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128 bowl a more difficult ball every now and then, but I say without fear of contradiction that, human nature being what it is, the world cannot possibly turn out a grander fast bowler than Richardson. And yet, in consequence of the undue advantage that the present wickets and rules of the game give to batting, in spite of his magnificent physique, we have the mournful fact to face, that in these days it is impossible for a fast bowler to last longer than the miserably short period of five or at the most six years. I have seen Richardson bowl hundreds of balls in his prime, and I am not prepared to say that I have ever seen a grander sight in cricket. I saw him bowl a few overs after his second visit to Australia, in the spring of 1898, and I felt glad to see him taken off, and nobody will persuade me to see him bowl again unless by some miracle he recovers his old pace and skill. I had far sooner not have my vision of the glory of his bowling when in his prime dimmed by the vision of his bowling in his decay—and he is not yet thirty years old!

Reform must be put in hand. Try experiments in the way of declaring innings at an end,