GREAT BOWLERS AND FIELDERS.
Great Bowlers and Fielders: their Methods at a Glance. By G. W. Beldam and C. B. Fry. (Macmillan and Co. 21s. met.)— It is with no feeling but respect for cricket and cricketers Mali we find ourselves smiling at this very weighty (we speak literally) and serious work. Its forerunner, giving action photographs of the best batsmen in the process of making their best strokes, had a certain practical use, since in batting there is more than a little in the position both of hands and feet. But we see absolutely no point whatever in an interminable series of photographs of bowlers approaching the wicket, delivering the ball, and recover- ing their balance after doing so. More, we make bold to say that a week's studious contemplation of this book's hundreds of pictures would add nothing whatever to the bowling capacity of any student. Mr. Spofforth's chapter might open his eyes a little—indeed, we are sure it would, for it is wise and suggestive —but we are convinced that these pictures would do nothing. The authors, as it happans, seem not only to share our view, but to extend it to life, for they say on p. 127: "It is very doubtful whether a bowler's style and method of delivery can be imitated to any good purpose." Why, then, have made the book ? it may be asked. Purely from a scientific motive, they would reply, to place on record the idiosyncrasies of the best bowling of the day. In other words, the book's real value will not begin for some years, but it will then serve to bring before old men the cricket of their youth. Meanwhile we, who are asked to judge it to-day, cannot, as we have said, refrain from smiling a little. But let us give it its chance. To the cellar with it !
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