Page:The Crisis in Cricket and the Leg Before Rule (1928).djvu/89

80 prime in 1882 and 1884, there were only six cases of l.b.w., one in sixty-seven. Can anybody be found who would say that this was an unsatisfactory state of things? It was the fault of the batsmen, it might be argued—why did they not cover the wicket with the legs to act as an extra defence, as the Badminton Library recommends? The answer to this question is that in those days such a use of the legs would have been considered unsportsmanlike. If legs had been used in this unsportsmanlike manner, Spofforth would have been treated unfairly. He did his part and met with the reward which was due to him as one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history, and nobody can contend that cricket was the worse, but much the better.

Cricket being in such a thoroughly unsatisfactory position, something drastic needs to be done and done quickly. I have endeavoured to the best of my ability to urge two changes that in the opinion of many would not only materially improve the game, but restore it to the proud position it once held, and would hold again if it was played under proper conditions. Those who think that owing to the large and increasing number of drawn matches, the game is not in a healthy condition, have suggested two remedies: alteration in the l.b.w. law and the forbidding of artificial preparation of wickets. Those who oppose legislation to bring about these two remedies are bound to propose something else, as it is impossible for them to say that the game is in a healthy state. The number of drawn matches in fine weather has proved that it is not, and on this point there is no appeal, but practically nothing has been done or even suggested to help the bowlers who are hopelessly