Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/200

192 :to recommend a scheme for this purpose; such scheme to include a scheme of promotion by merit, under which a county may rise from one class to another.


 * "2. That all three-day matches shall begin at twelve o'clock the first day, and not later than 11.30 following days."

Two or three important changes had been made in the laws at a meeting of the M.C.C., held in the month of May. They were as follow:


 * "1. That the over in future shall consist of five balls instead of four.


 * "2. That the bowler may change ends as often as he pleases, but may not bowl two overs in succession.


 * "3. That the Captain of the batting side may declare the innings at an end in a one-day match whenever he chooses to do so; but only on the last day of a match arranged for more than one day."

The alterations elicited a great number of opinions for and against; but by the end of the year it was generally admitted that they had worked satisfactorily. Declaring the innings at an end in one-day matches caused the greatest stir; and when one comes to think of it, it cannot be a very pleasing thing for the tail of an eleven to be told that there is no need for them to bat, and that they must be content with fielding for once in a way.

The seventh Australian team, which visited England in 1890, under the leadership of Murdoch, might be classed in strength with McDonnell's, although it did not show such good results. For the first time since these teams came to us in 1878, they lost more matches than they won; and I need not say the result was alike disappointing to Australian and English cricketers. We had been led to expect one of the strongest elevens that had ever left Australia; and for a match or two, in the early part of the tout, it