their stamp or style of batting would be altered. The question arises strongly in my mind as to how will the Australians play and with what success if we get wickets of a wet summer like 1888. It is a curious fact that between 1878 and 1890 the Australians seemed to have provided themselves in the way of batting with certain hitters who are useful on slow wickets in a way that they have not done since then. In 1882 they had Massie, McDonnell, and Bonner; in 1884 they had McDonnell and Bonner; in 1886, Bonner; and in 1888, McDonnell: but in 1899 and, in fact, ever since 1890, with the exception of Lyons, they have not brought any conspicuous hitters. There is one simple reason why, as it appears to me, fast, vigorous batting is likely in Australia to die a natural death, and this reason is what I call the detestable system of playing matches to a finish, regardless of time. One side wins the toss, goes in to bat on a hot day, and stays in as long as it can on wickets like the proverbial billiard-table. Time is no object, and that side develops a painfully slow style of play. In some conversation I had this year with Howell, the
