Cricket 1901

CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A p r i l 11, 1901. entirely forgotten, that one of the chief difficulties the umpires had formerly [but not n ow ,] to deal with, was the fact that they were obliged to watch the bowling crease in order to mark that it was not stepped over, and also at the same time observe the shoulder of each bowler, so that the level was not exceeded during the act of delivery. N ot till 1864 was the law passed, allowing the arm to be raised or elevated any height, and tho’ that alteration re­ moved a great impediment and difficulty, as experienced both b y the bowler him - sslf and also by the umpire, still it was allowed at that epoch, that much of the real science of our “ noble gam e” was destroyed b y the then painful innovation, while it has never since been considered to have been an improvement, but only adopted as a necessity. A ll umpires, therefore, before 1864 had carefully to look at two different objects and places at the same moment, and what is more remarkable they performed the fe a t! William Caldercourt, “ the dark ” (born 1802), was considered to be the best umpire of his day, and Robert Thoms (bom 1826), who I read has just retired, was superior to all when he flourished. These two celebrities were great in their vocation and deserving of all the praise and credit which they obtained for years, through the accuracy of their decisions and the firmness of their characters when settling difficult points. A few more of similar capacities would be appreciated highly just now, especially as several of the laws of cricket are openly and systematically broken every­ where. Owing, however, to various cogent circumstances really good umpires are scarce, to the great detriment of our national game, and to the disgust of all concerned, whether managers, or par­ ticipators, or spectators only. The umpires, it must be remembered and noticed, have very little interest or pleasure in any match personally, and excitement through participation in the game itself is entirely taken away from them. They have not, of course, to bat, bow l, or field, and as regards their decisions in answer to the too frequently demanded “ H ow ’s th a t ? ” they are never likely to please both sides, for no batsman as yet, or very few, indeed, it may safely be said, has ever been satisfied that he was justly or correctly given out on appeal when a doubtful point arose, as regards a catch, or a leg-before-w icket, or a run out. Infallibility is impossible, but adverse conclusions and criticisms are generally universal and easily made, at cricket especially. Moreover, an umpire may not bet on any m itch in which he is A r t is t s in W a te r C o lo r a n d O il. A r t is t s in C ra y o n a n d M in ia tu r e P a in te r s . PHOTOGRAPHERS ROYAL. E. H AW K IN S & COMPANY, 32 & 33, Preston St., Brighton (Under entirely New Management), Still hold their reputation as Cricket Specialists, and with their increased staff of first-^lass assistants, clients may rely on every attention, while their esteemed orders will he executed in the shortest possible time. employed, and that is an excellent law certainly. Also he ought never to give advice or make a suggestion of any kind. As regards an occasional rest from their labours, the umpires have to be satisfied with very little. They w ill be unceasingly on their feet during the whole of the match and from the first ball till the very last, they are in evidence. They must throughout suffer from the heat of a broiling sun, or “ stand ” midst damp and mud and rain, as the case may be, combined with occasionally, a cutting north-east wind. They cannot at any time flinch from their task, no absence being allowed them at all, so that first on one leg, and then on ths other, they must fully and continually be occupied during the entire contest. Only the short space of time between each innings, and the dinner hour is available to them for a “ sit down,” and therefore at the con­ clusion of a full three-day battle, they must be leg-weary indeed. The poor umpires also now actually groan under a quantity of contentions, intricate and perplexing arrangements combined with the fussy, new, and ostentatious minor rules thrust on their shoulders continually, thereby causing it to be a very heavy task for them, indeed, to arbitrate correctly in comparison to what it was formerly. To remember and act upon, or up to, all the novelties, alterations, and additions which year after year are placed with and among our once simple rules and regulations (first compiled and published more than 125 years back) is, in fact, almost an impossibility. Any amateur umpire can experience the truth of my assertion and contention if he will only undertake for a few hours the post of being the sole judge of the numerous questions he will be expected to answer accurately, and also at the same time to decide on all points to the com­ plete satisfaction of both the contending elevens. Let not however the “ odious innova­ tion ” of publishing the names of certain suspected and censurable bowlers, who are supposed to have a foul delivery, be repeated, but instead let the umpires be armed with more stringent powers, than has been the case for several years past. This done, the umpires will not dread any longer to “ c a ll” or to “ n o -b a ll” all offenders, while everything at cricket as regards broken laws would right itself without difficulty. Several rules, the neglect of which has produced so much heart-burning among cricketers for a lon g time past, should be revised, and some replaced to the satis­ faction of all concerned everywhere. No real cricketer will, I feel sure, be offended at my friendly remarks and criticisms, which I have expressed solely in the hope that various faults and omissions may be noticed by all, and perhaps in the near future be rectified as far as is possible everywhere. DURHAM. M AY. 27. Newcastle-on-Tyne, v. Northumberland JUNE. 27. Darlington, v. South Africans (three days) JULY. 12. W est Hartlepool, v. Yorkshire 2nd X I. 26. Darlington, v. Northamptonshire 29. South bhields, V. Staffordshire AUGUST. 5. Sunderland, v. Northumberland 12. Dewsbury, v. Yorkshire 2nd X I. 14. Stoke, v. Staffordshire 16. Northampton, v. Northamptonshire NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. MAY. 17. Noithamptoa, v. Hertfordshire 29. Northampton, v. Staffordshire JUNE. 10. Watford, y. Hertfordshire 28 Northampton, v. Northumberland. JU LY. 8. Walsall, v. Staffordshire IB. Oval, v. Surrey 2nd X I. 18. Northampton, v. South Africans (three days) 22. Northampton, y. Yorkshire 2nd X I. 26. Darlington, v. Durham 29. Newcastle, y. Northumberland 31. Sheffield, y. Yorkshire 2nd X I. AUGUST. 7. Northampton, v. Surrey 2nd X I. 16. Northampton, y. Durham L. J. NICOLLS, -» ' Patentee and Manufacturer of The Patent Automatic Cricket Bat AND SPORTS OUTFITTER . A Copy of Dr. W. G. GRACE’S Letter. 15, Victoria Square, Clifton, Bristol. Dear Sir,-1 used one of your Bats at Hastings in 1894, and I scored 131. I may mention it was perfectly new; X kept it until this year, and have scored over 2,000 runs with it. I used it when I made my 100th century, and I scored 1,000 runs in May with it, so I think I may call it my “ Record Bat.” This year at Hastings I scored 101 with another of your hats, and I hope it will turn out as well as the old one. Yours truly, To Mr. L. J. Nicholls W. G. GRACE. Orders from K. S. RANJITSINHJI for the Patent Bat. The patentee does not bind himself to any number of curves in handle. Factory : - JtOBERTSBRIDGE , SUSSEX ,