CRICKET AND RIVAL ATTRACTIONS [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR]

SIR,—May I be permitted to endorse Mr. Sladc's view that the rules of cricket should not be regarded as sacrosanct, and to emphasise the necessity of reforming them if cricket is to hold its own ? The depleted revenue of the County Clubs is easy to understand in the light of the following figures showing the enormous growth in public favour 'during recent years of rival forms of sport and amusement in the British Isles :

1900.

1938.

Baseball Teams

10

750 Tennis Clubs ..

320 3,400

Cinemas 12 4,800*

Golf Clubs ..

120 1,900

Civil Flying Clubs and Schools Nil

142

Dog-racing Courses .. Nil

152

Ice-rinks .. 2

25

Sailing Clubs ..

125 213

Private Cars Licensed

4,300

1,938,000 Motor Cycles „ 3,000 .. 444,600 * Containing 4,500,000 seats.

Forty years ago tennis, golf and motoring were indulged in, speaking broadly, only by the wealthier classes, but matters are very different in this respect today when they are the recreations of the masses also, and how greatly the revenues of County Cricket Clubs must have suffered in consequence is sufficiently obvious. Nor need it be supposed, as regards cinemas and dog-racing, from the fact that they are principally patronised in the evening that they are not also serious rivals to cricket as an entertainment, for this would be quite a mistake, the truth being that the general public has only a limited amount to spend on entertainments and what therefore is spent at the " pictures " and the White City cannot be spent at Lord's and the Oval. It is certain indeed that a very large portion of the funds which the public can spare for entertainment must have been diverted to cinemas. For the Is. charged at cricket grounds, two and often three film shows can be seen, with the further certainty that rain will not deprive the spectator of his fun, and that the entertainment which he gets will be very different in the matter of excitement and sensationalism from anything he may look for in these days on the cricket ground. In which latter connexion it may be recalled that in one match this season no fewer than eleven consecutive maiden overs were bowled.

It may be regarded as deplorable that County Cricket should be vitally affected by cinemas, ice-rinks and dog-racing, but the fact remains that these things are changing public taste and altering the standards of entertainment and amusement expected by the community, and cricket executives should surely not ignore this fact. County Cricket, in its prime, forty years ago, had no such competitors. The public appetite had not then been quickened to expect as its due the excitement provided by dirt-tracks, Brooldands and speed-boats, with the result that millions then were content with a quiet afternoon at Lord's or the Oval who find the joys of the open road and other forms of amusement infinitely more to their liking today.

Yet one has only to remember the stupendous crowds still drawn to football matches to realise that the love of outdoor sports and games remains as strong as ever, despite all counter attractions, when it is properly catered for.