is,
for instance:--

"'A ball is said to _break_ when, on touching the ground, it deviates
sharply from its original line of flight.'

"And again:--"

"'A ball is said to have 'spin' on it when it gains an acceleration of
pace, not necessarily a variation of direction, on touching the
ground.'

"It would be hard, I think, to improve upon these definitions. But let me
satisfy you that I was not exaggerating when I spoke of the dignity of
Mr. Richardson's English style:--

"'The bowler, whether born or made, should cultivate and acquire a
high action and a good swing of arm and body, as such a delivery will
make the ball rise quickly and perpendicularly from the pitch; but
the action must at all costs be easy and free, qualities which
neither imitation nor education must allow to disappear.'

"We often hear complaints--and reasonable ones for the most part--that the
wage given to first-class professional cricketers is no longer adequate.
But one of the pet arguments for increasing it is that their employment
begins and ends with the summer. Now, I certainly think that, while
bowlers write in this fashion, they can have little or nothing to dread
from the winter months."

"I declare," said Grayson, "I believe you are jealous!"

"Well, and why not? For, mark you, Mr. Richardson's is no singular case,
of which we might say--to comfort ourselves--that the Goddess of Cricket,
whom he serves so mightily, has touched his lips and inspired him for a
moment. Turn over these pages. We poor novelists, critics, men of
letters, have no such paper, such type, as are lavished on the experts who
write here upon their various branches of sport. _Our_ efforts are not
illustrated by the Swan Engraving Company. And the rub for us is that
these gentlemen deserve it all! I am not going to admit--to you, at any
rate--that their subjects are of higher interest than ours, or of more
importance to the world. But I confess that, as a rule, they make theirs
more interesting. When Mr. C. B. Fry discourses about Long Jumping, or
Mr. W. Ellis about Coursing, or Mr. F. C. J. Ford upon Australian Cricket,
there are very few novelists to whom I had rather be listening. It cannot
be mere chance that makes them all so eloquent; nor is it that they have
all risen together to the height of a single great occasion; for though
each must have felt it a great occasion when he was invited to assist