James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annaul 1897

P R E F A . THIS year completes a quarter of a century for " the Red book." Its records have shown a steady and continuous development of England's national game. Increased attention to grounds has produced a general improvement in the quality of the batting , which was only to be expected from a uniform improvement in the conditions for run getting . Whether there has been a corresponding tendency towards a better understanding of the higher arts of bowling is open to doubt. Still , the gamehas as enthusiastic a following as it ever had. Cricket of the better class it is certain was never more popular throughout the country . This is of itself a good sign , and one which should act as an incentive to improve the character and uphold the best traditions of the game. Such has been the object of the " Annual " and to this end it invites the same hearty support of cricketers in the future as it had in the past .