I intend no sort of disrespect to the gentlemen who have thus endeavoured to usurp the functions of the umpires. They are the captains of the various county elevens, and the names of Lord Hawke, Messrs. Mason, Jephson, Woods, Ranjitsinghi, Jones, Maclaren, M'Gregor, Jessop, are in themselves guarantees of merit and respect. But it may be asked whether the bowling element is fairly represented as opposed to the batting. Are not all these captains batsmen and only three of them bowlers? And is it not rather ungracious that on such a question, which mainly concerns bowlers, a tribunal consisting almost entirely of batsmen should give a decision on a purely bowling question? This is the first aspect that strikes one on considering the matter; but the whole question is so difficult that it may be well to consider carefully what is bowling and what is throwing.[1]
- ↑ It seems to us that in this matter the County Captains have acted quite beyond their powers. Till the rules of cricket are altered by the M.C.C., no one except an umpire has the least right to lay down the law as to who bowls fairly and who does not. The County Captains have constituted themselves a sort of supreme court over the head of the M.C.C. By their action they have struck one of the hardest blows at the true interests
