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 CHAPTER V.

CRICKET SCHISMS AND THE PROGRESS OF COUNTY CRICKET—1863 TO 1869.

ounty Cricket made satisfactory progress in the year 1863. A number of county clubs were then formed, which took root, and have flourished with more or less success since. They had to contend against the popularity of the All-England and United Elevens, who still received liberal encouragement wherever they appeared; but lovers of the game could see, even at that date, that a county club was more likely to establish the game on a firm footing than a travelling eleven which owed its existence entirely to gate-money. The success of the two Elevens was no doubt owing to the quality of the players representing them; but their jealousies and constant bickerings began to tire their supporters, and when the North and South took sides, matters for the moment looked serious. I suppose we shall never get to the bottom of the various schisms which created so much ill-feeling about that time, and which spoiled so many important matches; and I question if it be worth the trouble to try. A short recapitulation of them will be sufficient.

First, we had Clarke's management of the All-England Eleven called into question, which led to the formation of the United Eleven; second, there was