Cricket 1910

J an . 27, 1 9 1 0 CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 5 Proper, to consist in 191[0] of [the nine fore­ most counties in the authorized competition of 1909]. The other Division, engaging in the Quali­ fying Competition, to consist in 191[0] of [the remaining seven counties in the authorized competition of 1909, together with Stafford­ shire and Wiltshire or, failing the acceptance of either, of Glamorganshire or Herts.] Thereafter, at the close of every season, the bottom County of the Competition Proper to change places with the top County of the Qualifying Competition, and the bottom County of the Qualifying Competition with the Champion Minor County. Positions in each Competition t) be deter­ mined by points, 1 being counted for a win, 1 deducted for a loss, and 0 for a tie or un­ finished game. All the matches in both competitions, as well as those between Clubs in the two different divisions, to be regarded as First Class. Only matches between Counties in the same Division to count in either Competition, except that, when Counties obtain equal points, all their First-Class County matches a*e to be taken into account in deciding the superior position on the basis of the highest proportion of wins to losses. THE PROPOSED INDIAN V IS IT . M r . G. N. FOSTER’S VIEWS. The question has been asked whether the Indian team has any chance of success against the counties. Mr. G. N. Foster, a member of the famous brotherhood of cricketers, who gained much distinction as a member of the Oxford University XI., and also for Worcester, and who is presently at Poona, makes an interesting reply to this. He says, from his experience of English and Indian cricket, “ The English county elevens would most certainly be superior to the best Indian eleven, but in all other matches that they take part in they will have a very good cliauce of winning.” He adds : “ The point I would impress is the educational value of the tour. If the team go in the spirit of humility and learning they may return in one of success and kuowledge. But a spirit of kuowledge at the start will probably bring a heavy fall. If the batsmen do not feel too confident of runs, they will make quite enough ; and if the bowlers do not expect a bag full of wickets every time and do not mind being hit, they will achieve success ; and it is this latter result, which I, with all those interested in Indian cricket, hope they may secure.” There is a ring of sincerity in the above, and, although some may not be inclined to agree with the writer, who is thoroughly qualified to express an opiuion, we hope that the advice will be taken in the spirit in which it has been offered. The peerless “ Ranji,” who, it is sincerely hoped, will captain the Indian team, has been play­ ing some remarkable innings lately. “ The mere effect he would briug to the service of his side,” remarks Mr. Foster, “ would be enormous, the practical effect incalculable.” “ It is a pity,” ad Is the writer, “ that the critics, who assert that he has lost his skill, have not seen him playing this season and watched his innings of ‘229 not out against the Rajkot C.C. Could he but go out with the Indian team as captain, the prospect of success would be considerably enhanced for all their matches .”—The Ceylon Sportsman. THE COUNTY CHAMP IONSH IP . Lord Hawke has addressed the following communication to the secretaries of the first- class counties:— D ea r S ir , —May I ask you to submit the following proposition to your Commit'ee and most kiudly furnish me with their views at your earliest convenience, both because I am leaving for South America in the first week of February, and a 1 so prior to the meeting of the Advisory Board ? To facilitate, I am enclosiug a score of copies of this letter which I hope you will at once send to each individual member to enable him to consider it before the meeting of the Committee. It is a matter of general knowledge that some steps must promptly be taken to assist those of the first-class counties which are otherwise in danger of collapsing from finan­ cial causes. It is also generally admitted that something is needed to stimulate public interest in first-class cricket. Further, the existing system of Championship matches has always been the subject of many legiti­ mate objec:ions. Obviously any system has some flaws, but I put forward this one in the hope that it may be given a trial. The suggestion is to divide the first-class counties into two divisions, all the matches of either division to rank as firU-class. As­ suming that the scheme was tried in 1911, the first ten counties in the Championship table after the coming season would be eligible for the A division. Each would meet all the rest in out-and-home matches, every county tbus having eighteen Championship fixtures. If more then ten counties are in A in would stultify the interest in the matches of the B division by rendering these latter too few. For the B division the last six counties in the coming season would be eligible with the two head counties of the minor counties in 1910, thus increasing the number of first- class counties by two. The eight counties thus pitted would all meet in out-and-home matches, giving each of them fourteen matches in all. Thus there would be two fir-t class Cham­ pionships, and it is confidently anticipated that the receipts of the B division would be much greater than the.