A CRICKET ANTHOLOGY

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1927, Page 3

A CRICKET ANTHOLOGY

Cricket is distinctively an Knglish game, and it lias figured more prominently in Knglish literature than any other form of sport, with the exception of riding to hounds. Keen racing occupies a secondary pi’ace to “ Willow, the King.” “ A Cricket Kleven,” a recent, publication, is a symposium to which Air Arthur Waugh, in bis capacity of umpire, contributes some preliminary observations, and the team which takes the field is composed of literary stalwarts. I’lay opens with the rural humours of ail account of a village match in the early nineteenth century, by Aliss Alary .Milford, who displays a knowledge of the game uncommon in ladies of that period. Certainly she bad a better appreciation of its essentia! spirit than (’iiari’es Dickens, whose description of the contest between AIIMuggleton and Dingloy Dell, included in this anthology, is a mere travesty. The Dingley-Dell side, it will he remembered, gave in "at an early period.” because their opponents were in a strong position. But a team does not throw up the sponge simply because it: is likely to be beaten. It's not j cricket. ”

I Mounts Hughes' " Tom Brown's Last Match ” is less open to criticism, but bis captain should have known better than to allow cover-point to waste time singing "the most topping comic songs ” after lunch. The result was that stumps had to be drawn when, in the second innings. Rugby had nine runs to make, and two wickets to fall, and ■ M.C.C. was declared the winner on the first innings. Among the moderns. Air H. A. Yaeliell, Air E. W. Illuming, Mr C. H. Fry, and Air Stacy Aumonier are represented. Also Air P. G. Wodehouse. lively team has its comedian it ml Mr AYodehouse assumes that role. His inimitable Psmitli adds to the gaiety of the spectators in the pavilion. These nre entertained between the stories, or, to continue the metaphor, in liio intervals after the fall of the wickets, hv specimens of cricketverse. The contributions of the late Andrew Lang are exceedingly witty and urbane. But this hook is .something more than n coli’eetion of short stories. It presents a glowing picture of Knglish life in various aspects—the village, the school, the country-house—-hut always in the happiest mood. Cricket has the most agreeable associations. The sunshine, the green sward, the white-clad figures, the crisp sound of the impact of hat and hall, the spirit of comradeship ami sportsmanship that are abroad—all these tilings rise to the recollection of the reader of “ A Cricket Kleven.”