Page:Out-door Games Cricket and Golf (1901).djvu/149

118 their opponents in to make more than 200 to win the match; and in those days the odds would have been reckoned at fully 3 to 1 against this being done. The great increase in scoring, however, has worked a complete change in this respect. Innings of 300 and 400 runs are now played, and to be 80 runs behind is nothing. Whereas, formerly, to follow on meant practically to lose the match, now the side that follows on finds itself in the proud position of not only keeping its opponents out in the field for a day and a half, but also possibly by declaring their innings at an end when the wicket began to show signs of wear, to put the other side in on a broken wicket for two and a half hours' batting, and 200 runs to get to win. To give such an advantage was never contemplated. The M.C.C. now recommend that when one side is 150 runs ahead it should have the option of making its opponents follow on. Instead of the side which has followed on placing the other in the awkward predicament just described, the leaders, that is the eleven that is ahead, now have this power, and the advantage will and must be tremendous. Let us suppose