16 THE INFLUENCE OF 



or whether it may not be said that it occupies too 

 much time and takes men away from other more 

 advantageous occupations, or whether the com- 

 bination of amateur and professional skill which is 

 found in great matches is a good thing ; but I wish, 

 briefly, to point out one or two points in human 

 nature which seem to me to be developed by cricket. 

 The first of these is hero-worship. The best 

 player in a village club, and the captain of a school 

 eleven, if not for other reasons unusually unpopular, 

 is surrounded by a halo of glory which falls to the 

 successful in no other sport. Great things are ex- 

 pected of him, he is looked upon with admiring 

 eyes, and is indeed a great man. " Ah, it is all 

 very well," you hear, " but wait till Brown goes in, 

 Smith and Eobinson are out, but wait till Brown 

 appears, then you will see how we shall beat you, 

 bowl him out if you can." His right hand will 

 atone for the shortcomings of many smaller men, 

 his prowess make up the deficiency of his side. 

 Or look at a match between All England and 

 twenty-two of Clodshire, watch the clodsmen be- 

 tween the innings, how they throng wonderingly 

 round the chiefs of the eleven. That's him, that's 

 Abel, wait till he takes the bat, then you'll "see 

 summut like play." Or go to the " Bat and Ball " 

 after the match, when the eleven are there, and see 

 how their words are dwelt on by an admiring audi- 



