Cricket 1913

M a y 3, 1913. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME. 155 Better w eath er! T h a t is w h at w e w a n t! I f good weather cou ld be guaranteed there w ould be little o f this croaking about the decadence o f cricket. It fa lls to very sm all proportions when w e get a real summer like 1911. | T h e E n g lish clim ate is so treacherous, how ever, th at it behoves us to look round, and set our house in the best possible order. On the subject o f the reduction o f the number o f counties, one hesitates to express an opinion, but while strongly condem ning th e methods adopted b y the “ Eleven C ou n ties,” it seems c le a r that, if the m atter cou ld be arranged in a ta ctfu l and open manner, the cham pionship would be greatly, im proved b y a reduction to tw elve com ­ petitors. O n lo ok in g through the present list, one notes the names o f several counties which, one w ould think, m ight not be altogether sorry to be relieved o f their in ­ cessant stru g g le fo r existence. T h is, how ever, is a matter fo r those in authority, and not to be dogm atised about by any one w ithout a thorough kn ow led ge o f the inner work­ ings o f th e cham pionship and o f the county clubs concerned w ith it. E ven th ou gh the present cham pionship system be retained, th ere are a fe w reform s which m ight be instituted with advan tage to th e club s, the p layers; and the spec­ tators alike, and w ithout strikin g at any o f the root principles o f the game. (a) T h e counties should distribute their home matches over a number o f grounds. T h is w o uld create a w id er interest in the doings o f each eleven, and more supporters o f the righ t kind w ould be at­ tracted, w ith a consequent increase in membership, thus m akin g the clu b s, to a certain extent, in ­ dependent o f th e “ ga te ” and the vagaries o f the w eather. (b) F r id a y or S atu rd ay starts in groups, as suggested by M r. P . F . W arn er, m ight be m ade general, i.e ., the southern counties m ight adopt th e prin ciple fo r th eir m atches with each other, sim ilarly the northern and m id land counties. (c) T h e re should be greater punctuality in starting, both at the commencement o f a match and a fter the various intervals. W hen a batsman is out his successor should be prepared to p ass him at the gate o f the p avilion, and both should w a lk briskly in the journeys to and from th e w icket. (d) E a ch county should p la y at least fo u r amateurs in every match. ( c ) T h e number o f b a lls in the over m ight be increased to eight. T h is is a very m inor and sim ple a ltera­ tion in the law s o f the gam e, and cou ld be easily revoked, even in the m id dle o f a season, if it was fo u n d in practice to be undesirable. W . H . C R I C K E T A R T I C L E S IN T H E M A G A Z I N E S . A n excellen t suggestion has been made to me by M r. A . C . D enham , and i f m y readers w ill o n ly co-operate I shall be glad to ca rry it out. It is th at I should give in these pages a list o f cricket articles ap p earin g elsewhere, esp eci­ a lly in the m agazines. I f anyone noting any such article w ill send m e a postcard I shall be obliged. H ere is an instalment o f the suggested list :— C . B . F r y in “ K in g s o f S p o rt,” P en n y P ictorial, dated A p ril 5. W hat is C r ic k e t ? by D . I.. A . Jep h so n ; T he (■ o q g l y , b y G A . F a u lk n e r; and T h e F u tu re o f C r ic k et * b y M ajor G . H . B ad co ck , all in F r y ’s Maga­ zine, A p ril number. The Australian Team for America. (F rom th e Adelaide Observer o f M a r ch 22.) Many rumours have been circulated lately in regard to the proposal of Edgar Mayne, the South Australian representative, and a selector of the Australian cricket team which toured England, to take a combination of cricketers to America this year. Certain names have been mentioned, and it has been stated that a number of “ stars ” in the cricket firmament have absolutely refused to make the trip, because the Board of Control would not give it official recognition. Mayne, when seen last week, said that in all probability he would take a team to the United States this year— perhaps within a month or two. The South Australian batsman continued that he had been amused at the statements about the players who had, so it was said, been approached to make the journey, but had refused. Although he was arrang­ ing matters, certain centres seemed to be better informed than he was, and the names of men who had never been asked had been mentioned as having declined. A considerable surprise would, perhaps, be caused by the announcement of the personnel of the team when it was finally decided upon, for many people seemed to think th at it would not include first-class performers. Mayne himself would not suggest going against the wishes of the Board of Control. The tour would mean, simply, th at a number of young fellows, who wanted to make a trip to the United States, have decided to play cricket as well. The work would not be so strenuous or serious as in England, and, there­ fore, the visitors would have far more enjoyment. It was an opportunity of a lifetime. Mayne stated th at for some time he had been in communication with America in regard to the matter, and there were many arrangements to be made before the whole plan could be definitely announced. His negotiations had been considerably hampered by the fact that a cablegram, addressed to him, had remained at the Norwood Post Office for a fortnight, although the officials knew where he was. Our Sydney correspondent telegraphed on Monday :— W ith reference to the proposal by E. R. Mayne to take an Australian cricket team to America, interest in the matter appears to have been rekindled. Bardsley, when asked to-day whether he intended to accompany the combination, said so far as he was concerned it depended largely upon Trumper. If Trumper went he (Bards­ ley) would certainly like to join. Trumper states that some months ago he was asked whether he would become a member of the team. He has not been approached since. A t present he has no intention of going. E. L. Waddy, whose name has also been mentioned, has not been spoken to. BLANCO For Cleaning and Whitening White Buckskin and Canvas Shoes, Cricket Pads, and all other articles of a similar nature. It is prepared in a v e r y careful manner, and extra precautions are taken to en su re an even ness o f colou r. 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