving them a com­ plicated series of values, by which, speaking generally, the reward of a stroke is to be in inverse proportion to its velocity ; so that, while one of Mr. F. G. J. Ford’s hardest drives would count for two runs, it may be possible to get five or six by hooking or pushing the ball gently through the fields­ men. This burlesque device, however, will affect but a very few players (for it is im­ possible to believe that it will be put in practice in the matches of the club against counties), and is only worthy of mention for the glimpse which it gives of the manner in whicn even the committee of the M.C.C. has been shaken and perturbed by recent events and discussions. This experiment, whatever may be thought of the suggested change in the l.b.w. rule—a change which seems to offer a practical and reasonable compromise— is not at all linely to come within the sphere of practical politics. A single new rule comes into action with the commencement of the season—or, to speak precisely, a couple of rules bearing on a single point. For the future it will be competent to either of the umpires to no-ball an unfair or doubtful delivery. The three amendments which are to be submitted to the general meeting of the M.C.C. on May 2nd, with the approval of the committee, are important enough, but in intention, whatever may be their effect, they are only concerned with ihe Older of innings and the savn g of time for the object of laciiiiating the winning of matches. It will be proposed that a larger discretion be given to c .ptainsto decL*retheir innings closed, which is to be permissible as soon as the bell rings for luncheon on the second day of a match. To such an extension of the rule little opposition is to be expected. The original limitation of the right to the last day of a match must be ascribed purely to the conservatism of the M.C.C., which the facts instanced above showTto be now considerably relaxed. With the club’s present zeal for experiment (if not for innovation) it is difficult to under­ stand why any restriction on the riu^ht of closing an inningn should be maintained. It is quite unreasonable that any eleven should be compelled to make more runs than it needs, or remain at the wickets for its opponents’ behoof; and since the declaring of an innings closed was introduced in order that batsmen might not be driven to throwaway their lives, it should logically be permitted in all cases where such suicide can offer any temptation. If there are any objections to a plan which would make for simplification, and would be in accordance with the elementary rights of the player, it is high time that they were stated. An amendment of the follow-on rule which is to be put forward affords more room for controversy. “ The side that leads by 150 runs in a three-day match, 100 runs in a two-day match, or 75 runs in a one-day match shall have the option of calling on the other side to follow its innings.” The exact bearing of this clause will appear if it is understood that the side with the lead will have the option of going again to the wickets. It should thus, with the right of declaring its innings closed at any convenient moment, be able to convert its lead into a victory, or, at any rate, to make it extremely hard for its opponents to escape with a draw. For three- day matches between counties desirous of scoring points and dttermining a champion­ ship such a measure is undeniably suitable. But it will not conduce to the amenity of first-class cricket. The side which by the accident of winning the toss has had the first use of a wicket and has gained a Jead of 150 runs will thenceforth have everything in its favour. Under the present rule it sometimes happens that tha follow-on is of considerable advantage to the side that has been headed in the first innings, an arrangement which is, of course, inequitable, but certainly makes the conclusion of many a match extremely interesting. The equity of the new regulation will leave something to be desired, and the excitement of the fourth innings will often be sacrificed, but it should be most efficacious in obviating drawn games. For the part of the rule, however, which deals with one-day matches it is hard, if not impossible, to find any justification. These matches are very rarely affected by the follow-on, and are never thereby rendered inconclusive. If a side, after being 60 runs to the bad, can wrest a victory, such a feat is deserving of encouragement. If the change in the rule is acc» pted this will be rendered virtually impossible. A side that has practically won on the first innings will never, unless it be quixotically chivalrous, allow its antagonists to follow their innings; and inmost instances the concluding hours of a one-day match will be devoted to utterly inane batting practice at the expense of the losers. With regard to the third proposition, that the over consist in future of six balls, ther*a is not much to be said. It is calculated to save time—perhaps an hour or two in a three-day match. But it may be remarked that the ex­ perience of recent seasons has not tended to increase one’s confidence in time-saving de­ vices. Whenever, as in some of the engage- m<nts of the last Australian campaign, an hour has been added to the duration of a day’s play by an early beginning, much of it has been lost by intervals for refreshments and by the dilatory movements of weary players. In fact, it would seem to be very difficult to get more than a constant amount of work out of men who habitually take part in three-day matches. On the other hand, the over cf six balls will be an addition to the handicap im­ posed on the bowler, especially the fast bowler. The argument that it will be a greater strain on his mind and muscles may, perhaps, be uisregarded, since he can easily be rested by being relieved whenever neces­ sary. But that it is decidedly advantageous to a batsman who is well set to receive as many balls as possible from the same end in succession is an incontrovertible fact. On the whole, this particular innovation appears likely to make very little difference, but on acco int of the chance that the estimated economy of minutes will be realised, it may be deemed quite worthy of a trial. LONDON COUNTY BANK. M AY . 8. Beckenham, v. Union Bank* 15. Beckenham, v. London Joint St ck Bank* 22. Green Lane, v. London and South Western Bank* 26. Herne Hili, v. Brockwell Park C.C. *8 Bcckenham, v. National Provincial Bank* JUNE. 5. Norbury, v. London and Westminster Bank* 12. Green Lane. v. London and South Western Bank* 19. Catford, v. Lloyds Ban*t 25. Green Lane, v. National Provincial Bank* JULY. 10. Catford, v. Lloyds Bankt 17. Green Lane, v. London and Westminster Bank* 24. Gjeen l.ane, v. London Joint Stock Bank* 30. Green Lane, v. Union Bank* AUGUST. 6. Dulwich, v. Dulwich O.C. 11. Green Lane, v. Old Olavians C.C. SECOND X I.—M AY. Green Lane, v. National Provincial Bankt Green Lane, v. London and Provincial Bankt E. Dulwich, v. London and South Western Bank-t Green Lane, v. London Joint Stock Bankt JUNE. Green Lane, v. London and Westminster Bankt Beckenham, v. London Joint Stock Bankt Green Lane. v. St. Nicholas C C.+ Latford, v. Brown, Janson and Co.t JULY. Green Lane, v. London and South Western Bankt Norbury, v. London and v\estminster Bankt Catford, v. London and Provincial Bankt Beckenham, v. National Provincial Bankt AUGUST. Green Lane, v. St. Nicolas C.C.t * Three-day matches. t Two-day m itches. CRICKET IN AUSTRAL [A. ARMY v. BAR. Played at Melbourne on March 14. Drawn. T he Lieut. G J. Crispin, c Officer, b Power . 5 Lieut H. V. Duigan, c Calder, b Mackinnon 0 Capt Daish, c Moule, b Agg ....... 74 Capt. Osfcorne, b Cal­ der .......................29 Lieut. Bruce, c Power, b Williams ........... 1 Lieut. Waters, c Agg, b Williams ...........28 2 A rm y . Lieut. Champion, M ou I p , b •alder Capt. Wilkinson, Officer, b Calutr ... 5 Col. ningham, lbw, b W illinms... 4 Ma.ior W ardill,b W il­ liams ..........................29 Lieut. Crouch, not out 4 E xtras................... 8 Total .. 188 T h e B a r . J. B Calder, c Cham­ pion, b Duigtn A. J. -Agg, b Duigan... W. H. a i limns. c Wardill, b Dai^h .. I.. S. W oolf, b Daish W. H. Moule. run out D. Mackinnon, c Daish, b Crespin................... H.8.0fficer, c Waters, b D uigan................... T. F. Power, b Os­ borne ................... L. F. t 'uss^n, not out H. ti. Starke, not out E x tras.................. Total (8 wkts) 97