James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1883

C R I C K E TI N 1 8 8 2. 9 never been thoroughly authenticated , at least , in England; and the best previous record was the 775. of NewSouth Wales v. Victoria , at Sydney , in February, 1882. In the match just referred to, Messrs. A. H. Trevor (338) andG. F. Vernonbrought the score from20 for one to 623 for two wickets . In some respects the last season was eminently successful . There was plenty of good cricket , most of it of the best quality . Thebrilliant form shown bythe Australians gave exceptional interest to their fixtures , and most of the leading Clubs have good reason to be satisfied with their financial results of the year. So far, things were no doubt satisfactory . Outwardly the gamewas flourishing and prosperous , and so nodoubt it is. In manyof its internal arrange- ments, though, there is very great improvement. In a practical article in the last Annual, the late James Lillywhite called attention to some points which were muchin need of reform . The best evidence of the accuracy of his opinions lies in the fact that , without exception , every one of the newrules of procedure he advocated has been voted urgent . Year after year we have forcibly represented the necessity of a change in the system of umpiring , and wehave reason to believe that, at least , the provision of having disinterested menin all Countymatches will be in force next season . It is to be hoped, too , that some united action will be taken by the leading Counties to check for once and all the open violation of the law defining fair bowling. It is idle of the authorities at Lord's to argue that no such infringement has come to their notice . W ecould name, not only one, but several cricketers -- amateurs as well as professionals who are commonly voted as throwers . Every year, too, the evil is spreading , and will continue to spread , as long as the official eye is keptpersistently closed . Another reform proposed by James Lillywhite in the Annual of 1882 has already been officially brought forward. The proposal of the Yorkshire Committee, at the recent Conference of County Secretaries , that a side batting should have the option of rolling the wicket for ten minutes any morning before play commences, is one of the identical propositions of last year's Annual. The practical utility of the procedure is as obvious as its propriety , and it is to behopedthat the Marylebone Club will introduce the new provision into the laws at once, in accordance with the unanimous expression of opinion from the representatives of Counties at the last conference at Lord's.