James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1896

A q u a r t e r of a century all but one year represents the extent of the service the lied Annual has done to the development of the national game. During these twenty-four summers cricket has made great progress, not only in the quality of the play, but also in its general tone, and has consequently increased in favour with the public to a corresponding degree. The work that has fallen on those who have to record the game from year to year has grown equally, as the Annual itself can show. What measure of success has attended the Red Book has been due mainly to the interest shown in its progress as well as to kindly co-operation of cricketers of all classes. It will be our aim to deserve this in the future as we have received it in the past.