impression which has become prevalent that cricket is a sleepy game. It is waste of time to play a pure defensive game, and if the inveterate blocker could waste only his own time none would have any right to complain, but that of at least twenty-five others is being sacrificed at the same moment, until from that and many other delays a game capable of giving delight has become so little understood, even by American cricketers themselves that only foreigners can draw a crowd.
The blindness of Americans to their own short comings was illustrated by their attitude during the recent visit of the Irish Team. The universal confidence in themselves, was only equalled by the pity expressed for their visitors who were expected to fall an easy prey to the representatives of Uncle Sam. Americans have set up a standard of their own, and many have persuaded themselves to believe in methods which occasionally succeed, but when the Englishman is at his best the American has invariably been defeated, excuses taking the place of good play, which are so generally accepted that American cricket has temporarily retrograded.
This retrogression has been caused chiefly by ignoring the importance of the wicket keeper. The star known as the aggressive batter, or perhaps he had better be called a comet, has turned the heads of American cricketers. We are all sovereigns, though many of us cannot show that amount of cash, and why should we not all be star batsmen? The object is easily accomplished if the wicket keeper can be got rid of. The attempt has not only been made, but has been actually imposed upon the American public as cricket; for though wearing the
