James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1882

A G O O D-N A T U R E D G R O W L . 7 posal will interfere with vested interests , and that it would prove a serious loss to capable umpires , hitherto engaged for all the fixtures of their county. To this I would answer that the change would really work less injuriously than might be imagined . Competent umpires would be only too eagerly engaged for the matches of other counties now closed to them, and it is the incompetent ones that I want to discourage . The necessity of gaining a thorough knowledge of the rules to qualify for a certificate would act as a stimulus to professionals , andthe publication of a list of those qualified wouldensure their employmentby the better class of second-rate Clubs . Thegreatest good of the greatest numbershould be the reply to any charge of interference with vested interests , but I repeat that the only interests that m yscheme would affect would be those unworthy of consideration . It has often surprised me that Rule 7, in reference to the rolling of the wicket, has never been madethe mediumof a good growl. As the law now stands , the side winning the toss often has a great advantage ; for instance , they go in and play through the first day, within , say, half -an-hour . Their opponents then go in to bat for a few overs , and thus lose the chance of having the wicket rolled in the morning, whena shower of rain in the night , or even the dew, bringing up the wormcasts , which have dried before re- commencing, makesthe wicket for an hour unplayable , or nearly so. Would it not be more in accordance with the principles of fair play that a rule should be passed that the wicket might be rolled for 10 minutes each morning, so that by this means the fortunate winners of the toss would not gain such a decided advantage ? This is the last of m ygrowl for the present . If it should only serve to do the smallest particle of good to our grand old game, I may possibly give vent to another . C H A P T E R III. C R I C K E TIN 1881 . B YI N C O G. A CRICKET season without somesubstantial grounds for a gramblewould be an event worthy of special commemoration. For the last few years the gamehas suffered so muchfrom the rains , which have tried the tempers as well as the pockets of its followers , that thorough enjoyment has been out of the question . Last summer, on the whole, the weather was more favourable , but in default of materials for the usual complaint , other circumstances arose which cast a heavy cloud over the game, and at one time threatened to produce a serious rupture between the governing bodies of cricket and professional players . A tthe commencementof the season