Cricket 1908

34 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M arch 26, 1908. organise County cricket, but a little reflection will show the falsity of the idea. Each visiting team would play about twenty-six matches, and the only extra demand upon the first-class counties would be that each should play one match more than hitherto, meeting two Colonial sides instead of one. During each of the last three visits of the Australians five Test matches have been played; next year, in the event of the Tournament being held, England would be called upon to take part in six, which would mean only three more days than hitherto being devoted to such matches. The meet­ ings of Australia and South Africa would, of course, not interfere with the inter-County programme in the least. Therefore, playing the nine Test matches in this country next year as proposed would interfere with the Championship competition only to the extent that the England team would be in the field three more days than was the case when the Australians came over in 1899, 1902, and 1905. The question of playing these matches to a finish was, knowing the strong feeling of the Australians and the South Africans on the matter, thoroughly gone into, but it was felt that, owing to our season lasting only four months, it could not reasonably be expected that England should undertake to have their full strength in the field for six weeks of that period. Everyone will hope, if the Tournament is arranged, that drawn games will not prevent a definite result being recorded, and in order to guard against such an event it has been suggested that, in the case of unfinished games, points should be awarded to the side leading on the first innings—a method which has been in vogue in the Minor Counties’ Competition for some years and which has given satis­ faction. It is proposed to give 2 or 5 points for a win and 1 or 2 for a draw or a win on the first innings : no deduction would be made for a loss. If no definite result were obtained, the Tournament would not have fulfilled its mis->ion and everyone would be disappointed. In the event of the triangular contest taking place next year the nine Test matches will be played as follows:— May 31, at Oval, S. Africa v. Australia. June 10, at Lord’s, S. Africa v. England. June 21, at Manchester, England v. Australia. July 1, at Leeds, S. Africa v. Australia. July 12, at Lord’s. England v. Australia. July 22, at Edgbaston, S. Africa v. England. August 2, at Nottingham, S. Africa v. Australia. August 12, at Bristol or in Kent, S. Africa v. England. August 23, at the Oval, England v. Australia. One point which Englishmen are apt to lose sight of is that if Australia and South Africa send fully repiesentative teams here next year, the cricketers of those countries would expect us to send out a full side in our turn. Concerning this matter “ Not Out,” of the Sydney Referee , remarks:—“ It is as well to remind thinkers in English cricket th-tt the essence of a scheme of this character is reciprocity. The benefits and the obliga­ tions would need to fall with equal weight on all three parties.” Therefore, if the Tourna­ ment is arranged, it would probably mean that we should recei e Colonial visits once in six years, for to arrange such a contest in successive years in England, South Africa, and Australia would make far too great a demand upon the cricketers of all three countiies. If the scheme fails, no doubt an arrangement will be made for Colonial teams to visit us at legular intervals, the South Africanp, who have clearly shown their right to be treated on an equality with the Australians, and the latter coming over alternately. This, however, is a matter which need not be discussed fully until the fate of Mr. Bailey’s proposal is decided. In England a Tournament on the lines suggested would in all probability prove a success financially, but in South Africa and Australia would be attended with great risk. Proof of this is evident from the fact that the visit paid by the Englishmen to Australia four years ago involved the M.C.C. in a four- figure loss, and the task of making the expenses of two teams simultaneously would naturally be far greater. And in South Africa, where the curious spectacle would be seen of England and Australia playing each other on matting wickets, the gates are not nearly so large as in Australia. But whether the scheme comes to anything depends entirely upon the Australians, for the South Africans have shown themselves to be thoroughly in favour of it and English cricketers generally have expressed their approval. It has been suggested that the Australians would not be willing to share the honours of an English season with another Colonial combination on the ground that their receipts would not be so large as formerly. That Australians have generally done very well out of their tours in this country cannot be denied, but it should be remembered that in future the Australian Board of Control will arrange terms with the players as the M.C.C. now does with English cricketers visiting Australia. This will un­ doubtedly mean that, individually, the Aus­ tralians will not benefit financially to so great an extent as in the past, and this fact practically disposes of the contention that it would be their participation in the Tourna­ ment which could be held responsible for a diminished personal gain. It is known that Australia has put in a claim for an extra allowance of gate-money on account of extra expenses incurred through having a longer distance to travel. During the present week the Australian Board of Control will discuss the whole project in Melbourne, and it should not be long before the fate of the scheme is known. In the meantime it is of interest to note that “ Not Out” of the Sydney Referee remarks that, by increasing the large amount of international cricket already played, a noble game would be turned into a huge show, with two-thirds of the interested