spective of how many runs were being scored off him. This was one thing, apart from his skill, which raised him head and shoulders above maiden-over bowling English professionals. Spofforth bowled five thousand eight hundred and sixty-six overs for seven hundred and fifteen wickets; he consequently got a wicket once every eight overs (roughly speaking). Attewell got a wicket once every thirteen overs; Shaw once every fourteen overs; and Emmett once every ten overs. Spofforth was consequently, on the figures themselves, a far more deadly bowler than Shaw, Attewell, or Emmett.
In addition to Spofforth, the Australians have had a wonderfully good lot of bowlers: Palmer, Garrett, Boyle, Allan, Evans, Giffen, all being most admirable. It appears extraordinary at first sight that a country whose whole population does not exceed that of London should in the course of a few years have been able to develop such exceptional talent. We believe, however, that Australia will always possess excellent bowlers, for the following reason. In Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, the chief nurseries of Australian cricket, the grounds are so excellent, and usually so hard and fast, that no bowler can possibly expect the slightest amount of success unless he possesses some peculiarity of style or action, pace or power, over the ball. These, or some of them, the young Australian assiduously cultivates. In England the conditions are different, as, by reason of our variable climate, naturally weak bowling often becomes most effective. Young Australian bowlers have also ample opportunity for gaining experience and developing their skill, as there is in the colonies a very great dearth of the professional element. Members of the same club have to rely for their batting practice on the bowling of one another, and their bowlers come to acquire some of the peculiarities abovementioned that will strike terror into the hearts of their opponents in the next tie of the cup contests. These cup contests in Australia are an excellent institution, as professionalism is barred. They produce the greatest interest and excitement, and each club does its utmost to secure the much-coveted
