New-York tribune., 1868-03-26

reach nSa, ot T. average powers good head will con
gifted few, nor crcketers soon superannuated II
a11s d scope ior great diversity of talent-bowlns
play and good generaship all points OF the game in
one OF winch many a man has earned a good name,
though Inferior In the rest There good batsmen too
and capital helders, among ncarghted men, and hard
hltters among weak and crippled ones and as TO age
there are many men, very useful IN Beyens, between 20
and 10 years old
Cricket in this country ourhed to quite an extent be-
fore the at9 war Of the Rebellion, but since then the
American element has been largely withdrawn from H.
and hence 1t has declined in popularity But the promise
Is tat the coming season will nauguTae quite revival
and should the All England Eleven again nav s yisit
gre cricket excitement would undoubtedly lie created
The time when the local contests between the New
York and St George Clubs and those OF eeyens Of the
United states and Canada used to attract spectators by
the hundreds to the cricket grounds at Hoboken The
absence of these interesting trials skill Of late years
has undoubtedly had great tendency 10 depress the
cricket market. In Philadelphia the home Of American
cricket city which at time had ITS hundreds OF
cricket clubs, the in taking OF so many Of the young
men, greatly retarded the progress OF the Que and since
then but five or six clubs have hounshed where pre-
vously five times as many were In existence. III native
eevens could be trained up to defeat the eleveus com
posed Of English players resident imported cricket
would assuredy achieve popularity in TINS country
Ond only to that OF national game OF ball Its Innate
atractveness would do this alone, but for the
nterposed by national prejudice and the unwse policy
which has hitherto placed the control of the game 10 this
city especially the hands Of the old boys Of cricket.
the result beng sad lack OF that spirit or energy, en-
terprise and goaheadityeness which should long
this have led TO having twenty thirty clubs Hour
sng in midst instead OF but one club organized on
successful and sesusaining basis with about two or
organizations. ll
This lack OF energy and the existence OF certain preu
dces however not the only barrier 10 the popularity
the game this country for II finds Its CHIEF obstacle
in form OF the delays unnecessarily incident 10 the
game as hitherto played here, and also the custon OF
strengthening club eeyens by drafts upon stronger clubs
whereby that esprit du so necessary as an attractive
element contests between rival clubs IL sacrnced ana
instead OF an exciting trial OF skill between the strongest
PLAYERS OF two rival organizations with all the spJ ana
life OF the game shown in the play we see instead con
test between picked eevens Of half dozen clubs spirit
less and ediousy uninterestng All these drawbacks 10
the popularity OF the game IN America snow the need OF
reform cricket here and we trust 10 see sucn refer
nation inaugurated this as will greatly improve
the Of the game here and place IN ts proper po
ston the most attractive game OF Dal IN vogue 70
those skilled IN ball playing.
The prospects the Of 1868 as We SAID De
fore very promising indeed The ST. George CuO or INA
city the very strongest cricket organization IN the cOu-
tr will this Spring permanently occupy their me new
grounds on Bergen Hill, and the purpose OF the CuD IL
not only OF Boston, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati Dut also
of Canada The New-YOrk Club have reorganlzed under
favorable auspices, and they will probably occupy tho
old inclOsed Cricket-held at Hoboken The Manhattan
Club will play their grounds foot OF Nnth-st ttODo
the Willow Club OF Brooklyn have again leaseu
the Bedford Cricket Ground and the club VIII muster
strong eleven this year, and will play quite NUMBER W
Oneday matches The Satellite Club OF Brooklyn WIN
occupy their old quarters this season. to be known as ne
Mutual Ball Grounds. The clubs OF Paterson, newark.
Jersey City Orange, Essex County. Ionkers &c. pro-
pose taking active part in the campaign; and IN Boz
tOn Philadelphia &c. quite cricket revival Is lkey 10
characterize the Among the leading contests OF
the will he those between the st. George CnD or
this city and the noted Young America CluD OF Pha
delpha the latter being composed entirely OF American
PLAYERS and also OF players who belong To no other 0rSao
ilatiOn except the club they play With