At Swallowfield we failed to find a place to stay at; there was no such place; and of the inns, named, I think, the "Crown," "cricketers," "Bird-in-the-Hand," and "George and Dragon," only one, was said to provide accommodation for travellers as the law orders, but on going to the house we were informed that the landlord or his wife was just dead, or dangerously ill, I forget which, and they could take no one in.
"Afoot in England"
W.H. Hudson
In Victoria the production seems to have been reduced a little, but really so little as to have no very perceptible results, and the leisure is used so well that the working class have made a distinct rise in the scale of being, and have developed a remarkable love of outdoor sports, and spare energy enough to produce some of the most famous cricketers and scullers in the world.
"Contemporary Socialism"
John Rae
And not only spectators but cricketers had disappeared.
"Amusement Only"
Richard Marsh