James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1882

P A R T I. C H A P T E RI, The Lancashire Eleven of 1881. THE extraordinary form displayed by the Lancashire eleven during the season of 1881 is almost , if not quite , without a parallel in the records of CountyCricket . The history of our national gameis , after all , a merereflex of the steady revolution which has marked, and will continue to mark, the progress of nations . As empires have risen and fallen , so counties have prospered or deteriorated , advanced to the highest places as others have sunk to the lowest on the cricket field . The opening of new spheres for competition has caused a material change in the cricket world, and the ex- pansion of the gamenecessitated a complete re -arrangement of the ruling bodies . Timewas when Kent, Surrey and Hampshire formed the whole area of cricket , and the pastime was confined to a narrow circle , if not absolutely dependent for its support on the liberality of rich landowners, at least greatly indebted to themfor its well being. A century ago, and Kentand Surrey were rivals for supremacy on the cricket field as they are now, happily , and in the samefriendly spirit . Another generation , and still Surrey , Kent and Sussex were the training grounds mostly responsible for the production of the leading cricketers of the day. Kent, in its time, could point with pride to such players as Fuller Pilch , Alfred M y n n, W e n m a n, Hillyer , Felix , and Adams, forming a combination which enabled themto cope with all Englandsingle handed, and beat it too . Sussex , with the Broadbridges , Charles Taylor , Box, and Lillywhite , was for a brief period almost invincible , and Surrey cricketers , in spite of the despondency atten- danton a long run of ill fortune , love to recall the palmydays whenthe County could boast such downright earnest sportsmen as Fred Miller , Dowson, Bur- bidge, and Lane; whensuch fine all round players as Stephenson , Mortlock , Caffyn , Julius Cæsar, Griffith ,Pooley ,Jupp, and Humphreywere the brightest ornaments of an eleven more than once victorious over England , and of w h i c hit could withtruth be said that it neverk n e w h e nit w a sbeaten. B u t the old order changeth , giving place to new. Since those days striplings , then almost unknown, have forced their way to the front proportionately as those of older growth have fallen back and declined . A succession of great bowlers , men like Jackson , Grundy,Wootton ,Alfred Shaw, Morley and Flowers , of expert batsmen such as Daft , Summers, Oscroft , Selby , Barnes , and Flowers , has of late years placed Notts in the very front rank of Counties , and made Nottingham cricket a synonym for excellence at the game. Yorkshire , too , rich in a sturdy race of players like Emmett, Freeman, Slinn , Hodgson , Rowbotham, Lockwood, Bates , Ulyett , Hill and Peate , has supplanted manyof the old historic shires ; and B