Cricket 1883

8 2 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. m a y io , m ss . of his fifty ■wickets. He took part in the memor­ able encounter between England and Australia at the Oval on Sept. 6, 7, and 8, 1880, and though'his bowling was rather expensive his 42 was one of the best played innings on the Eng­ lish side. The season 1881was also a most suc­ cessful one for him both in batting and bowling. In the latter department he was only second to Peate in the first-class averages of the year, and his summary of 125 wickets for an average of 13 "58 runs per wicket was a very fine one. In batting he had a highly creditable average of close on thirty runs for 32 innings, and some of his performances were exceptional, notably on the 1st of September at Scarborough, when he scored against Yorkshire 106 (not out) of 128 runs while he was in. Last season, in England, he was more successful with the bat than the ball and he made some long scores; the best his 171 for the Gentlemen of England against Cam­ bridge University. Eis successes during the tour of the Hon. Ivo Bligh’s Eleven in Australia are too fresh in the minds of cricketers to require more than mere mention here. His bowling figures may fairly be characterised as extra­ ordinary. He had indeed throughout to hear the brunt of the attack for the English team, and in all he delivered 3,200 balls for 152 wickets, or an average of a fraction over six runs and a half for every wicket. He was also at the head of the batting tables with an average of over 30 runs for 22 innings, and two of his latest scores, 135 not out against the combined strength of Australia, and 76 against Victoria, were brilliant displays of free cricket. In some of these Australian contests he missed a number of catches, but the light in the Colonies is so glaring as at times to seriously affect English fieldman, and as a rule he is a safe field, par­ ticularly at point. As a slow round arm bowler he has few, if any, superiors. He can break both ways, and he varies his pitch and pace with great judgment. Considering his height—he is only 5ft. 7J inches—his batting is remarkable for power, and his hitting all round is very clean and smart. In almost every branch of outdoor sports Mr. Steel has made his mark. In addition to his proficiency as an athlete, he was prominent on the football field, both at Marlbor­ ough and Cambridge, being a very effective player behind the scrummage under Bugby rules. In 1880 he represented Cambridge in the Inter- University double racquet match, with the Hon. Ivo Bligh, and with such success that the Cantabs were able to winjfour games off the reel, scoring 60 points to 33. Mr. Steel has not yet arrived in England from Australia, as he is returning home with the Hon. Ivo Bligh, Messrs. G. B. Studd, and G. F. Vernon by way of New Zealand and San Francisco. A FEW H IN T S ON C R IC K E T . By R. A. H. M it c h e l l . (Concluded from page 67). III.— F ie ld in g . 1. Remember that fielding requires as careful practice as either batting or bowling ; and al­ though every one cannot be a quick field, there are few who cannot become sure fields, if they take the trouble. A sure field, even though he be slow, will always be a useful man. 2. First of all practise catching, so that you may be sure of an easy catch. No rules can be laid down for this, but a few hints may be useful. Always take a high catch, if possible, opposite the upper part of the chest, and draw your hands back as the ball comes into them, even if it is not hit hard. If you are obliged to take the ball whilst you are running, you must draw your bauds back more quickly, or the Jiall will bound out again. In running to a high catch, get there as quickly as you can, so that, if possible, you may be standing quite still, not running, when you take the catch. Always use two hands in preference to one, except when the ball is above your head, when it will be found much easier to catch it with one. Always try for a catch, even if it seems at first that it will not reach you; a ball often comes farther than you first expect. 3. Stand in an easy position for starting : never stand with your legs wide apart, or your hands resting on your knees. If the ball is hit to you, and the batsman calls “ no,” get well in front of it, and make sure of stopping it. If he calls “ yes,” and there is a chance of a run-out, rush in so as to get the ball on your right side, that you may be in a position to throw the moment you have picked it up. Throw smartly, but not too hard, to the top of the wicket. Remember that there is quite as often a chance of a run-out at the bowler’s end, so that you will often have to throw to him ; but on this point you must use your own judgment, though you may sometimes be guided by a cry of “ over” from the captain or bowler. 4. Be careful about throwing. Make it a rule always to throw a catch or a long-hop; but the long-hop should be avoided, except from long distances, such as long-leg,_ long-field, and per­ haps long-slip when throwing to the bowler’s end. Naver throw unnecessarily hard, either when the batsmen are running or not. When you pick up the ball in the long-field, or at long-leg, always put yourself in the atti­ tude to throw hard ; if there is no necessity for so doing, you can return it gently, but nerer hold the ball or wait. In returning a ball to the bowler from mid-off, mid-on, point or short-leg, be careful to send him an easy under-hand catch. 