Cricket 1904

Nov. 24, 1904. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 453 N E X T Y E A R ’S TESTS. THE NEED OP COMBINATION. Now that it is practically assured that the Australians will be over here next summer, determined, if possible, to pos­ sess themselves again of “ the ashes,” shouldwe not take time by the forelock and make better arrangements than in the past for holding our own against our friendly invaders, and sendingthemaway empty ? A fewmonthsago, in the course of a series of articles in Vanity F air, the suggestion was thrown out that some­ thing in the shape of practice games should be played by the team chosen to play for England before entering upon the Tests. And if anything is to comeof this, it must be seen to at once when the fixture list is finally arranged at Lord’s. And wherein are the difficulties P For consider what advantages would be gained if the England team played even two or three games together as a side before the first Tests ? Advantages un­ doubtedly far greater than those of merely waiting to see if a man is “ in form” before selecting him, if we, that is, of course, the Board of Control, adopted the same plan for choosing the home side as that of the invaders. Let the Board arrange as many trial games as possible for the England team, and then as early as possible after the commencement of the cricket season select fifteen players at most from whom to choose the eleven in the Tests. Let the Board, in fact, proceed in pre­ cisely the same manner as if it were selecting a team from the very best available talent to visit Australia. We all know thevalueof combination; theo­ retically at least it may be assumed that those responsiblefor selecting teamshave this knowledge. Why on earth should no attempt ever be made to put it into practice? We can only anticipate what shall happen by what has happened. Last time the Australians were in Eng­ land, so far as anythingcan be said to be certain at cricket, there can be no doubt wethrewawaythe rubber by theeleventh hour selection of the England teamin the Manchester Test. A few weeks before that, in the Test at Sheffield, the eleventh-hour selectionwas not even on the ground when the match started. I admit that his choice was admirably justified; but what of that? The fact remains that he, Barnes—like Tate at Manchester—was playing in a supremely important match with a side that for all intents and purposes, so far as combination was concerned, he was a total stranger to. Mr. Fry the other day had a most interesting article in the Express dealing with eleventh-hour choices, and particularly with the success which had attended their efforts in the ’Varsity match. But no one recognises better than he does the enormous advantage to each indi­ vidual member of the side, alike to the side as a whole, of men knowing each others play—a knowledge only to be acquired by playing together as a side. But, after all, why labour such a generally accepted truism? The real point is, let it be put into practice for the Tests. And why not ? What is to prevent a fewmatches being arranged ? Custom, I suppose—the good old Indian excuse, Manana!—is the chief ! Any­ how, if the authorities want to arrange it, a way can easily be found ! And, again, ask the team. Why on earth should not the England fifteenbepicked; and by this, I understand, informed that they have been so picked, and their names published, quite early in the season? Surely, however brilliant a new star may arise in the new season, we do not want him for a Test match ! The visitors may not know him, but any advantage gained in their ignorance is practically certain to be counteracted by his own ignorance and lack of experience, and the loss to the side by his being unacquainted with the methods of the other ten, nor the other ten knowing his. But I will have mercy on your space—for after all it is a matter that hardly needs argument! Only let something be done to improve on former haphazard arrangements ! K in g W il l o w . TH E D ORK ING <fc G R A V E SEN D C R I C K E T M A T C H , O n C o tm a n d e n e , 1847. Godprosper longournobleQueen Our lives andsafeties all A grandcricketmatchoncetheredid OnCotmandenebefall. ElevenmightyGravesendmen As fineasmight be seen Cainefor toplay theDorking chaps All onthe Cotmandene. And inthe Shops great hills that were (By Chisholmdone) I ween All toannouncethis cricketmatch To be onCotmandene. And flags of redandbluetherewere Uponthe turf sogreen To markaright theplayinghounds Uponthe Cotmandene. And tents andpipes andporter too Onevery sidewere seen In honour of the cricketmatch To heonCotmandene. And lots of menandgirls andboys Werecongregatedthere Onthe first dayall for to see This cricketmatchsofair. The Gravesendmenweremighty chaps Of portlymienwere they Who thus cameall thewayfromKent With Dorkingfor toplay. But Dorking’smenwereyoung and light Unmarriedmenwere they Who cameupontheDorkingground The Gravesendmentoplay. Two Boxalls (brothers) Copus, West, (All goodlymenandtrue) With Dudley, Razzel, Bothwell, Philps, Jupp, Taylor, Jeffreys too. The GravesendmenI can’t relate For t’wouldmuchtroublehe But if youlookuponthebill Theirnames youtherewill see. The Gravesendmenfirst tookthe bat Andmighty well playedthey Onehundred andforty two theygot Or e’ertheymovedaway. Young Philps of Dorkingthenwent in But got alas ! norun And inthis innings all the score Was only seventy one. But evenings shadowsnowcameon The peoplemovedaway. All grieving sore at thebadluck Which theyhadhad that day. The Dorking cricketers went home And to themselves didsay We’ll doourbest, we’ll play like bricks Uponthemorrow’sday. And straight themorrow’sdaydidcome Andall thetownwerethere To seethe terminationof This cricketmatchsofair. The Gravesendmenwent inagain Andplayedright famously Aud soontherival combatants Unto their grubdidhie. Again themenresumedtheirplays Andquickly swelledthe score JohnBoxall heldthebat, nor could Gravesendhiswicket score. Otherscame inandout, andthen His brotherdidhimmeet And (thenbelieveme reader) 'Ihe playingwasatreat. Anxiety reignedineachheart Andbets about didfly Yet these twobrothersstill kept in And scoredright merrily. At eachgoodhit amightyshout Resoundedo’er theplain Fives, fours, andtwos, flewfromtheirbats They playedwithmight andmain. JohnBoxall tookamightyrun Young Cliffordseizedthehall And runhimout, theDorking crowd Thus sawtheir championfall. Fast grewthe score, the Gravesend men Consultedsilently Anothermanthentookthe ball As thoughtowin ordie. Straight went theball, amomentmore And Bothwell’swickets fly But still Charles Boxall kept thehat Andplayedright splendidly. Eight wickets down; againdoes Philps Go out without arun Excitement wasin everyface Theycry “ runharder run.” Taylor andBoxall nowarein The last two wickets they Some four towin, onthese tworests The fortune of the day. The bowlerbowls, young Taylor’s stump Bight nearly take the ball He hits a catch, aGravesendman Seizes, but lets it fall. Another run, the cries resound The longstoplets abye Full fast theyrun, andnowthe shout Beachesround, theytie. The Gravesendmenindreadsuspense Look roundwitheager eye Anotherhit, andis caught at point The gameremains atie. The crowdwent homebut suchamatch Will ne’eragainI ween Foi manymanyfutureyears OnCotmandeneheseen. July 30th, 1847. W. W. H.