"THE BOOK OF CRICKET.'

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 137, 10 June 1911, Page 14

"THE BOOK OF CRICKET.'

By P. F. WARNER. .1. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd. 5/ net. This is a practical exposition of cricket by onu who knows the game from A. to Z, and whose opinion on batting bowling and fielding, and upon the. management of cricket teams will be received with respect wherever the game is played. The author's descriptions and opinions, moreover, are supplemented by a series of admirable photographs, shewing the positions and methods of prominent cricketers when engaged in the act of batting, bowling and fielding. It is prefaced by the full text of the Laws of Cricket, as amended up to latest date by the MaTylebone Club. Every possessor of the book has thus at his command a standard authority on the game, for reference when any question of practice arises. The illustrations include a series of photos shewing the manner in which notable bowlers hold the ball when delivering for leg-break, off-break and " googlie." But perhaps the most obvious lesson to be drawn from these pictures is the fact that mannerisms peculiar to individuals have less to do with effect than natural or acquired proficiency.

Mr. Warner's comments upon eminent cricketers of his*time are always fair and instructive. " For skill, pure and simple," he says, "no batsman has ever surpassed K. S. Ranjitsinhji or Mr. Victor Trumper. This may sound like heresy when one thinks of Dr. W. O. (trace, but in actual execution I do not believe, that even he was their superior. ' W. (!.', however, will always remain The Champion. He created modern hatting. Never has there been such an all-round yricketer —and never has any cricketer kept up his form over so long a period of j'ears. At seventeen he wa.s playing for the Gentlemen, and at fifty he was still going in first for them at Lord's, and scoring 411 and 31 not out, on a difficult wicket, against Lockwood, J. T. Hearne and Haigh." "W.G." thinks that Spofforth was the finest bowler, his variation of pace and flight being most deceptive, and that Freeman was the best fast bowler he ever played against, although he places Lockwood and Richardson very near to Freeman." Arthur Shrewsbury at his best ranked second only to W.G. as a batsman, and on difficult wickets no had no superior. Of the Australians he places Victor Trumper first, and thinks " it is questionable whether 31. A. Noble was not a better all-round cricketer than Mr. Gifi'en ever was. Mr. Clement Hill is without doubt the finest left-hander the world has even seen. Mr. J. J. DarHriEC at bis best was but little inferior even to Mr. Hill as

a left-hander. He was indeed a more punishing player, the strength ot his driving being terrific, but he scarcely possessed Hill's defence and soundness. Mr. WaTwick Armstrong is the Noble of Australian cricket to-day. Mr. Hugh Trumble was one of the greatest bowlers that the great bowler-producing country. Australia, has ever sent forth." Taken altogether, Mr. Warner has produced a. most excellent book, which, is published at a very moderate price.