Cricket 1911

CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. MARCH 30, 1911, “ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. No 862 . VOL. XXX. THURSDAY, MAECH 30, 1911. o n e penny. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. M r . F. C. TOONE . The C omm ittee of the Y orkshire County Cricket Club have done m any wise things in tlxeir time, but never ha1! any step taken by them been attended with happier results than when, upon the retirem ent o f Mr. W ostinholm , they elected Mr. Toone to the secretary­ ship. During the last ten years o f the form er’s term o f office the m embership o f the club increased from 176 to one o f the largest in the country, and it is eloquent testimony to M r. T oon e’s success— one m ight say to his personal popularity, for he possesses a bonhom ie which is irresistible and is an adept in transform ing most unlikely supporters into enthusiastic subscribers — that during his association with Yorkshire the result o f his work has not suffered in the least when compared with that of his great pre­ decessor. L on g e florea t ! Concerning the disap­ pointing season experienced by Yorkshire last year, Mr. T oone remarked :— “ Certainly, the loss o f £1,000 was a disappointing feature of last year's Y ork ­ shire cricket, but this was brought about chiefly by the inclement weather which p r e v a ile d at t h e h o m e matches. It w ill surprise the public to learn that o f the fourteen m atches played in the county no less than eight were spoiled by the weather, and o f the rem ain­ ing six four were finished early on the second day ow ing to the rain which had preceded the matches. It w ill readily be seen 'h ow the loss on the season is accounted for. The m ost disappointing feature was the play o f the team, although it was not^to be expected that the very high standard o f play experienced and enjoyed for the past decade or m ore could continue without interruption, for the tim e was bound to com e when those players who had worked so loyally for the best traditions o f Yorkshire cricket and had attained so high a mark of MR. F. C. TOONE. efficiency would grow old in service and have to give w ay to young and inexperienced men. This is the position to-day o f our cricket, and the general public must not expect so glow ing a run o f success for a season or two. O f course, L ord H aw ke’s absence told terribly upon the general success o f the team. W e are all hoping that Mr. Rad- cliffe w ill prove in every way a great success, but to find another gentleman like L ord H awke w ho w ill loyally devote the best part o f his life to the gam e is too m uch to expect. I should like to say at this stage, if you w ill kindly perm it m e, how we all love his lordship. I personally have received every kindness and con ­ sideration from him and I should say no one is in a better position than m yself to ju dge o f the great work, the splendid business tact, and the gentlemanly in ­ fluence he has brought to bear upon those w ho have had the honour to be associated with him in connection with Yorkshire cricket. In Yorkshire we are all very hopeful of a great im provem ent in our play next season. Our weakness was batting on fast wickets. The new winter shed, erected at a cost o f .£600, w ill, it is felt, do m uch to im prove this.” “ D o you consider that, speaking generally, interest in cricket is as great now as it was a few years ago ? ” “ I consider that cricket will fluctuate in public favour. W hat I m ean is that when a county is doing well, like Kent to-day and as Y orkshire did a few seasons ago, interest w ill be at its highest, but taking the country throughout I think the game is as popular to-day as ever it was before. O f course, we have not had a cricket summ er for four or five years, and that makes all the difference with respect to an out-door game, such as cricket. Give us a good old E nglish summer and I am confident we shall find that the enthusiam to-day is as great as ever it was in the past. I think that very little good has been done