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Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3593, 5 August 1912, Page 4

Though it may come as a great surprise to some lov-

Has It Had Its Creat Day?

ers of ye ancient game of cricket

that the current series of triangular tests is to he tho last, as well as the first, of its kind, it will he noted, upon reflection, that the decision was inevitable under all the circumstances. From the point of view of sport they have undoubtedly created a. great deal of interest, and especially has this been the case in the Colonies. But they have apparently failed very badly in regard to what is considered by the authorities an even more important aspect—the financial side. Thus it comes about that the mandate, has gone forth that th'e scheme is to come to an end at the close of the present series of contests. In this connection it is important also to note that the decision in this regard may only be the forerunner of a similar decision with reference to Homo visits by Colonial teams! Such tours have, as is well known, invariably turned out to be very profitable ventures in the past. Whether the same happy state of affairs (for those who participate in the trips) will be the experience of the near future is, however, open to doubt. Upon the attendances that have been registered in connection with the matches at Home oven this season the prospects would seem to be anything but rosy. The handicap of cricket is not new—move and more are the lovers of outside games and spectacles varying their entertainment. For instance only five thousand out of Loudon’s millions witnessed the first day’s play in the match Surrey v. Australia at tho Oval, and here arc the totals of the. attendances at other recent matches:. —Yorkshire v. Gloucester, at Leeds, 3934; Warwick v. Lancashire, at Birmingham; 3793; Kent v. Sussex, at Tonbridge, 3100; Middlesex v. Notts, at Lords, 2000; Leicester v. Hampshire, at Leicester, 1900; Nortliants v. Essex, at Northampton, 850; Somerset v. South Africans, at Bath, 1000; Middlesex v. Essex, at Lords, 2300; South Wales v. South .Africans, at Swansea, 500; Surrey v. Lancashire, at the Oval, 3500; Worcestershire v. Gloucestershire, at Worcester, 500; Sussex v. Cambridge University, at Brighton, 600; Derbyshire v. Hampshire, at Derby, 189. What is now

happening at Home is that the puncinal league football matches draw an average attendance of 20,000. .'I enrns, ‘baseball (in Wales), lacrosse, polo, bows even quoits, attract increasing crowds. Hundreds of thousands of people turn out to see aeroplane competitions, though these, of course, have the advantage of a novelty, which may he expected to decline. With a view of rehabilitating interest in the Home “national game” a keen discussion, it is interesting to record, was raging when the latest mail left for the Colonies. By some it is even being declared that cricket has had its day, and has been injured beyond hope of redemption by excessive skill, dawdling methods, the vanity of lordly “star” players, and so on. As in the case of Rugby football in New Zealand, many of the critics at Home are now urging that cricket might easily be played faster and thus made more interesting. One critic has already suggested that batsmen should be subjected to a time limit, “compelled to- hit out and score quickly, and keep things alive!” The game has too few thrills, says another. He finds it “too leisurely and too perfect. Bowlers are too good, batsmen too good, fielders too good. Above all, it is slow. Even the fast falling wickets on a wet day cannot make it anything but a slow game. Witness the leisurely retreat of the beaten batsman and the advance across the field of the’incoming man, the delivery of the ball and its return to the bowler, the crossing of the field at the end of each over. Compare these things with the kaleidoscopic changes of a football field, the unceasing movement of the ball, the vigor of attack and defence in an Association or Rugby game. Every- | thing in one game tends to keep the I interest simmering for three days, [ while the other is at boiling point for I nearly two hours.” In an article in ! Saturday's issue it was pointed out i how successful previous visits of Golo- ! nial XT's to England have proved. Un- | dtr the circumstances it will, there- ! fore, be doubly interesting to note how the current tours of the two ! Colonial teams end financially.