A Few Words on Cricket

"But we do not judge a cricketer so much by thewas astonishing; but the soul of the game was
runs he gets as by the way he gets them". Inwanting in him. There was no sunshine in his play, no
literature as in finance, says Washington Irving, --swift surprise or splendid unselfishness. And without
"much paper and much poverty may co-exist". And inthese things, without gaiety, daring and the spirit of
cricket, too, many runs and much dullness may besacrifice cricket is a dead thing. Now, the Jam Sahib
associated.has the root of the matter in him. His play is as
If cricket is menaced with creeping paralysis, it issonny as his face. He is not a miser hoarding up runs,
because it is losing the spirit of joyous adventure andbut a millionaire spending them, with a splendid yet
becoming a mere instrument for compiling tables ofjudicious prodigality. It is as though his pockets are
averages. There are dull, mechanical fellows who turnbursting with runs that he wants to shower with his
out runs with as little emotion as a machine turns outblessing upon the expectant multitude.
pins. There is no color, no enthusiasm, and noIt is not difficult to believe that in his little kingdom of
character in their play. Cricket is not an adventure toNawanagar where he has the power of life and
them, it is a business.death in his hands, he is extremely popular, for it is
It was so with Shrewsbury. His technical perfectionobvious that his pleasure is in giving pleasure.