Canadian Cricket Field Volume 1 1882

A JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE INTEREST9 OF CRICKET IN CANADA. VOL. I. MAY 10, 1882. No. 4. ï1p ërntb'tai~ Jj jlist and advertising space, is an encouraging earnest of what we niay expect, and justifies us in assuring our patrons that Win be pubilshed twice in May, twicc I September, and Weekly during the in- the publication, during the cricket season, will be regularly -- tervening months. m .- jnade. y A. G. BROWN, ) G. G S. INDEY .................. ..... RFditors and Proprietors. G. . L SEY, J. C=orrsondents are rçuested t' .. en j eontributionis by the first mail on .om/ay to lc in time for Wednest/ay's issue. Subscritlion priee, $.5 /pr ann, in adivance. A<tvertising rates on application. All eonn.unications Io te atidresset/, THE CANADIN CRICKET FIELD), Box ?47, 7ronto, Ont. 3r. -T lm All who receive this number are re- quested to forward their Sebscnyt5ions within two weeks, otherwise no further coties wili be sent. TORONTO, MAY IOT1, 1882. THE CRICKET FIELD. The CanadianCricket Field is intended to be a medium of communication between amateur cricketers ; and it will itself be the work of amateurs. It will aim to bring before Canadian cricketers whatever occurs on the cricket lield likely to be of interest to them ; and being specially devotéd to the subject, it will contain much which could not be expected to be found in papers vhicl have no such special mission. This is the day of specialities in periodical literature. Almost every interest of importance has its special organ, through which comnuni- cation between individuals and the public can be most satis- factorily r..ade. That portion of the press which deals with all questions indifferently cannot afford to give more than ordinary attention to any one, much less to what nay happen to be occurring on the cricket field. A journal such as the CanadianCricket Field is intended to be, way be expected to add to the interest with which the noble ganie of cricket is regarded in Canada; to incite cricketers to take pains to improve their play ; to show how the best teams inay be brought together, from different places, in view of sone great test of skill, such as is seen in an international match ; to inereasp the general interest in the game, even among persons who have thenselves never handled a bat or pitched a ball. Our undertaking being in the interest of ·Canadian amateur cricketers, we think we may fairly rely upon them for support. The support we have already received, through our subscription THE BANE OF CRICKET IN CANADA Is a bumpy wicket. Even at our birth, and in our maiden issue, we must strike at one of the roots of our present de- fic.iency in cricket, as compared vith our cousins over the border. They invariably have a levelled ground to play on- our wickets are notorious for their irregularity. Cricket is mucli more universal here than in the United States, but we have not one-half the number of heavy rollers. In our dry climate, where the ground gets baked very hard, a heavy roller is much more essential than in England; but it is the last expenditure our clubs will think of, making it subser- vient to pavilions, flags, and such like luxuries, while in the Old Country a heavy roller is the first member of any well organized cricket club. We cannot have gooa cricket without good grounds, and we cannot have good grounds without heavy rollers. THE ONTARIO CRICKET ASSOCIATION. In 1879 cricket enthusiasm in Ontario was at a very low ebb; disastrous defeats were experienced at the hands of several foreign eevens; and worse than that, imisunderstandings existed between several of our leading clubs, and comparatively little cricket was played throughout Ontario. In March, 1880, at a meeting of cricketers representing most of the clubs of the Province, it was resolved to form an Asso- ciation, the main object of which should be to arrange all matters in connection with an annual international match withî the United States, or any eleven of an international character that should visit the country, and to do all possible to be donc toward the improvement of cricket in the Province. With this latter object in view, it was decided to inaugurate a series of matches, which should determine the best club in the Pro- vince. It w- hoped that by means of these matches more cricket would be played, that country clubs would be brought into greater prominence, and that records of their players be made obtainable; also, that from the greater number of "foreign " matches, the confidence of all our players would be incrcased. Everyone is aware of the great impetus the Association has given to cricket in Ontario. Five new clubs have entered the competitive ranks th's year, nearly all of which are from districts lying beyond the battle-ground of lastseason; a fact that indicates the spreading influence of the Association.