OTHER CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1569, 12 October 1912, Page 12

OTHER CRICKET.

In the final test match at Kennington Oval Wilfred Khodes was put on to bowl on the bad wicket, specially to give him an opportunity of completing his 100 wickets' in test matches. But he failed, though he ought to have got the ono necessary, for he missed Jlatthews otf his own bowling, not a very difficult catch. Financially, the test match was a great success. The turnstiles showed that ll.llilj people paid for admission at the gates on the last day, making the aggregate attendance. 44,717.

Commenting upon the fact that even first-class cricket is gradually losing its power to attract and interest 'large crowds of spectators, Mr. Laurence Woodhouse, in the course of an artiole in tho London "Daily Mail," makes a few suggestions for the avoidance ,of the many little delays which nowadays make cricket a ruthcr slow game for the looker-on. The play, he maintains, is as full of interest ivnd excitement as it ever wns, but both the teams - and the officials are apt to forget that 'they are on tho ground to play Tho umpires are often a trifle late in' making their appearance on the ground, and when they do nmko their appearance they lounge languidly across to the wickets. Mr. Woodhouse pleads for a return to the manner of the old umpires, who came out a little before tho exaot time, and while waiting for the teams to appear occupied themselves with throwing the ball or practising bowling down the side of the pitch. Hβ goes on to object to the sorrowful manner in whjoh tho contesting elevens troop out at a snail's pace anil then stand around dejectedly in littl* knots, apparently discussing the death of a favourite aunt, while they wait for the first two batsmen, who, by their general demeanour, appear to be overcome by lassitude. He pictures the captain of tho fielding side waking with n start from his mournful reverie and devoting much sorrowful deliberation to the placing of his Held and the selection of a bowler. Even when the fieldsmen aro placed and the batsman has taken guard with infinite care and patience, The game is not allowed lo proceed. The bowler suddenly wakes up to find the field is not placed to his liking. An exchango of signals in time causes the fieldsmen to move ponderously to their new positions, and at last the -first] ball is delivered. Mr. Woodhouse wants all this ceremonial and deliberation abolished. Cricketers, he says, should play the game as if they loved it, not as if they were 'assisting nt the execution of a martyr. The cricket of the village ?reen, ho declares, is free from the clilaory methods he complains of, and what is possible on the village green should be possible at Lord's.