5. The short-slip should set himself in much the same attitude as the wicket-keeper, and care­ fully watch the bat. Success here depends on constant attention to this rule. He must also be quick in moving over to back-up. Point should stand in an easy position, so that he can move quickly to a catch if opportu­ nity offers. Long-slip is a difficult place. The ball here always curls to the left, so that it is difficult to pick it up in a convenient position for throwing. The best chance of a run-out from long-slip, is generally at the bowler’s end. 6. In backing-up, take care to be at least 10 yards away from the man in front of you. 7. Cover-point, mid-off and long-slip, should stand at first rather deeper, than they can really save a run ; if the batsmen are not sharp enough to see this, the fieldsmen gain an advan­ tage: if they are, it is easy to draw in a few yards. 8. On a windy day, the long-field must take the wind into consideration, both in judging catches, and in throwing. In throwing in long- hops, it is also necessary to consider the pace of the ground, so as to drop the ball the right length. IV.— B ow lin g . 1. Bowling is in a great measure a natural gift, but it is |a gift that requires cultivation to bring it to excellence ; no one can become a good bowler without assiduous practice ; no one can be sure that he will not turn out a bowler until he has practised in vain for a considerable time. 2. Do not try to bowl fast, unless it comes quite easily and naturally to you, and even then bowl under the pace within your power, occa­ sionally putting in a faster ball, which should be well pitched up. In doing this, hold your­ self well up ; if you stoop, the ball will proba­ bly be short. 3. Fix your eye on the spot oi? which you wish to pitch the ball. The hand insensibly follows the eye. 4. Run up briskly to the wicket; this is likely to increase the spin of the ball. 5. Aim at straightness and good-length, not at twist or break. The power of making the ball twist or break will come to you gradually, as you get more command over the ball. Length will vary with the pace of the ball; a good length slow ball would be an over-pitched one from the hand of a fast bowler. There are several good lengths, and some are more diffi­ cult to one batsman, some to another. You must learn to vary your length occasionally, but not too often. At first you will find that nature will sufficiently vary your length, even though you are always aiming at the same spot. Good length varies with the state of the ground. On a very lively ground the ball must bo kept shorter than on a dead ground. 6. A slow bowler should bowl principally at the two off-stumps. A good length ball out-side the off-stump often secures a wicket. If the bowler suspect that the batsman is going to run out for a hit, he must keep the ball outside the off-stump, a little short of a good length. In altering your pace, alter it only a very little : if you alter it much you will not deceive the batsman. Occasionally, however, bowl a much faster ball, if you can keep it straight and well up, and aim at the leg-stump. Do not try “ tices ” too often, or you will ruin your length, and they are more effective if only tried occasionally. 7. Measure the distance you are in the habit of running up to the wicket before delivering the ball, and mark the spot you start from. 8. Practise bowling both round the wicket and over. Also practise taking off from a slightly different spot, in case there may be a hole, as often happens, where you usually place your foot. 9. Take plenty of time between each ball. If you have had a hit made off you, do not rush up in a heat to deliver the next ball, but take matters coolly, and beware of trying, under such circumstances, to bowl faster. 10. It is good practice to bowl at a stump occasionally, with a mark at which to pitch the ball. This practice is especially to be recom­ mended to a “ lob ” bowler. 11. Never go on bowling in practice if you feel tired; and if you begin to feel tired in a match, ask the captain to rest you if possible. If your bowling is becoming worse, leave off entirely for a few days so as to avoid becoming stale. 12. Bowlers’ dodges are many, as you will learn from experience ; but you cannot afford to be constantly trying them, until you get a de­ cided command of the ball. 13. Every bowler ought to be as well versed in putting down a wicket when the ball is thrown to him, as the wicket-keeper himself. He must therefore take pains to learn the best attitude in which to stand over the wieket, and he must return to the wicket and put himself in position whenever tho batsmen run, even when there may seem to be no chance of a run out. This duty is frequently neglected with the most disastrous results. I n a match against Thornhill on Saturday, Cleakheaton were all dismissed for seventeen (one extra). F o r Lascelles Hall against Huddersfield United on Saturday, W. Bates scored 64. F. J e e v e s scored 109 out of 242 for Keighley v. Bury on Saturday. O n Saturday for Churwell United v, Morley, R. Peel, who made his debut for Yorkshire last year, made 86 not out, and took five wickets,