James Lillywhte's Cricketers' Annual 1884

T H ES E V E N T HE N G L I S HT E A MI N A U S T R A L I A . 1 1 England's full strength without Grace, Ulyett , Lucas, Hon. A. Lyttelton , Hornby, and Lord Harris ? This is a question that must be left to the impartial reader to decide. In view of another much-vexed question , the experiences of this tour may be said to have afforded an opportune lesson that might well be taken to heart -thequestion of throwing v. bowling . Throughout the whole tour not only was there not a single thrower metwith , but not even a bowler to whomthe slightest suspicion of an unfair action could be imputed ! A n d whence this result ? Simply because in Australia not only would anyone who threw be no-balled , but anyone about whose action there could be the slightest doubt. Does not the solution of the problem, that has been so voluminously discussed , lie in this excellent example set us by the younger cricketing community of Australia ? A numpire maynot be easily found who can make up his mind ; but, surely , manya one is available who can have a doubt, and express it by opening his mouth and saying " no ball ." A few innocents , perhaps , would suffer in the general expression of doubt, which would proceed from the mouths of our respected umpires ; but surely this would be a minor matter in comparison with the inestimable benefits that would accrue to cricket from the stamping -out , root and branch , of those who have almost exterminated the real bowlers by the success of their illegal method. A fact , much commented on by the team during the tour , was the very small numberof first -class cricketers in Australia from w h o mthe fine eleven that represents their full strength has to be selected . It would not be far from the markto say that in the course of the whole tour , exclusive of the best eleven, not more than twenty players could have been pointed out who were worthy of a place in a first -class English county team. This fact makes the undoubted excellence of that eleven appear almost phenomenal , and we fancy that high standard will be kept up with some difficulty when the places of Spofforth , Murdoch , etc. , come in the ordinary course of events to require filling up. But though this phenomenally high standard may not be maintained , the standard of Australian cricket must always be a high one, for one all- powerful reason the Australian cricketer will always pass through the earlier stages of his cricket career with hard wickets to play on, and the advantages arising from that condition are immense. Theyoung batsman will always have every inducement to practice a free and upright style , and the young bowler will have to make use of every wile in his power, of twist and change of pace , to break through the defence of batsmen on the easy wickets . The writer has in mindan instance , within recent years , of the play of all the rising players in one of our great public schools being spoilt by two consecutive wet seasons , Theboys could not acquire the necessary confidence and style on wickets where a rough and ready slogger , who would hit up his 25 regardless of catches , could afford to laugh at the player , who, adopting a more scientific style , wouldsoon have to retire , caught off the inevitable bumpyone. While these lines are being written the news has come that we shall next year again receive a visit from the Australian eleven , and the question of the programmeto be arranged for themwill soon come up for discussion . It is very muchto be hoped that there will not be a repetition of the victorious march madeby the last eleven through the weaker counties . In the opinion of the writer certainly not more than four counties are fit to play them on even terms ; and if they persist in their former determination not to play against odds, let the other counties either leave the field altogether or combine against them, each of the stronger taking a weaker as its ally . There are , perhaps , three distinct elevens in England who could play the Australian eleven with fair hopes of success . If w e are out of this material to make up thirty eleven -a-side matches, we shall have to call in the aid of our mathematical friends , with their algebraical combinations and permutations , to get us out of the diffi- culty . But, whatever the programme be, let us hope it will include three matches against the best eleven in England, and let there be no suicide during a temporary fit of insanity , such as took place at the end of the season of