Cricket 1903

CRICKET, MAY 14, 1903. Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.” — Byron. Vo. 028 . VOI.. XX II. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1903. p r i c e ad. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. MR. E. B. Y. CHRISTIAN. On condition that it was pointed out clearly that his sole claim to be inter­ viewed for Cricket was that he is the very worst cricketer with whom a chat has ever been published in the paper, Mr. Christian consented to talk about the game. But he is so well known as the author of cricket books that he needs no apology for chat­ ting about a game of which he knows so much. Among his cricket books are “ At the Sign of the Wicket ” (a title which by his permission is now used every week in Cricket), contributions to “ How’s T h a t?” and “ The Light Side of Cricket, ’ ’ which he edited. He has also written many articles, in­ cluding one of the most interesting in the important work on Surrey cricket, edited by Lord Alverstone and Mr. 0 . W. Alcock. He has written also verses re­ ferring to the law, and “ A Short History of Solicitors.” For many years he has seen something of London club cricket and is fully compe­ tent to speak on this very interesting topic. Of kthe future of London club cricket, Mr. Christian said:—“ It is impossible to help notioing th it year by year it is becoming more and more difficult to get grounds within easy reach of the City. Grounds are gradually being built over and clubs have to go farther and farther afield, with the result ordinary local middle-class club either has to get a lot of wealthy vice-presidents, or to raise its subscription in order to secure a ground; in which case some of its best players may be compelled to resign, though, at the worst, cricket is not an expensive game. The London middle- class clubs which are the best off are those connected with banks and insurance MR. K. B. T. CHRISTIAN. {From a Photo by M r. Campbell , Creed Lane, London, E .C .) that there is more time lost in travelling and less time for actual play. It is the cricketers of the middle classes who suffer the most from this. People who don’t Pay for their cricket have the public parks and commons, and are well looked after by the London Playing Fields bociety, while the rich people can afford the few grounds left nearer home. The offices, when the directors can be induced to interest themselves in cricket.” “ How do you think that the declara­ tion of the inniDgs works in club cricket P” “ It seems to me to work only partly for good. Unquestionably it drives out of the game some of the men who are not keen cricketers, and decline upon tennis and cycling. Perhaps it also makes more finished matches, although captains are generally so fearful of running any risk that there are fewer finished games than there might be. On the other hand, it cannot be regarded as an unmixedblessing that so many men should be deprived of an innings in match after match— sometimes for months on end. A player must be very keen on the game if he is content to do nothing but field. In minor club matches the dis­ tinction between batsmen and bowlers is by no means as clearly drawn as in higher class cricket; as a rule the men who are the best bats are the best bowlers. The consequence is that those who go in early go on to bowl first, and the other members of the team are obliged to be content with fielding only—whether their side wins the toss or loses it. This is decidedly a bad feature of the closure rule.” “ Do you think that it is of much consequencewhether club matches are finished or n o t ? ” “ It seems to me easy to exaggerate the importance of finishing, and I am not at all sure that the assumption that a drawn game is an unmitigated evil is a sound one. The people who do not play, but merely watch, cricket are by far the keenest on securing a finish. One is gradually driven to the conviction that there is a vast difference in kind, as well as in quality, between the cricket one plays and the cricket one watches; and it occurs to me that if our legislators insist on making rules to bring about finished matches at any cost, there will have to be two sets of rules—one for first-class or exhibition cricket and the other for ordinary games. Of late all the altera­ tions and reforms which have been made and suggested have been designed for first-class cricket only.” “ Does a promising young player in