The came has undergone many changes in the last twenty years, the interchange of visits between England and Australia having a lot to answer for, almost each visit being productive of a new stroke or some change in the placing of one's fields-men. When we first sent afoam to Australia our opponents were little better than what is termed country cricketers, or rustic bats. In other words they were natural free hitters trusting more to the strength of their arm than to the timing of the stroke, but their eyes were always very wide open, and they have long ago acquired the polish'that was formerly' so conspicnous by its absence. We too have learnt something from them in the art of placing fono's fields, and they were the first to adopt positions under the batsman's nose which appeared more than dangerous but obtained for them many x wicket. Other teants have come and gone but th" learn Ling of anything has always been on ons side. Not so long ago all hits were run t which must have affected the older lericketers not. little and been the cause of their downfall on severa' accusions, for jeren to-day, with boundaries, a succession short rans has often bren the means of a howler securing a wicket, frequently ing the batsman caught. in the slips Sowing to being late with his stroke, hilt inded ax he is with there sharp sprints between wickets. Should it be ruled that all hits are to be run out in future, og suggested, there would undoubtedly' be fewer rans made, and batsmen would not stay so long at the wickets perhaps, there is no getting away from the fact that bowlers under the new conditions would a slight advantage, As far as Tenn judge, from my own point of view, I should probably be more exhauster after making 50, and running all hits out, then after making a century with boundaries on such aground as Lord's, Brighton or Taunton when the ball travels very fast to a not very far distant houndury; but, on the other hand, when"obliged to run all hits out, Ishould take very much longer intervals to regain my wind, and after a fourer would leave several off halls alone to give me time to get my wind thoroughly thus a great deal more time would he wasted than is now the ease so far us my batting would he concerned,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.