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46
CRICKET

ways in which a man of intelligence may be detected at once.

In no department of the game has there been a more wonderful advance than in amateur wicket-keeping. Thirty years ago the disparity between professionals and amateurs in this respect was as great as it was in the case of bowling. Lockyer, Pooley, Plumb, Finder, and Philips were streets ahead of the gentlemen. These might be represented by Bush, Winter, Haygarth, Round, and Bissett. In these days Storer, Lilley, and Hunter are probably only a little better than Newton, M'Gregor, and Philipson; and the past ten years has seen such amateur giants as Alfred Lyttelton, Tylecote, Wickham, Kemble, Gay, Lewis, and Leatham, in addition to the above-named. Professionals are as good. One need only mention D. Hunter, C. Smith, Sherwin, Pilling, Board, Pike, Butt, and Huish, besides the great three. Still there is little to choose, and I confess that I cannot give a sound reason to explain the change, and the fact is a curious one.