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III
FIELDING
If there is one department of cricket where it may be doubted whether there has been any material progress made as compared with days gone by, I should say fielding is that one, and it ought to be better on the whole. Of course, it is altered in its character. Long-stops are not now required; long-leg is a thing of the past. If the bowling is of Richardson's pace, the wicket-keeper stands back, more men are placed in the slips, and, generally, I should say that, with the exception of the wicket-keep, short-slip has more catches than any other "field." Still, though it is not easy to compare past generations with this, I am of the opinion that more catches are missed than ought to be, and more care and attention should be
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