Page:The Crisis in Cricket and the Leg Before Rule (1928).djvu/10

2 recognised as such, and each side is credited with one point. A draw at cricket, on the other hand, is so rarely a tie that it need not be taken into account, and draws take place either in consequence of rain, or enormous run-getting or slow batting. Three days, as many days as hours for any other game, are not enough to enable a cricket match to be finished with a definite result. Such a state of things is not to be found in any other ball game in the world and is altogether detestable.

For better or for worse most of the first-class cricket in England consists of county matches, and for some forty years first-class county cricket has been governed under a system of tables, which was only moderately successful even in those days when drawn matches were fewer than they are now. Under this system the counties are arranged in order of merit at the end of every season, but the results have not been by any means always satisfactory and changes have been made from time to time. Two instances will show how unsatisfactory the system was fourteen years ago and again in July, 1927. In 1913 Notts played Kent at Canterbury, and Notts led on the first innings by 14 runs. Probably at this stage the weather broke up, the wicket became difficult, and Notts lost five wickets for 28 runs, Kent being in a winning position when heavy rain brought the match to an abrupt conclusion. But owing to a 14 runs lead in the first innings Notts took three points and Kent none. No doubt Notts had very bad luck, but luck is always present in cricket and often adds an interest to the game and is accepted as such, and the broad fact remains that although the odds at the end of the