James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1876

PREFACE. I t lias been the yearly custom of those on whom has devolved the responsi­ bility of preparing James Lillywhite’s Annual to say a few words on each appearance. At first it was necessary to give cricketers generally a sketch of the plans by which the work would be conducted, and the schemes contem­ plated to render the contents more interesting and less irksome than were those of the old kind of cricket periodicals, against which the new' venture had, in a great measure, to compete. Since that time matters have changed materi­ ally. The Annual, at first cast out into the world with some fear and trembling, has become a marked success, far more so indeed, than the pro­ prietors could have ever expected in their most sanguine moments. That this is no vain boast can be substantiated by figures, and that at such an early period of its career as the fourth year of publication the Annual should have in circulation outstripped all its rivals, old and firmly established as some of them are, is a fact of which the Proprietors may claim to be justly proud. That there have been imperfections none know better, and that most of their success is due to the kind co-operation of every class of cricketers they are fully aware. It is consequently with no sina 11regret that in some cases statistics kindly forwarded for the present edition have had to be reluctantly declined. The increasing bulk of the Annual since its first appearance will show the necessity for the settlement of some fixed limit of dimensions, and the indul­ gence of cricketers is respectfully solicited. It is necessary that the work should be kept within ordinary bounds, and as far as can be it will be the endeavour of those who have charge of the contents to give preference to matters of general interest, w’hile still devoting space to the annual sum­ maries of the Clubs. In this latter respect more hearty co-operation would assist the Editor. A thousand circulars are annually dispatched with forms, to be returned by Secretaries, but not more than one-third, at the most, ever find their way hack. In the interest of then* Clubs it might be imagined that oilicers, professing to have the welfare of their respective societies at heart, would tako some slight trouble to procure some slight degree of promi­ nence, even if they were not actuated with any great devotion to the game itself. To them the Editor would remark that a circular, or any number of circulars, with the requisite information, can always he had on application to the Proprietors of the Annual, at the address given herewith. 4, N favington C auseway , L ondon , S.E., 1 at December, 1875