Cricket 1909

CRICKET : a w e e k l y r e c o r d o f t h e gam e. MAY 13, 1909. “ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. N o . 8 0 7 . v o l . x x v i i i . THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1909. o n e p e n n y . CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. M b . J. C. DAVIS. As “ Not Out” of the Sydney Referee Mr. Davis must be known to many thousands of cricketers both in England and Australia, for his articles on the game enjoy a very large circulation and are fre­ quently quoted by papers in many parts of the world. To describe him as the Cricket Encyclopoedia of Australia might do justice to his great knowledge of the game’s his­ tory, but it would give one no proper impression of his pleasing style as a writer. Mr. Davis possesses a cricket library which is probably un­ equalled in Australia; he has the great majority of the chief volumes published in England and practically everything on the game issued in his own country. Furthermore, he has himself brought out an Annual which was in every way a model of what such a book should be; it ran through three issues—1896 to 1898—and was then discontinued, not owing to lack of support, but because the demand which its compila­ tionmade upon his time proved too heavy for one whose life was a busy one. During the past season Mr. Davis gave his whole-hearted support to the Board of Control, and, after more than one crisis had been experienced, had the satisfac­ tion of knowing that the cause he had championed, often against very bitter oppo­ sition, had triumphed. His interest in, and deep study of iuternational cricket is al­ most proverbial, and therefore his views concerning the sug­ gested three-cornered contest between England, Australia, and South Africa should prove particularly valuable. Asked whether he considered Australia still averse to the Triangular scheme, he replied:— “ That, I should say, depends largely on the nature of any Scheme to be put forward in the future. Now tbat the South African Cricket Association has agreed to send a team to Australia the idea may be viewed in a more favourable light. You see, the general opinion out here is that South Africa was, as far as possible, evading an apparance on Australian grounds. There was good reason to think so. Since the Board of Control’s disapproval of the Scheme last year was received in England, Mr. Abe Bailey has accused Australia of having ‘ not shown the true sporting spirit in the negotiations.’ With whom ? Australia officially must have its dealings with the South African Asso­ ciation or the body representing South African cricket—or not at all. WTas it sportsmanlike of South Africa (or Mr. Bailey) to evolve a Triangular Scheme, cut and dry its details with (unofficial) England, and yet not consult the views of, or even communicate with,Australia ? It was hardly ‘ playing the game,’ and, considering the relative positions of the two Colonies in the world of cricket, it was perhaps a little absurd.” “ Mr. Bailey went on to say that ‘ If they refuse to join in such a Scheme, they would show clearly tbat they wished to avoid us ; nothing wre could do would satisfy them............ If you ask the real cause I think it is that the Australians are afraid of us, and afraid we may displace them in public favour in the Old Country.’ This was un-British and seemed to evidence scanty knowledge of the game’s inter­ national bistory. ‘ Nothing we could possibly do would satisfy them,’ concluded Mr. Bailey. But he modestly under-rates the powers of his countrymen. Let the South Africans visit this country and they will sat­ isfy Australians. They will be cordially welcomed on and off the field when they come in 1910. And if they win, they will find, asEngland has found, that present-day Australians take a drubbing with as good grace as most people. Aus­ tralia has faced many cricket problems and has solved some of them, but she has learnt the value of measuring her steps. Though South Africa is young, she is getting along very well in the sports of the British nation. But as she progresses she will find some perplexing problems arise. There may be an agreeable solution to the Triangular Tests problem. But in Australia most of us believe it would be more fitting for our cousins in Africa to tackle the making of turf wickets in the principal centres of their cricket, in order that the Motherland and other branches of the Imperial tree might be able to meet South Africa at home under true cricket­ ing conditions. In Australia we have cut the matting wicket clean out of the English programme, but as far as first-class MR. j . c. DAVIS.