James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1884

99 svn important County match lias been haidly less.^ Certainly the herculean labour undertaken by Lord I I akkis nr raising K ent to a higher level amongst the Counties womd ii a i d y have been undertaken istantly displayed. Thereare nowtbirteen Counties, who may roughly >M, said to parade more or less good elevens. For though H ams and S omersetshire do not play Y orkshire and N otts , yet they play S urrey and SmsEX. Taking thirteen as the present number, why, in twenty years’ time, should there not be twice this number? In the past year there were sixty-four bona-fide County matches played by these Counties, and the available days for cricket, reckoning every day as fine, only amount to one hundred and six, or thereabouts. When the County matches increase, as they undoubtedly will, the problem of how to provide fixtures for N orth v S outh , the various A ustralian matches that loom in the future, and G entlemen v P layers , will not he easy to solve. It seems probable that some influential committee will have to act somewhat on the principle that the University boat clubs adopt, namely, arranging Counties in two divisions, and letting those of second-class merit play each other; and a little method in arranging fixtures will prevent any clashing of other important matches with the meetings of the first-class division. In discussing the Elevens themselves, the improvement in the Southern Counties has been the most satisfactory feature in this last season’s cricket. During the three years 1880, 1881, and 18S2 the amalgamated victories of four Northern Counties, L ancashire , Y ork ­ shire , N otts , and D erbyshire amounted to 73, while the efforts of five Southern Counties, namely, S urrey , S ussex , K ent , M iddlesex , and G loucestershire , amounted to 28, or considerably less than half. In 1883 the five Southern Counties scored 18 victories, while the four Northerners scored 21, a far better average; and matches played by S urrey with S omersetshire , H ampshire , H erts , and L eicestershire , are not reckoned in this estimate. Much of this improvement may be traced to. the vigorous search after cricketers that individuals and the com­ mittees have made. Such vigour is at last bearing fruit. S urrey has been fortunate in finding amateurs like Messrs. R ead , S huter , and R oller , who can play in every match, and the whole team have conse­ quently been able to work together. This improvement in southern cricket is the more remarkable, considering that the ancient prowress ot G loucestershire has so far deserted her, that she only" scored one victory during the season. At the close of the season the columns of the sporting papers are open to the discussion of the question as to which is the Champion County. The opinions published vary greatly, as might be imagined; there are abstruse mathematical calculations which try to elucidate the mystery, while, it need scarcely be said, showers of letters proceed from the residents in N otts and Y orkshire , each stoutly upholding the supremacy ot their respective shires. There can be no doubt that this year it is very difficult to spot the crack County. Who would like to lay a shade ot odds on any County against M iddlesex when her