Cricket 1908

J u l y 9, 19 0 8 . CR ICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 259 C A T A L O G U E I PON A P P L IC A T IO N . The cover of this ball is constructed upon an improved system which ensures increased durability. The materials and workmanship are of the highest class, and there cart be no doubt whatever that the first grade is the most desirable Match Ball that can be produced. C A T A L O G U E U P O N A P P L IC A T IO N . The construction of the Demon Drivers is fully described in Ihe Evolution of a Cricket Bat , which may be obtained free up 1 applica­ tion to GEO. G. BUSSEY & Co., L td .. 3 6 & 3 8 , Q u een V ic t o r ia S t., LO N D O N . Manufactory — Timber Mills — BECKHAM , S.E. ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK. Agents all over the world. AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. By F. S. A s h le y -C o o p e r . It is only natural that a great deal of com­ ment should be occasioned by the second resolution carried at last Friday’s meeting of the Advisory Committee at Lord's. So far as one is able to judge from the opinions ex­ pressed in the newspapers, the general verdict is that the Australian1; have been treated in a curt and undeserved manner, and many per­ sons who originally regarded the proposed triangular scheme with a favouring eye now regret that the suggestion was ever mooted. It is impossible to know the exact value to attach to the resolution referred to as details of the voting have not been published, but if, as many surmise, the vote of the delegates of the Minor Counties and of the weakest and most impfcunious of the first-class shires caused the motion to be carried, a wholly false import­ ance has attached to the resolution. All those who have the welfare of the game at heart must regret that the powers that be in this country have decided to coerce Australia to visit us next year under conditions dis­ tasteful to them, for such action can scarcely fail to creat discord instead of promoting friendly feelings between the three countries concerned. We have heard a great deal, a very great deal, to the effect that one of the chief objects in suggesting the triangular scheme was that the relations existing between England, Australia and South Africa might become more cordial, and that the peoples of the three countries might be drawn closer together. This was a very laudable object, but one which has quite failed in its purpose ; in fact, the proposal has caused many hard things to be said and written, and at the moment the relations between England and Australia are strained. It is possible that last Friday’s resolution may do incalculable harm to the game. It may result in a cessa'ion of visits between us and the Australians, or it may cause a cricket schism in Australia. If the Board of Control adheres *o the decision it arrived at in May — that no team should visit us in order to parti, ipate in a triangular contest—and the phyers, as has been suggested, are willing to come over for that purpose, the latter may defy the Board and undertake the tour on their own responsi. ility. Such action would, of course, be deploraole, for it would mean a serious upheaval in Australian cricketing circles which might take years to remedy. It is of interest to note the change of attitude of the Marylebone Club in the matter. Last month they stated that the decision of the Australians not to take part in the proposed tournament should not be a bar to their being the only Colonial side to visit England next year, whilst this week, after discussing the a t tune taken up by the counties, they have cabled to Australia stating that they must choose between participa:ing in the triangular content—their dislike of which they h id already made known—or stay away. The M.C.C. cannot be blamed for the contradictory nature of the two messages: their hand has been forced by ;he counties, who are endeavouring to force the hand of the Board of Control as well. It had for long been understood that the Australians were to visit us in 1909, and those who maintain that the attitude now taken up by the English authorities constitutes a breach of faith have some cause for their opinion. In the event of the Board of Control adher­ ing to their determination not to come over next year in order to take part in the suggested tournament, the old arrangements governing the interchange of visits between England and Australia will be upset, and such an event would be harmful, cricketically and financially, to both countries. It has been said by those who are in favour of the triangular contest taking place next season that the refusal of the Australians was due chit fly, if not solely, to the fact that they wished to be the only tour­ ing team here in order that they might make as much money individually out of the trip as possible. But those who hold this view—not altogether a charitable one—overlook the fact that since the last team visited us, in 1905, the Australian Board of Control has been formed, and that sides coming over to us in future would do so under the auspices of' that body, and that the players would presumably under:ake the journey upon definite terms arranged between them and the Board ; in other words, there would be no speculation so far as the players were concerned, their remuneration being guaranteed by the Board. From the moment the scheme was mooted the Australians have scarcely been treated with the courtesy they deserved. It would have been far better, and would have saved much unpleasantness and harsh criticism, if Australia and South Africa had first been left to discuss the matter be­ tween themselves. Had they been able to come to an agreement they could have laid the whole scheme officially before the Marylebone Club ; had they failed to do so, the matter could have remained in abeyance. Consider­ ing that Australia, owing to her victories over the English team recently, is the chief power in the world of cricket, more deference should have been paid to her opinion, and she should have been treated with the courtesy which such an old and honourable opponent had a right to expect. It should not be long before the fate of the tournament is decided—at least, so far as next season is concerned. It is known that the Australians consider that they should receive a return visit from the South Africans before entertaining the idea of the triangular scheme. If this should eventually prove to be their only reason for not being one of two visiting teams here next year, the whole matter might be amicably settled by the South Africans playing in Australia during our next winter and the Australians agreeing to take part in a tourna­ ment in 1910. As all Test Matches are played out in Australia one side w'ould be bound to suffer defeat in the rubber, and the interval of eighteen months w’ould be sufficient to prevent English people stating that one of the teams coming to us was already a beaten side. There is also the possibility of Australia asking for a guarantee, as the Marylebone Club has done In this event the counties would pre­ sumably share any profit which might result from the tour, and also be responsible for any loss the trip might entail. The latter fact would probably cause certain of the counties to be less enthusiastic for two Colonial teams to visit us simultaneously than they are at present. ______________________ A s wo go to press w e regret to hear of tho sudden death of .Mr. E. L. Edo, the old H am p­ shire cricketer, at Southam pton. A n obituary notice of him w ill appear in tho next issue of Cricket. P laying 1 at W oodham F erris against W ickford, W hitw orth, a m edium left-hand bow ler, took seven w ickets w ithout a run being scored oft him . H e bow led four overs and tw o halls. The highest in dividual scores in O xford v. C am bridge are 172 (not out) by J. F . Marsh (C am bridge) in 1904, and 171 by R . E. Foster (O xford) in 1900. R . A. Y oun g scored 150 for C am bridge in the fixture of 1906. Tho largest innings are 503 b y O xford in 1900 and Cam­ bridge® 392 in the sam e m atch.