Cricket 1911

A pril 15, 1911. CR ICKET : A W EEK LY RECORD OF THE GAME. 51 The construction of the Demon Drivers is fully described in The Evolution of a Cricket Bat , which may be obtained free upon applica­ tion. niiiaapR CRICKET IMFROVED MAKE- KEEP THEIR SHAPE LA S LO N C E R E CATALOGUE UPON APPLICATION. CATALOGUE UPON APPLICATION. IMPROVEDMAKE-KEEP THEIR SHAPE-LASTLONGER CATALOGUE UPON APPLICATION. CATALOGUE UPON APPLICATION TO GEO. G. BUSSEY & Co., L td . 36 & 38, Queen Victoria St., LONDON. Manufactory — Timber Mills — PECKHAM, S.E. ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK, Agents all over the world. Cricket Notches. B y t h e R e v . R . S . H o l m e s . consenting to revive these “ notches” I am fully conscious that after a lapse of fifteen years my right hand may have lost its cunning. If so, then the moment I or the readers of this journal discover that I am a spent force I shall withdraw from public notice. This much I can affirm, that my interest in and love of the game are, if possible, greater than ever, although, as onejgets older, one is not quite so keen in watching matches from start to finish. You can scarcely expectthe enthusiasm of youth in middle life. At the same time my cricket library has^ grown apace during the intervening years ; thus in 1895 it numbered just 900 volumes, but to-day it has increased to more than 1800. Mr. A. L. Ford is probably the only other collectorwho has been as long in the field as myself. In the old days—that is from 1892 to 1895— 1 had correspondents in every part of the world where cricket is played. Their kindness made my weekly task easy. Most gladly shall I welcome their help again in this column. And in the younger generation I trust to make many friends; all alike being inspired with an honourable ambition to stimulate a love of our national game. Nothing else would have induced me to take pen in hand again. So criticise this column to your heart’s content; only set nothing down in malice. Speak your mind, but forget not to mind your speech as well. We hear on every side that cricket is waning m public interest. Jeremiah is busy with his depressing lamenta­ tions. Let’s pack him off about his business. I am not an old fogey in this respect. Although I have followed the game for more than fifty years, and have an undying admiration for the heroes of old, yet I honestly think that there were never so many great cricketers as to-day. Cricketers, of all men, should be optimists, and if we cast a lingering look on the “ good old times,” do let us believe also in the “ good time coming.” If you want to kill any sport, be everlastingly croaking over its decadence. Any fool can be pessimistic. It is the part of a wise man to hope for the best. Last season cricket was under a cloud in a very literal sense. Who could expect big gates in a season of continuous rain ? But, given a glorious summer this year, I am convinced that cricketers and spectators alike will prove to a demonstration that cricket reigns supreme in the affection of all classes of Englishmen, at home and in the Colonies. 1895—1910.” That must be my text to-day. Fifteen years, or rather more than the average cricketers service in first-class cricket. It was in 1895 that Derby­ shire, Essex, Hampshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire first took part in the County Championship, Worcestershire being admitted in 1899, Northamptonshire in 1905. Six­ teen counties in all. One rejoices that, in spite of sundry financial difficulties, none of the competitors has fallen out of the ranks. But how have they fared in the whirli­ gig of years ? It seems almost incredible that Kent in 1895 was the wooden-spoonist of the fourteen counties— down at the very bottom : at the top of the sixteen now, and likely enough to remain there for a few more seasons, if present form has any meaning. Surrey was top-sawyer in 1895, and filled the second place in 1910 ; but in the interim they had many ups and downs. Yorkshire and Lancashire have been consistently strong during this de­ cade and a half, the former especially so. Thus, until last year, Yorkshire never occupied a lower position than fourth, and that only once, in 1897 ; whilst they showed the way in no less than seven seasons. Seven out of sixteen, champion 1 Did any county ever enjoy three such con­ secutive years as Yorkshire had in 1900, 1901, 1902, when they lost only two matches out of a total of eighty ? Notts, CAIALOGUE UPON APPLICATION.