The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-11
CRICKET
NOT DEAD
A Veteran Player
Discusses Its
Prospects.

1 have been asked several times recent
~ TO give my opinion to the prospect
of the cricket season for 1902.
With a few changes, to conform with
the different conditions now existing, the
prospect of a good season is very prom
ising, never has it been better In fact.
during my six years connection with the
Honolulu Cricket Club.
What 1 mean is this: In the past be-
fore annexation. We had quite number
of British gunboats here. the officers OF
which were willing to play as many
matches with us as we wished. We al
ways kept in practice to be ready for
these visitors, and played r. number OF
interesting games. Now. rarely does
a British boat call here that we have
no incentive to practice, and we get very
dilatory and take but little interest in
local matches when opposing teams are
picked from the one club.
Surely, the way to work up more in
terest viii be to start a cricket associa-
ton and form three clubs 50 that a little
esprit de CORPS may be brought into
force in local matches. So many crick-
eters have come here during the past
two years that we should have no diff
Guilty in finding the players required and
1 should propose that a canvass be made
among the baseball men with the GER
tainty of finding number of recruits.
1 think it was four seasons ago that
when we had Harry Wilder, Duke Nc
Nicholl, Scanlon and many other well
known baseballers playing regularly with
us and very fine fielders they made. We
should In all probability have had them
still with US If we could have put a little
more vim into our matches or even turn
ed up little more regularly on the
ground to play a scheduled game.
The question of punctualfty is also a
very important point. No one enjoys
waiting on the field one two hours be-
fore sufficient players arrive to make
game, and no one can tell me that this
unpunctuality is not the fault of the
players. No employer in this town would
object to his employee leaving little
early on a Saturday afternoon Except
of course on a steamer day'D, If he
knew that his object was to play the
most healthful game ever invented.
Another point to be revised Is the duties
of the captain. In other parts of the
world his duties commence and end on
the field of play. unless he Is on the Sc
lection committee, in which case his du-
tines are multitudinous. He has to notI-
fy every member of the club when the
game Is to take place; to order and
stand responsible for anything needed on
the field; to see that the mating is laid
and the wickets are pitched straight; to
peg and splice the bats and grease the
balls; and finally after the, game, to see
hat everything is put away in its place.
md to receive the abuse Of the inevitable
If things did not suit their very
peculiar notions.
Like the historical policeman. the cap
aims life is not a happy one. OF course
here are some very willing workers In
he club. but they not always on the
pot when required. Surely, the notify
ng of the teams could be better attended
o by the secretary, and the field work
etter attended to by a good ground
ommittee.
We shall this season regret very much
ricket field Messrs. T. r. Walker and
homas May, both of them great cricket
nthusiasts and fond Of practically Illus
rating the same.
AS to the question OF the Makiki res
walton, foresee no trouble about our
otaining it when necessary. So far we
ave been very well treated by the other
hletic associations and with a little
We and take, 1 see no reason why this
easant state of affairs should not con-
nue..
Under the circumstances. and with
hat L consider the necessary changes
entioned above, the coming season
lould be very enjoyable to all true
and conducive to much good
salth and fellowship.
II. L. s. HERBERT.
Vice President Honolulu Cricket Club.
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