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CEICKET. THE era of the modern development of cricket may be all the suggestions for legislation have to be ratified by definitely dated from the visit of the first Australian a majority of those present. The new president of the team to England in 1878. The previous twenty years had club is annually nominated by the outgoing president at been devoted to the gradual improvement of the game the dinner held on the same evening; but as this is badly throughout the country. But whilst the value of the patronized, it is now usual to mention the successor when work of the touring organizations had been enormous, responding to the customary vote of thanks at the meeting. The line of demarcation between the professional and interest in their encounters with local twenty-twos had the pseudo-amateur has often given rise to much bittersteadily abated. The splendid prowess of the family of pay Grace set a new standard of ability, and the real value of ness. It is of course the rule that any amateur, county cricket began to be appreciated after the enact- who desires it, may receive the money for which ment that no cricketer could play for two counties in the he is out of pocket in hotel and travelling expenses. But same season. Many had previously played indiscrimi- it has been asserted that a number of prominent amateurs nately either for that of birth or residence, whilst one player, derived large incomes under the guise of expenses. Until Dr W. G. Grace retired from Gloucestershire to take the Southerton, represented four counties in the same season. The development and modification of modern cricket direction of the London County Cricket Club at the have considerably altered the game. The improvement in Crystal Palace for five years at a salary of a thousand a the ground has caused the abolition of long-stop, once the year, the question of his expenses was continually cropping most important place in the field, that position not having up. Lord Alverstone as chairman of the Surrey County been filled in first-class cricket since 1877. Over-arm Cricket Club, also stated, on the retirement of Mr. W. W. action in bowling is now universal, though occasionally Read, that his case had been peculiar and would never lobs judiciously pitched and supported by unusually become a precedent. Prowess at cricket has undoubtedly brilliant fielding have proved effective. The tendency of helped amateurs to get comfortable billets not only as the modern attack is to bowl for catches rather than on schoolmasters, but in breweries, offices, and on the executhe wicket; consequently the positions of the field have tive of county cricket clubs. A professional in first-class been much altered, three slips being quite common, and cricket obtains five pounds for each county match he four having been at times required by very fast bowlers. plays, and his hotel bill and third-class railway faies in Cover-point, whilst still an important post, is no longer so out-matches. It is the custom of many committees to brilliant a situation as in the days when the Rev. Y. K. give a sovereign to every professional who scores fifty runs, Royle became famous; and leg hitting has so entirely and money to those who perform the hat trick (^.e., take departed—the last great exponent haying been William three wickets with consecutive balls) or make a “ century.^ Oscroft—that for some bowlers not a single man is placed Yorkshire, however, leaves the donation of “ talent money the captain, whilst the M.C.C. give a bat to every on the on-side. At the same time the conviction must to or professional who scores a century for them. grow upon every careful observer that, whilst the increased amateur Professionals have always received ten pounds when playprecision of modern batting continually augments the inc for Players v. Gentlemen at Lords, and a like sum was disadvantages under which the bowler labours, this is not only due to the admirable condition of the turf, but also to invariably paid in “test matches” (ie., between represena deterioration in fielding. Whether first-class cricketers tative elevens of England and Australia) up to August participate in more matches than they are physically capable 1896, when the five professionals selected demanded of playing at the top of their skill in all departments, or twenty pounds for their services. The affair created a whether this additional handicap to the bowler is due to great sensation, and eventually three of the five, having lack of unison between members of a side, the fact remains withdrawn their request, were included on the side. In that the evil of giant scoring can be best remedied by all the test matches of 1899 twenty pounds was given to improvement in fielding, which is largely a matter of each professional employed. Every county professional personal effort, and without which the multiplication of of proved ability has the prospect of a benefit towards the end of his career, and the proceeds of the Whit Monday matches is spoiling the perfection of the game. The accessories of cricket are now very different from those match at Lord’s is annually devoted to the recompense of in former days. Large pavilions with admirable accom- one of the professionals on the ground staff of the Marylemodation for refreshment and dressing have replaced the bone Cricket Club. In December 1899, on Lord Hawke s old tents or “ booths,” whilst the general public now finds instigation, it was resolved at a meeting of the county spacious covered stands and thousands of free seats on secretaries that “the counties should reserve direct control every county ground. The improved telegraph boards, over the investment and disposal of all cricket moneys. giving the runs as scored and the numbers opposite the The largest amounts have been recorded at Peel’s benefit names of both batsmen and bowlers on the printed card, at Sheffield and Mold’s at Manchester, when the subscripare even now inferior to those employed in Australia, tion lists and the gate money in each case exceeded £2500. where the entire score and bowling analysis is often dis- Many counties now give winter pay to their professionals played. The increasing amount of space devoted to the at about fifty shillings a week, Yorkshire having been the game in every daily paper, and the publication of the first to set the example. Professionals in advanced years averages weekly during the season, indicate the enormous also derive benefit from the Cricketers’ Fund, and obtain attention given by the press to the game, whilst signed billets as coaches and groundmen. Umpires receive a articles by the most noted amateurs have become pro- pound a day, and each gets a cricket ball as a perquisite. minent in many popular journals, and the latest scores The list of county umpires vus first submitted by the counties to the Committee of M.C.C. in December 1882 are a feature of each edition of the evening papers. The legislative power over the game is still vested in the Com- to prevent any one standing when his own county was Latterly the county captains have selected mittee of Marylebone Cricket Club, consisting of sixteen playing. twenty umpires members, four retiring annually. Their places are filled following year. to act in the county matches of tiie by general vote at the annual meeting of the club, when