public debarred by distance from seeing the matches. He adds :— “ It would be unreasonable to arrange as an inter­ national Test Australia v. England on one of the matting wickets of South Africa. Moreover, it would be a very ill compliment to the cricketing public of this country, whose loyal and generous support for over half a century has had a permanently uplifting influence on cricket, to deprive them of the treat—one may even say, right—to witness these greatest of all matches when the scene of play is not in England. England or Australia v. South Africa on the matting is not alluring; but the other is a mere travesty of the classic and historic in cricket. . . . It would be temporarily ruinous to the game locally to have two teams out here at one time. It would make cricket more the business and less the pastime than ever for the players. And that would have a pernicious influence on the lives of some at least, for we have evidence of it every day that the young man who entirely or largely neglects his private business to follow up popular sport is laying up a store of trouble for the years to come, when friends and coin grow scarce. One usually keeps company with the other. How cynically philosophic we become ! Of course, as cricket is at present played and the players recompensed, it helps rather than handicaps a level-headed man. Yet all men are not level-headed.” Mr. Bailey has notified his intention of presenting a cup to the Imperial Board of Control to be held by the successive winners in the proposed triangular contests—a sug­ gestion which is sure to meet with disfavour in many quarters. It will be remembered that in 1873 the M.C.C. proposed that six of the counties should compete for a Champion­ ship Silver Cup, the matches to be played at Lord’s, and the winners of the Cup for three years in succession to become absolute holders of the same. Happily, the proposal came to the ground. Four of the counties who entered withdrew at the last moment, and only Sussex and Kent met at Lord’s to fulfil the original engagement. Four years ago, too, Sir Malcolm McEacharn, of Melbourne, offered to provide a trophy valued at 250 guineas to go to the winners of the rubber in Test matches between England and Australia. Sir Malcolm was thanked for his generous offer, which was, however, declined on the ground that there did not appear to be any need for instituting such a trophy. The latter remark would also apply to Mr. Bailey’s proposal to donate a cup in connection with the suggested Tournament. The honour of gaining first place in the triangular contest would prove sufficient reward for all true cricketers. The following draft scheme for the pro­ posed Tournament in this country next year has been drawn up by the M.C.C. Copies have been sent to Australia, South Africa, and the first-class counties for expressions of opinion. A set of suggested rules, governing the qualification of players in Imperial cricket, has also been drawn up and sub­ mitted for approval. DRAFT SCHEME FOR IMPERIAL CRICKET CONTEST, 1909. 1. England, Australia and South Africa shall play each six Test matches in England in 19ft9, each playing the other three matches. It is suggested that a method should be arranged by which the result of the contest could be ascertained. It is understood that Australia would like a permanent programme of International cricket to precede an agreement to play the Imperial Cricket Contest in 1909. It is suggested that this will be a difficult thing to do, but the meeting of cricketers of all three countries in 1909 will afford an opportunity of dis­ cussing the proposal, and an Imperial Cricket Board might then be formed to consider the matter with this view. 2. Each country shall take one-third of the gross gate taken at the Test matches. 3. Each visiting team shall, in addition to the Test matches, play, if possible, at least one match with each first-class county and with the M.C.C. 4. The Board of Control shall fix the dates of the Test matches before July 31st, 1908, to enable the county secretaries to make their programmes w ith­ out undue inconvenience. 5. (a) For the purpose of providing for com pli­ mentary and other stand tickets, each contesting party shall receive 100 free stand tickets, and shall have the option of purchasing 200 additional stand tickets for each Test match at the current rates, and that no other provision shall be made in this respect. Such option to be exercised at least fourteen days before the match for which the tickets are required. (6) For the convenience of accurately ascertaining the amount of gate-money to be divided, the sale of stand tickets shall in no case include the entrance fee to the ground. 6. That the principle of every match being con­ cluded, drawn, or abandoned at the completion of three days be adhered to. 7. (a) The price of admission to all Test matches shall be one shilling. (6) The price of admission to all matches, other than Test matches, shall be arrived at by arrangement between Australia, South Africa, and the local authorities on whose grounds such matches are played. 8. Such matters as (1)-hours of play ; (2) selection of umpires: (3) control of the crowd during matches, to be subsequently arranged by agree­ ment between the parties interested. SUGGESTED RULES FOR IMPERIAL CRICKET. 1. A cricketer who has played in a representative match for a country can never play for any other country. 2. Qualification by Birth.—A cricketer, unless debarred by Rule 1, is always eligible to play for the country of his birth. 3. Qualification by Residence.—A cricketer, unless debarred by Rule 1, may elect to play for any country in which he is residing, and has re­ sided, for not less than four consecutive years. After replies have been received from Aus­ tralia, South Africa, and the first-class counties the scheme will be referred to the cricket sub-Committee of the M.C.C., who shall have power to co-opt representatives of