Cricket 1911

3 2 CR ICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. Feb. 23 , 1 9 1 1 . THE ANTIQUARY. T h e 3rd D uke of D orset . — “ His- torious ” writes :— “ The following article which appeared in the Rambler’s Magazine for February, 1784, may interest your readers, especially those whose county is Kent. The Duke, it should be mentioned, was for a few years Ambassador in France, but his fame probably rests more on his skill as a cricketer than on his doings in the diplomatic world. He was a very great supporter indeed of cricket and played occasionally for Kent. It is a matter of history how he wished to show the game in Paris, and how he was defeated in his desire by the outbreak of the French Revolution : the Surrey team, which he had invited over for the purpose, journeyed as far as Dover, where they were met by the Duke, who was hastening home. The article was illustrated by a plate which depicted the Duke batting, with several Frenchmen and an Amerioan (of the Red Indian type) wait­ ing in the field, anxious to catch him out.” To the Editor of the “ R ambler ’ s M agazin e .” THE GRAND CRICKET M ATCH ; or T he D------ e OF D— - GUARDING THE POLITICAL WICKET. A VISION. ( With an elegant Copper-plate .) S ir , Sitting one morning in St. Martin’s-le- Grand Coffee-house, poring over an infinite variety of the daily prints, which are little more than copies of each other, sleep over­ came me, and I dreamt I was somewhere in the environs of Paris, a spectator of a most extraordinary cricket match. All the players appeared to be Frenchmen, excepting two, one of whom was an American, and the other an Englishman. The conversation which passed among the cricketers, was, to the best of my recollection, to the follow­ ing effect:— 1st Frenchman: He be one English my Lor— He can dance, and play at cricket comme urte ange. He be one very good ambassadeur. 2 d Frenchman : II n'a point de I’esprit. 3 d Frenchman: You must be very much mistake. It is true that, he no speak in de senate, he be no financier, but he be one bon cricketer. B e would travel to Derby, avec plaiseur, to get one single notch. D. o f D -------: My notches against any man in France for ten thousand. 4th Frenchman : He be very clever at getting de notches. An American: If he had thirteen pro­ vinces to stake, he would be sure to lose them a ll! A great deal more conversation passed, which I cannot particularly remember. At length an unlucky stroke was given by the D-------and he was immediately caught out by a poor meagre figure of a Frenchman, more resembling an ourang outang than any human figure. This created such a loud and general hussa among the crowd of lookers-on, that I aweke from my dream, and found myself sitting by Mr. Varley’s fire, in St. Martin’s le Grand, with the Morning Chronicle in my hand, and nobody about me but downright Englishmen. I hope, Mr. Rambler, you’ll excuse my troubling you with a dream,—but, as it was rather of a singular nature, I beg you’ll favour it with a place in your eccentric pub­ lication, and you may be assured I will here­ after send you something more substantial. I am, Mr. Rambler, Your constant reader and admirer, H oratio . CORRESPONDENCE. [The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions of his correspondents .] THE POPULARISATION OF CRICKET. To the Editor of C ricket . S ir , —Till now I have been under the impression that cricket was always one thing, — Cricket, and Popularity a very different kind of proposition, a sort of Will 0 ’ the Wisp that, if you go your own gait, leaves you behind occasionally, hovers around a while, and catches you up again when you least expect or even desire it. Between our­ selves, I shall perhaps go on thinking so, but that doesn’t matter. If cricketers in general are agreed upon the policy of Cricket and Popularity keeping each other company all the time I will give them a few hints on playing the game. The Golden Rule i s : Alter something or everything at once, and keep on altering it for everlasting. Not the pitch only, but the ball, the bat, the wicket, and everything else you can think of. Lay down a composition bed to bowl on with a composition ball, and, if you think you are likely to be beaten, refuse to play with any composition but your own. Thus you will always remain at the head of affairs, the Champion Club or County or Nation at your particular game. Say, the googley-barred, right-hand, complasticine- ball or slate-bed variety of cricket, or under the C.U., N.C.U., C.A., or A.C.A. Rules, which, of course, will always be real cricket with your admirers; and as undisputed cham­ pions you will always be certain of a gate. Encourage that gate. Don’t depend on giving pleasure to sportsmen only, but boast about the thousands you can draw; that’s the index to popularity. Let them bean asset in your match-winning account, for you must be a winning side to retain them. Let them be armed with muffin-bells and police rattles, coach-horns and motor-hooters to applaud you, and with funds of obscene and profane abuse to intimidate your opponents, not to mention a few clods and bottles for the umpires. That’s the sort of crowd that cricket does not draw now, but it would add several noughts to the total attendance at matches and to the statement of revenue at the end of the season. Add fouls and penalties to your rules and don’t be above adopting little ruses in your game. If a man can score a goal through a fellow having previously pretended to take the kick, why shouldn’t you obtain a wicket the same way, letting somone else first pre­ tend to bowl the ball? Your sportsmen might not approve, but you could depend on the rest of your supporters to deal with them. And look how nice it would be to read “ the game was quite of a gentlemanly description ; there were only so many fouls during the afternoon.” If the umpires were agreed that you intentionally prevented a man from completing a run or capturing a wicket they could award them a free shot or run from a penalty area. This would liven the game up awfully. And look how handy it would be if one of your duffers came to blows with the George Hirst or Arthur Fielder of the other side and both got ordered off the field! Give your umpires whistles and introduce something analogous to “ hands ” and “ off­ side.” Then, when you were bowled, you could go on batting because the whistle had gone for mid-off standing in front of long- on, or you could appeal against a run out because short slip had touched the ball with his knee before the wicket-keeper handled it. And, if you did happen to lose after all, you could always make a bid to retain the suffrages of your supporters by explaining in print that the opposition played a dirty game or that the umpiring was rotten. I am certain that crioket could easily be “ popularised ” — if it is desired. Yours, &c., “ SOLOMON, THAT’S ME.” THE M.C.C.’S TEAM IN THE WEST INDIES. 1st M atch.- —«. BARBADOS. Played at Barbados on February 9th and 10th, and won by tbe home side by an innings and 103 runs. The total scores were — Barbados, 287 ; M.C.C.’S team, 93 and 91. The Englishmen had the worst of the wicket. BLANCO For Cleaning and Whitening White Buckskin ana Canvas Shoes, Cricket Pads, and all other articles of a similar nature. It Is prepared in a very careful manner, and extra precautions are taken to ensure an evenness of colour. It contains nothing that will In any way injure the article to which it is applied, and if used a s directed, a Splendid White of a glossy, satin-like appearance and soft silky surface is ensured, which will not readily rut off. “ BLANCO” CLOTH & LEATHER BALL For cleaning Suede, Ooze Calf, and Cloth Boots and Shoes, Cord Breeches, Suede Gloves, Cloth Spati, Leather and Cloth Leggings, etc. Madm In r a r /o n mhadmm of Colour. Sold by Athletic Dealers, Ironm ongers, Oilmen, Stores, B oot and Shoe D ealers, etc. Printed and Published by M erritt & H atcher L td ., 167,168 and 169, Upper Thames Street, London, E.C., February 23rd, 1911.