How to Watch Cricket 1949 - John Arlott

Book Introduction

“How to Watch First-class Cricket” would have been a more apt title for this book – but it would have come less easily off the tongue. First-class cricket is my theme-a theme which would not be exhausted by vast rows of books far bigger than this.

Many queries have been addressed to me, verbally and in letters, from people who share with me the delight of watching cricket. My first reason for writing this book is to answer those questions. The second is that I venture to hope to add a little to their knowledge of the complexities of the game they watch. Thirdly, I am happy to aim some evidence of the subtlety and profundity of this richest and most satisfying of games at the uninitiated who pretend to argue that it is not a game of high mental and physical skill. Finally, and in all humility, I hope to add a little to the enjoyment of some of those who will stand or sit with me, season after season, watching cricket.

For annual publication I have revised and added to the text of the original publication. I have introduced a critical bibliography and completely re-written the section dealing with the counties, thus the book becomes specifically ” 1949.”

My thanks are due to R. W. V. Robins, of Middlesex, and Frank Lee, the umpire and former Somerset batsman, for patience and kindness in rooting out my errors and purging me of heresies. Walter Robins is one of the astutest brains cricket has known—as manifest in his captaincy and selection: Frank Lee is deeply versed in the craft of the English professional cricketer—who is the salt of the earth. If there are excellences here, they are largely responsible; if there are errors, the blame is mine alone.

There are countless other debtsof gratitude to each of the many cricketers whom I am proud to call my friends, and I here acknowledge my debts to them of information and kindness beyond my power to repay.