Card of the Day - 2024-02-20

morris australian cricketers
B. Morris [tobacco : UK] “Australian Cricketers” (1925) 22/25 – M864-315 : M142-22

Now the word "ground" has two meanings in cricket.

The obvious one is the field itself, though technically the word applies to the land beneath the seats, and also, especially in Australia, the areas adjoining the stadium, for quite a distance in some cases.

It is also used as a term in play, for there are two grounds on every field, one at each end of the playing area, and they are places where the batter runs to in order to score points. Simply put, they are the site of the wickets. The batter cannot be run out when they are inside of a ground, but once they leave to try and reach the other end, with the aim of scoring more points, they are fair game again.

There are some other more technical points but I am not so sure of them. But if a cricketing expert would like to explain them (in very simple terms) please do

This set has a bit of a secret, because as well as the cricketers which are depicted on cards 1-21 inclusive, it also includes four cards of cricket grounds, these being :

  • 22 – Lords Cricket Ground (same title front and back)

  • 23 – Melbourne Ground (back says : Melbourne Cricket Ground)

  • 24 – Sydney Ground (back says : Sydney Cricket Ground)

  • 25 – Old Trafford Ground (same title front and back)

In our World Tobacco Issues Indexes the set is simply catalogued as : 
AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS. Sm. 68 x 37. Black and white. Nd. (25).