Passing on to 1892, we find that Punch was petrified in that year by the exploits of "Ranji," who scored eleven centuries in that season. His laudatory ode, however, is largely taken up with efforts to wrestle with the spelling and pronunciation of the hero's name, for the now familiar abbreviation had not been generally adopted.
Cricket was still the national pastime par excellence, but new rivals were already creeping up. Lawn tennis, even in 1878, had ceased to be the monopoly of fashionable circles; it was already invading the suburbs. In 1885 Punch sang, after Tennyson,
For other games may come and go,
Lawn Tennis lives for ever.
Two years later Du Maurier satirized the social importance attached to the stars of the "Lawn-Tennis world." Football was not yet regarded, by Punch at any rate, as a serious competitor. Professionalism was as yet in its infancy. Punch greeted the Maori team which visited England in 1888, and complimented them on their successes over Surrey and Kent:—
Your kicking, brother Maoris,
Has given us the kick;
You're well matched all, well "on the ball,"
And strong, and straight, and quick.
By Jove, this is a rum age,