" CRICKET—MORE OR LESS" [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR]
Sur,—May an old man who remembers many joyous days on humble cricket fields have a word on the subject ? In the first place I cannot aVoid a feeling that Test Matches are something more—and less—than cricket or why all the clap-trap about "The Ashes 7. ?
Mr. Noakes tseems to suggest that modern rules are sacro- sanct. I am old enough to remember when a bowler was, by the rules, no-balled if his hand was above his shoulder when he delivered the bail. Has the change of that rule ruined cricket ?
Again—which was really "cricket," playing an off-break with your pads or being opt for obstruction if the ball would hit your stumps ?
All charige, then, are not bad. With Mr. Noakes I do not - like Mr. Housman's method of deciding a game—but I do think there may be Soniething to be said for his idea of dividing up the hours of play—and that in itself does not involve any change of rules or play.—Yours faithfully, Merriott's Ford, Merriott, Somerset. C. E. W. SLADE.
Previous page
