Cricket 1913

M arch 15, 1913. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 73 Nearly all have tails of no inconsiderable length to their teams, and few can ever play the same side in two suc­ cessive matches. A ll have small incomes, and with most the struggle to keep head above water is incessant. N o t one of them, I am absolutely certain, would give serious consideration to the question of joining a Second Division of twelve counties playing a full programme. That would mean 22 matches for each, and even if these were two-day matches the strain would be too great. The Second Division, if it eventuates, will be one of not more than eight (nine at the outside) clubs. If the First Division took in twelve, Staffordshire, Durham, Herts and Norfolk might possibly be persuaded to throw in their lot w ith the remaining four of the old first-class sixteen ; but even this is not certain. It seems the best way out of the imbroglio, however. W a r w ic k s h ir e is fortunate in its supporters. Four­ teen of them have generously presented to the County Club their shares in the Warwickshire Cricket Ground Company. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to these gentlemen at the club’s annual general meeting, and they were elected honorary life members. They are the Lord Mayor of Birmingham (Mr. Ernest Martineau), Sir John Holder, Bart, Sir M. D. Chalmers, K t., Sir George Kenrick, K t., Mr. G. S. Albright, Mr. W . E. Chance, Mr. A. H. Griffiths, Mr. W. H. P. Jenkins, Mr. A. Keen, Mr. J. W. Lea, Mr. F. W . Lindner, Mr. God­ frey Nettlefold, Mr. R. Ramsden, and Mr. George Zair. P r o b a b l y all, or nearly all, of these generous sup­ porters of the club have played cricket at some time or another; bu t it is no injustice to any of them to say that none ranks as a famous player. There are so many cases in which famous players seem to lose all interest in their county clubs when once they have ceased to play their part in the arena that one is led to wonder where the county clubs would be without the men who are often spoken of as having “ no practical knowledge of the game,” because they have never earned laurels in its pursuit. I n Australian circles antagonistic to the Board of Control the fact that that body includes few players of note is cast at it as a reproach. Its enemies say, indeed, no players of n o te ; but Mr. E. E. Bean, the present Chairman, though he only represented Victoria on a few occasions, did well then, and made a century in one match against Tasmania. I am afraid that if the management of cricket controlling bodies was left to famous players of the past, some of these bodies would be in a bad w ay ! Tw o prominent Lancastrians— Mr. A. G. Steel, K.C., and Mr. Edward Roper— have spoken out w ith no uncer­ tain voices on the subject of what is at the root of the decline of public interest in first-class cricket. “ That vile legging,” as one whose hand is now still in death used to write of it in the columns of this paper— that is what is wrong, they say. I cannot believe that this is the only th in g ; but I believe that the present-day batting mode is responsible for much. “ A ll the grace and beauty of the batsman’s art are lost when the feet begin to shuffle in front of the wicket as the ball leaves the bowler’s hand,” says Mr. Steel in the Daily Mail. “ Most of the great players of to-day do it. W h y they do so I cannot think, as they can, if they wish, drive to on or off, and cut as well as the best of the past. Often the batsman faces the bowler full face, and simply hangs out his bat in front of him. No stroke can be made when in this position. The half­ volley is left unscored off— occasionally a snick to leg is made of an off ball— and altogether the position is uncricketlike. And, unfortunately, all the young pro­ fessionals trying to earn a place in their county teams imitate this wretched style. It has spoilt the game.” Mr. S t e e l ’ s remedy would be to alter the l.b.w. rule to read : “ Wherever the ball pitches, i f the leg obstructs it on its course to the wicket, the obstructing batsman shall be out.” This is drastic ; but an opinion expressed b y A. G. Steel is not to be dismissed lightly. It is not unfair to point out, however, that twelve years ago Mr. Steel was one of the most determined objectors to an alteration in the l.b.w. rule. A n o t h e r contributor to the Daily M a il on the vexed question is Mr. H. K . Foster, who believes that the “ slipshod, unpunctual, and lazy habits that have been encouraged b y some county captains ” have disgusted the public. H. K . considers that counties should be allowed to play two-day instead of three-day matches if they choose, w ith a minimum of seven hours per day in the former c a s e ; that each side should play at least four amateurs in every match ; that officers on joining their regiments should immediately be eligible for the county with which the regiment is territorially asso­ ciated ; that amateurs not born in England and not resident in a county possessing a club should be allowed to choose a county to play for ; that each county should p lay each of the others (he favours to some extent the notion of promotion and relegation annually, which can only be managed b y having two divisions, closely linked and approximating in organisation to one another); that points for a win outright should be increased in proportion to those for a win on the first innings (the points now are five and three respectively) ; and that the covering of the wicket should be given a trial. O n e has genuine pleasure in reading so well-con­ sidered and reasonable a statement of views by a player whom every one honours. No one ever played the great game in a higher spirit of knightly chivalry than H. K . He was ever willing to take risks ; he would rather make concessions than ask them ; and I think that if there were more like him we should not have to bewail the loss of cricket’s charm to the crowd. I c h e r ish many mental pictures of the beautiful Worcester ground b y the Severn, and in most ol them H. K . holds a prominent place. Now it is H. K . and R. E. delighting an all too scanty crowd b y those wristy racquet strokes which I am told the Malvernian of to-day no longer attempts ; now H. K . and Fred Bow ley making hay of the Somerset attack ; now H. K . battling all one long afternoon to save the game against Y o rk ­ shire ; and now an electric catch in the slips, where three or four of Malvern’s sons are waiting, watchful as lynxes, active as cats.