Australian bowler, I said, "I cannot imagine how you ever get a good batsman out!" His reply was to the effect that it would be impossible, were it not for the fact that they sometimes got themselves out. In other words, given a man of inexhaustible patience, a straight bat, and a good eye, there is no reason why he should ever be got out. Anybody who saw Noble bat in this year's test match at Manchester will see that this is no exaggeration. It is not possible in England to devote more than three days to any match, and I, for one, maintain that it would be the ruin of the game if more time were given. A continuation of summers like 1899 and no alteration of the rules would produce an absolute deadlock of international cricket in this country. I may say here, that the same deadlock would exist in English cricket under the same circumstances, and the hands of our legislators would therefore be forced to make changes and new rules. I will speak of this in another chapter, but in writing about Australian cricket, I cannot help wondering what will be the effect in Australia of narrowing the bat, raising the wickets, or of
