CRICKET IN THE PAST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1988, 10 June 1919, Page 1

CRICKET IN THE PAST.

MOSTLY ABOUT AUSTRALIANS, The satisfaction expressed at the prospect of the revival of lirst-class cricket next year has been so pronounced that proposals for the manner in which the games .shall be conducted have been almost legion. Some of the suggestions have been wise, and some otherwise, but one and all clearly testify to the sincerity of their sponsors to benefit the game (says F, 8. Ashley-Coop-' er, in the London Evening Standard). And here it may he mentioned that it has often been customary to suggest alterations almost wholly from the point of view of first-class matches. Exhibition cricket is an excellent thing 1 in its way, but it is certainly not the most important phase of the game.

.So far as health and exercise are concerned, village school and inlerdub cricket are of far greater moment, and for Ibis reason every care should be taken by legislators to do nothing winch should harm, even to the smallest extent, the welfare of players who are not in the public eve.

It is probable (bat for every /irstelass mateb played (hero a,re at least a thousand of less rale, and, therefore, precaution should he taken to safeguard the interests of those who participate in the latter.

.HE WANTED A HUNDRED. IT it is desired (o save time in a. match, one very obvious means of doing so is by increasing the number of halls In the over to eight or ten.

The advisability of increasing the number of (mils has often been mooted. Emm the earliest days until 188!) the number was four (unless otherwise agreed upon), from that 'kale until 1!)00 live, and since then six. When jho mailer came under eonsideralion about 70 years ago, Alfred .Mysm, the Kentish giant, a man of splendid physique, when, .asked ids opinion, drew himself up to ids full height, and exclaimed, in his Porthos-likc way. “Eor my-.cll', 1 should prefer a hundred hails to the over." lint Alfred always was generous. The outstanding feature of the first Pair of an Australian (cam in England are still remembered so vividly by middle-aged cricketers that it seems difficult to realise |hal“ forty years have passed since Spoffortli. Murdoch, 'Blackburn, and olhers were seen for the first time here.

A RUDE AAV A K'ENTXG

It may he. recalled dial during I lie hmr of Lillywhile’s team in IS7II-7 an Bullish side was beaten for the 11 1 -s I time on level terms by Australia.

Evidently, however, Ihe event made bat little impression on (be memory of followers of the gume in Ibis country, for when Iho Australians landed al Liverpool in 1878 I heir arrival caused but small eommenl, and when I hoy were• beaten by Nolls, in (lie opening nmteb of Idle lour, people took it as a mailer o* eonrse.

There was a very rude awakening. Proceeding to London, the colonials met a very siruii," side of (bo M.C.C.* al l.ord’s, and, dismis'-ing Ibem for 33 and .1.0, won tlie game in a single day in decisive fashion. The event erealed an immense sensation, and it is not 100 much to say that the mat eh marked the eomincnee-

incut of a very important epoch in the history of cricket. It at once became recognised everywhere that a new power had arisen in the cricketing world, and that the .supremacy of England a'l a game which had always been considered peculiarly her own was seriously challenged.

The success of (he team'was assured, and everywhere crowds flocked to see fspoliorih. “The Demon,” by his howling at Lord's, at once jumped into public favour and notoriety, although Boyle, who had proved far more effective in this country than he had ever been on (he harder wickets of Australia, had slightly the better figures on that historic occasion.

It must be patent to anyone able to recall the doings of the earlier Australian teams that there were giants in those days. The manner in which Blaekham stood close (o the wickets against the fastest howling electrified Englishmen, whilst Snofforth, as a mat eh-winning force, was ■-■,’f'ond to “W.G.” Murdoch,

who came over in 1878 as reserve

wicket-keeper, developed into the best of the Australian batsmen, and Garrett, Palmer, Bonnor, Boyle, George Giffen, and others caused themselves to he placed among the

immortals of Australian cricket. EXTRAVAGANT PRAISE GIVEN. When Palmov came over for tlu) first time his accomplishments as a bowler were heralded in the most extravagant fashion by Dunnor, whose unstinted praise struck terror into the heads of a small circle of acquaintances to whom the great man was holding forth, Donnor, however, was the most boastful of men, and he nullified — or, rather, considerably lessened — the effect of the impression lie had made by adding .airily, ‘“Go far as 1 myself am concerned, I could play him ill! day with a. toothpick!" The confession came as a great relief to his hearers, but Painter was nevertheless destined to obtain numerous triumphs.

, The crick el rivalry hot ween New ■Eolith Wales and Victoria has always been keen, and a very amusing instance occurred respecting (he selection of one of (he ■earlier Ausiiallan teams. Boyle, one of the soundest .judges of cricket, took exception to the choice of one invited for ilii 1 trip, and jusi as (ho (cam was leaving .Melbourne lie handed a sealed envelope to a friend, saying, ‘“Win n we have played our (ir.-l game in England, open this,

yon will find I In* mime ol.' the mini who will prove the Liilui'e of I lie side." The friend welled mi I i 1 Ihe re-mb o!.' I lie mulch wllh Oxford I'ni\’<*rsily was reeeived, and llum, opening I lie envelope, read (he name of 11. 11. MjHsie—wltd) hail '-cured '20(1 hy mosi hrillianl eriekei in his !ir.-d yre.il malidi on Fngii-di soil! Seldom ean prophecy have proved so hopelessly wrong, for Masde was declined to (day many splendid innines, and Ins hitting powers wor» mmdi uppreemted !»y all. Anolber amusing eireumsLinen reapediny (lie seleidion of a player oeeurred a few years Infer, when K'enny Burn, Ihe Tasmanian batsman, was chosen as seeond wicketkeeper, It was not nnlil Ihe loam had sailed dial Ihe diseovery was made lim! Burn had never kept wiekel in Ids life!