*e counties now average, because every match would have active bearing on a Championship well with­ in the grasp of any of the counties partici­ pating. 'Ihe above would give pl« n’y of scope for further matches between any counties of the A and others in the B division if desired, but such matches would have 110 bearing on the Championship. At the same time they would possess more interest than matches between the same counties to-day, because a county in B would be particularly anxious to demonstrate its skill against one in A, whilst the latter would do its utmost to avoid defeat at the hands of one in B. Another point in favour of the scheme is that it would allow free dates for the two representative Gentlemen and Players, as well as for two North and South matches, the proceeds of which, it is hoped, would be pooled and divided as in Test matches. It is not proposed to have contests between the two promoted counties and the leading shires in the minor counties competition for first- class rank in subsequent years. The ques­ tion of promotion into B of any minor county would be a matter for the adjudica­ tion of the Advisory Board. It is my opinion that not only woul l keener cricket be produced by this double Championship, but also that more amateurs would take an active part in first class cricket. Any counties desiring to commence Championship or other fixtures on a Satur­ day would have no difficulty iu obtaining dates. Some system would further have to be devised by which the question of the possible transference of the Champion County of B into the A division in the following year, and the corresponding transference of tbe bottom county of A into the B division should be settled. I would myself suggest that it should be open to the Champion County of B to claim the right to contest out-and- home matches at the end of the season with the bottom county of A, to decide which shall play in the respective divisions in the follow­ ing summer. In conclusion, let me add that the d o u ll) AandB Championships thus proposed would facilitate the arrangment of tix'ures in the triangular Test season of 1912. In presenting the foregoing, may I add that I am doing so in my private capaci y and not as President of Yorkshire ? H awke . Wighill Park, Tadcaster, January, 1910. AYR E S ’ CRICKET COMPANION.* This useful and interesting handbook, which is now in its ninth year, has long enjoyed the favour of the public, and it can at once be said that the latest issue is every whit as good as any of its predecessors. In continuation of tue policy of publishing annually a descriptive and illustrated article on one of the Public Schools, Westminster has been dealt with, very fully and in a mo^t interesting manner, in the volume for 1910. When one has read the chapter, which runs through over thirty pages, one’s first thought is that the history was well worth giving. It was at Westminster that Cowper, the poet, received his education, and he is perhaps the first of its students who is known to have played in the game whilst there. He him­ self has left it on record that he was a good cricketer and might have been in the Eleven had he wished. For many years the boys played in Tothill Fields, and it is stated by Mr. W. R. Weir that it is believed they enjoyed the game there as far back as 172U. The earliest - known reference to cricket taking place there, liow'ever, does not date back more than 170 years. Among the interesting facts chronicled are that the Westminster score-books which have been preserved date back to 1806, and that as early as 1818 the School received a challenge from Charterhouse. Among the other very interesting chapters in the Companion may be mentioned “ The County Championship in 1909” by Charles Plairre, an illustrated article on the Australians, “ Cricket Pitches and How to Prepare Them ” by S. Apted, and various information, statistical aud otherwise, dealing with last season’s cricket. The book contains over 200 pages, and is well worth the price asked for it. * Ayres’ Cricket Companion , 1910. Edited by W. R* Weir. London : F. 11. Ayres, 111, Aldersgate Street. Price, 6 d. The Annual General Meeting of the Wanderers C.C. will be held at ‘24, Lawrence Lane, Cheapside (Mr. Richard Brooks’ office), on Wednesday, February 9th, at 5 p.m.