Cricket 1885

d e c . 2 S I 0 K E T ; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 475 W i i e u UICO i is directed to the off stump, it will, if hit, fre q u e Q tly cause a catch on the oil side; and if directed to the legs of the striker, or near stamp, it is frequently hit to the hip, when runs may be expected, if not caught or stopped. If the Bowler should not deliver the ball at the most advantageous place to oppose the Striker, the person at the wieket should, by a secret sign, known by the bowler and himself, place h i3 foot occasiona'ly on the spot on which he thinks the bowler may be success­ ful, either to oppose the Striker, or to cause a catch to be given ; but thii mu't be acted upon with judgment. A bowler should not b9 too systematic and formal in his mode, but vary, faster or slower, according to the peculiarities of the striker. If it should be found necessary to change the p»sition of the players, by placing them further in the field or ne irer the wicket, aad if the bowler makes any sign to the others in the field, he should do it, if possible, so as not to be perceived by the striker, as it will then be the more likely to produce the desired effect. Any one plan of bowling, continued for a length of time, will be hit to advantage by some players, and no certain rule to avoid it can possibly be laid down. In the different modes of bowlingwerecom­ mend the ball to be heldwith the seamacross, so that the tips of the fingers may touea it,but some vary a little in the mode; nor should it be held too firm, but just so as to secure a proper hold; by this means it will keep steady, and leave the hand with more ease. Aided by a turn or motion of the wrist, the ball may be made to cut or twist after it has grounded, and will perplex most strikers, so as to derange their mode of hitting, more than the general mode of delivering the ball dead from the hand; at least,it is consideredmuch more deceiving to the striker. It may be prudent, with the commencement of a fresh striker, to begin slow bowling; strikers are ? ;enerally cautious at first, which will requently cause a catch ; and if this method should fail, and the striker succeed in getting runs, deliver him occasionally a ball as much faster as you can well do it. In both instances take the same space of ground before you deliver the ball, and make use of the same motion and attitude, so that the striker may not be aware of your intended variation till the ball is actually delivered. But it is advisable generally to make use of such bowling as you are most master o f; the laws of the game allowing but little variation in the method. A bowler may practise by himself, first measuring the proper distance of twenty- two yards, and having pitohed the wickets, sticking up a feather, or making some other mark where he intends pitching the ball, in a direct line with the wicket, so that when the ball is pitched to such a mark, it will rise to tho wicket; but if the bowler should practise the twisting plan, he then must place his mark as far out of the line with the wicket as he may think proper, and in such a manner that the ball, being pitched to the mark, may twist or turn to the wicket; delivering the ball from the hand with the body in an upright position, as before directed. When the wickets are placed across a hill rather sloping, the ball will then of course twist or gather to the wicket. The young bowler should at all times strive to pitch the ball to a good length, whether straight or twisting, avoiding its touching the ground more than once between himself and the wicket (except some balls, which will cut on the ground) and although we have before mentioned the distance, some degree of variation will bi necessary w th regard to the nature of the ground, and swiftness of bowling. The bowler should be suflieient master of the ball so as to deliver it to any place he may judge proper, and which may be continued by placing a mark as before mentioned. It is we’.l to use himself to either side of the wicket, as he may be frequently placed very unfavourably to bowl on one side, yet advantageously on the other. Let him fix his eye on the spot where he intends to pitch or deliver the ball, and start gently at first, increasing his pace in coming near the bowling crease, aad deliver the bill in an upright posture; as the higher tli9 ball is delivered from the bowler’s hand, the quicker and higher it will rise from the ground. The ball should be delivered with the hand below the elbow, and must neither be thrown nor jerked. If the elbow hits the side it is considered a jerk. It is not ad­ visable for young beginners to bowl toa long at one time, but to practise often, and there will be little doubt of success. If you find the striker ia rather partial to receiving the ball from one side of the opposite wicket, vary, by bowling from the adverse side— this often meets with success. A bowler will soon discover the striker’s favouri.e hit, and he will, after delivering the ball, endeavour to place himself in a situation to stop it ; but if it should be hit away, he must return to his