Before 1914 it was beauty that counted in cricket - elegance of strokes, stylishness of bowling action, quixotry in captaincy. The gallant gesture was just as important as the mammoth score, the picturesque as the efficient.

Summary

This quote highlights a shift in the importance placed on different aspects of cricket before and after 1914. Prior to 1914, the emphasis was on the aesthetic elements of the game, such as the beauty of a player's strokes, the style of a bowler's action, and the captain's bold strategies. The grace and elegance of the game held significance, with gestures and aesthetic appeal being valued as highly as scores and efficiency on the field. However, after 1914, it seems that the focus shifted towards more practical and measurable aspects of the game, like performance and results.

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