Cricket 1904

446 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. O ct . 27 1904. ©omgponBettce. The Editor does not hold himself responsible tor the opinions of his correspondents. A SUGGESTION FROM UTAH. To the Editor o f Cricket. D e a r S i r , —I have just received your valuable paper of 25th August giving the positions of the different counties in their fight for the County Championship up to August 26th, and was immediately struck by the large number of drawn games during the season. Now, as an Englishman and a very enthusiastic cricketer, although by no means of county form, I would like to make a suggestion which it seems to me, if adopted, would enable many more games to be completed. My suggestion, which I do not claimas original, is as follows : At the time of arranging matches for the following season, why not have the com­ mittee so arrange that the counties engaged shall play a whole weeh with the intention of course of playing two matches, but let the first matchbe played to a finish, whether it takes three, four or even five days; then at the end of the first match, after an interval of half-an- hour, let themstart right into the second game. It is not very often that there is a perfect week as regards weather in the old country, and should one game last four days, it is more than likely the next two days would prove sufficient to finish the second game, at all events suppose the second game could not be finished (although it might be decided some way on the first innings) we would still have a smaller number of drawn games. As I write I see Yorkshire have played 26 games, out of which 16 were drawn, a very unsatisfactory result. Now, under my suggestion, the most that could have been drawnwould be 13, andout of those 13 we might figure that one-fourth would be decided, or say three games, which would only leave 10 drawn games instead of 16. Some countries might raisean objection by saying that it would not be fair to the foreign team playing two games on their opponents’ ground. In answer to this I would say that, supposing Yorkshire were to play Surrey at the Oval for one week next year—(I suggest Yorkshire playing at the Oval first because they are so much stronger than Surrey this year, and it would give the latter a better chance of success)— the following year Surrey would go to Yorkshire for a week, and so on. Again, supposingamatchisleft inaninteresting position at the end of the third day, as they very often are, there would be a very much larger attendance to see the finish on the fourth day than if a new gamewere started onthat day. Another valuable point it seems to me is that where now the players are brought from the North to the South or from East to West of England, to play a match without a moment’s rest, and often indeed, the players only arrive on the ground a few minutes before the match begins, dead tired fromtravelling and certainly in no condition to stand a whole day in the field. Under my sug­ gestion all matches would be finished Saturday night, perhaps sooner, which would give the players all day Sunday to travel and permit of a good night’s rest on arriving at their destination. There is one other point I would mention, and that is regarding benefits. So many benefits have proved failures owing to bad weather. Now if my scheme were adopted, the committee could at the eud of the week pick out the best three days or three good days, which wouldmake a successful benefitassured. I do not wish you to get the idea that I think my suggestion is perfect because I do not, but I have tried to give you an idea from which some scheme might be worked up which would do away with a great many drawn games. If you think there is anything worth considering in my sug­ gestions, you are at liberty to make what use you like of this letter—if not, then there is no harmdone. I may mention that my first cricket was played at Margate College with Percy Perrin, who has done so well for Essex this season. I afterwards played for the Spencer C.C. at Wandsworth, finally for Norbury Park. It may interest you to know that the Englishmen here organised acricket club this year with every prospect of success. Matches are a little difficult to arrange owing to the distance of other clubs ; to play a match we must travel from400 to 800 miles, indeed the nearest club to Salt Lake City is Butte, 425 miles. I receive your paper every week and have done so for the past seven years, bo that I keeppretty well in touch with all counties and cricketers. Hoping something will be discovered so as to reduce the number of drawn games, andapologising forsuchalengthy letter, I am, yours truly, J n o . J . M o r r is . Salt Lake City, Utah. September ‘20th, 1904. FROM JAPAN. To the Editor o f C r i c k e t . D e a r S i r , —I shall be obliged if you will auswer me through the medium of your valuable paper the following ques­ tions with regard to the making up of “ averages,” about which there wassome discussion yesterday :— (a) Tae other day a player had scored 115 runs, when he was requested by the opposing captain, who is also captain of the club, to retire “ so as to give the other men a chance to bat.” Of course, this did not happen in a match, bat in Yokohama we usually have only one match a year, agiinst a port 350 miles distant, s > that “ pick-up” games have to be reckoned in the averages, if there are to be any at all. As the player was captain of his own tide, he had no one else to consult with, and after making a fewmore runs he retired. What I wish to know is, in compiling the averages, is the innings reckoned as “ out” or “ not out” ? Personally, I feel practically certain that it isreckoned “ out,” but some of my friends insist that only when a man “ retires hurt” it is counted as “ out,” and I informed them that I would write to you to definitely settle the matter. ( b ) The other question is, when a man puts his name to play bui fails to turn up so that he has “ absent, 0,” against his name, does this count as an innings ? I amafraid it does not, but 1 should be glad if my view is not correct, as this is rather a common practice with some people, and perhaps a “ blob” against their names might correct the bad habit. Thanking you in anticipation I amyours faithfully H. W. K il b y . Yokohama, 2nd September, 1904. [In the ordinary way “ retired hurt ” is counted in the averages as “ not out.” In the case referred to by our correspon­ dent common sense would dictate that the batsman should be allowed to count his innings as “ not out,” since he retired at the request of the captain of his club. With regard to the second case mentioned by our correspondent, a batsman cannot be said to have played an innings if he does not go to the wickets. E d .] TH E TOUR OF TH E H A V E R FO R D COLLEGE TE AM IN EN G LAND . ( F r o m a n A m e r ic a n P o in t o p V i e w .) SpeakingofInternationalcricket, what’s the matter with Haverford College ? During the past summer the cricketers of the plucky little Quaker college for the third time invaded English soil andcame off triumphant, with a better record than any former American team. Out of fifteen games played five were won, two lost, and eight drawn. This record is all the more creditable when it is considered that a majority of the draws were in Haverford’s favour and would probably have resulted in victories had they been played to a conclusion. The Quakers started in by playing Rugby an even draw on the day after landing. That Haverford should hare scored 230 for nine wickets against so strong a school at a first attempt must be admitted to be nothing short of re­ markable. Harold Morris, whohadbeen having all kinds of hard luck on this side of the water, rolled up 85 runs by perfect cricket, and then retired to give the sluggers a chance. That it was not lost is clearly proved by Art Lowry’s 66 not out which followed. The Shrewsbury and Cheltenham matches were also unfinished, but both were slightly in Haverford’s favour. Malvern came next, and the less said about that match the better. The only redeeming feature was Chris Morris’ century, by which he scored more than all the rest of his teamtaken together. For some reason the Haverfordians could not restrain the zeal of their opponents, and the latter ran up 428 for fivewickets, declared their innings, and then retired the Americans for 197. It was the worst licking the teamever received.