wicket to take the ball if thrown to him. If a batsman goes out of his ground with an intent to run, before the ball is delivered, the bowler may put him out. The practitioner is advised to make awhite, mark on the Ball, and by tossing it across a room, so as to hit the floor once, it will discover on its rising, whether it twist3 to the right or left, or whether it rolls in a straight line; by this method, and taking notice how the hand was held when the Ball was delivered, he will get master of it, so as to bias it at pleasure. When the Bill goes from the hand of the Bowier, he may make it twist by holding the back part of the hand towards the ground, and at the instant of delivering, bring the thumb, with the aid of thewrist, rather under. According to the laws of the game, the armmust not be straight, but the hand below the elbow ; the Ball must not be delivered with the back part of the hand uppermost. By this particular twist, aft"r the Ball hits the ground it will roll the same as when it came from the K iwl r'ri hand, yet, at the same time it must be observed that it will twist or roll from what­ ever part of the hand or fingers it touches last; therefore a Bowler mint be uniform in his mole, and judge how it left his hand when he gave a good Ball, and follow this plan until he become quite master of the art. If the Ball be exactly straight between where it touches ihe baud last and the mark which you mean to pitch at, most probably it will not twist; but when it leaves the hand or fingers a little on one side of the straight line which you meau to pitch at, then it will twist after it hits the ground. The twisting bowling is generally performed straight armed, but the hand must be below the elbowwhen the ball is delivered. The ball may be twisted bv the usual mode of under-armed bowling, by observing to deliver the Ball when it haves the hand, s> that the force of the hand Or a touch with the finger shall give to one side of it a twist or bias. C hanging Bowr.EE. When runs are got very fast, it is the custom with most players to change t'lo Bowler or Bowlers, a consultation first taking place (except where any experienced person has the management), and after a short time to take the former Bowler or Bowlers again, as probably they were con­ sidered the persons best adapted for that purpose. The reason of which is, that when the Striker has had sufficient practice with a good Bowler, it will be as difficult for him to bowl him out as it would be for another who could not bowl so well, if he had not practised with him. Very few Bowlers run alike before the delivery of the Ball, or deliver it in the same manner, therefore any fresh Bowler may materially alter the mode of the Striker’s hittiug, and in such cases it is always advisable to change, though it be for such as are not so well qualified. We now proceed to consider that part of the Game which regards the S triker or B atsm as , Who should place himself ia an easy posture ; and though strikers vary in th ir position of standing to hit, yet we recom­ mend young players who are right-handed, to stand as follows, viz. the toes of the right foot to be just behind tho popping-crease, and both toes to incline a little towards the bowler, keeping t1e feet, knees, <Src., clear of the wicket, so that the Bowler may have a fair view of it, except that part which may be hidden by the Bat, which should be upright when guarding the wicket. If right-handed the right foot should be 9 or 10 inches from a line drawn from one wicket to the other, the left foot to he 10 or 12 inches from tbe right foot. No person who is a good player will ever stand in such a position as to hinder the play of the Ball, except an accident should happen by slipping, or otherwise. G u ard in g t h e W ic k e t Being considered a very necessary part to be observed by the Batsman, we shall re­ mark that as the Bat is only 4J inches wide, and the wicket is 7 inches, the striker can­ not guard all the three stumps which com­ pose the wicket, therefore we consider it nece-sary for a young beginner to guard the middle stump, or that which is most gener­ ally hit bv the bowler, always guarding the weakest side; and when the bowler is about to deliver the ball, raise the bit at eas \ until you can judge where the b til will pitch. To be continued. P b in t in o a s d S t a t io n e r y Tit i d e s ” C r ic k e t A s s o c ia t io n s .— A t a meeting held on the 14th inst. at the Bed Lion Tavern, London Wall, at which representatives from the cricket clubs connected with the firms of Messrs. Waterlow and Sons, Limited, W. H. Smith and Sons, Sir Joseph Causton aud Sons, Harrison and Sons, McCorquodale aud Co., and Thomas De la Bue and Co., were present, it was unanimously resolved to form an associaHou under the above title for t u purpose of providing a challenge cup to be competed for each year. Printing aud Stationery Cricket Clubs are cordially invited to join the association. Full particu'ars aud a copy of the rules will be forwarded on application to the Hon. Sec., Mr. T. Ward, 110, Buuhill Bow, E.C. Next Issue January 28-