Cricket 1886

14 CEICKET: A WEEKLY RECOED OF THE GAME. JAN. 28, 1886 B A X T E R ’S (L A M B E R T ’S) G AM E OF C R IC K E T T AND N E W S IN G L E W IC K E T GAM E . In the last number of C ricket we repro­ duced the first part of a booklet published in the year 1816 by J. Baxter under the above title. The author was the celebrated Surrey player, William Lambert, who flourished at the commencement of the present century. The compiler of “ Scores and Biographies ” in commenting on his first match at Lord’s (for Surrey v. England), on July 20,1801, describes him “ as one of the most successful cricketers that has ever appeared, excelling as he did in batting, bowling, fielding, keeping wicket and also single wicket playing. His hitting (he always raised his bat over his shoulder), was tremendous, his chief aim being to take the ball at the pitch and drive it away, and the bowler instead of attacking him always seemed to be at his mercy.” Mr. Haygarth in addition adds “ he is one of the few cricketers who have made 100 runs twice in the same match, which feat he performed in 1&17, scoring 107 and 157 not out against two of the best bowlers of the day, viz., E. H. Budd, Esq. andHoward.” Lambertwas alsoanoted singlewicketplayer and Mr. Haygarth tells how in 1810 alone and un­ assisted(hispartnerMr.G.Osbaldestonbeing un- ablethroug;h illness,to playmore than afewballs) hebeat at singlewicket,two of the best cricketers of that time, namely, Lord F. Beauclerk and Howard. His bowling was rather slow, and was very successful; it was an approach to round, his arm being slightly extended from his side, in fact it was a high underhand delivery, twisting in from the leg side. His fielding was also very fine, his huge hands being a great advantage to him. He played, Mr. Haygarth says, in the great matches at Lord's up to 1818, but after that date was not allowed to appear at that ground any more, owing to his having (at least so it was said) “ sold ” the England v. Nottingham match of that year by not playing his best. Lambert’s hints on Cricket were published as before said, in 1816, and were dedicated “ to the Honourable Members of the Mary- le-bone Club, by their very obedient servant William Lambert.” Taken as the experience of a cricketer unrivalled in his own day, the directions he gives will, we feel sure, be read with interest. The preface of the publisher concludes with the following para^ graph, which will sound very peculiar to the modem school of cricketers. “ The present edition contains an account of a New Single Wicket Game (thus writes J. Baxter) according to an improved method, whereby it isrendered less fatiguing and much more pleasant to all parties.” . ■ {Continued from Page 475, Vol. IV ). It may here be remarked, that strikers should early adopt the method of hitting upright. By this phrase it is not meant that the bat should be exactly perpendicular, for theliandle should be a little inclined to the bowler, but by no means either to the right or left; and in this sense the term hitting upright must be under­ stood throughout the work. There are only three proper modes of striking well and safely, while guarding the wicket —1st, supposing the ball to be in a straight line to the wicket, play the bat upright to oppose its progress. 2nd, suppose the ball to be coming a little wide the off side, you must be cautious of it, as it may turn to the wicket, but by playing the bat upright, you may hit it off to advantage. 3rd, we will suppose the ball coming a little wide on the near side, play the bat upright and well on it. It must be observed, in. the above hits, that the striker must always suppose that the ball if missed, would hit the wicket, and then it will avoid danger. There are several other advisable strokes to make, provided the direction of the ball be guch as to preclude all danger of its hitting the wicket, which will be treated of as we proceed. We shall next direct the attention of the player to the B est method op S topping a good L ength B a l l . That is, a ball pitched to its proper distance, according to the directions before given, with regard to the art of bowling. It may be well in common practice, to draw a line, or place a mark across the play, at the distance of 4$ yards from the wicket, and if the ball be dropped on or over the line, let the striker step his left foot forward, about three feet, without moving his right foot off the ground, which will enable him to play his bat at the ball three feet or more before the popping crease, so that he will be enabled to stop or strike the ball before it rises high enough to hit the fingers. Another advantage arises from this, that if the bowler twists the ball, it will give but little room to do so after it hits the ground. If a striker cannot play with his bat upright, We recommend him, at practice, in addition to the bowling line, or mark given, to. draw a line from the middle stump, in a straight direction towards the opposite wicket, about 3i feet before the popping crease, or as far as he can pleasantly reach, which will direct him to play forward at the before-men­ tioned bowling, and enable to see whether the bat is leaning a little forward in a proper direction to meet the ball. In playing with this line, we must suppose the ball to be pitched straight, and not twist­ ing. As the crease is merely to learn the striker to hit upright, and ^>laywell forward at the ball, he should, at this practice, receive straight bowling. It is also necessary for young players in learning to hit upright, to observe that, when the bowler is about to deliver the ball, the bat must be as usual on or near the popping crease, he will then, by stepping out the left foot, as before-mentioned, carry his bat upright, and in a straight line forward, to meet the ball, not varying it above two inches from either side of the crease to­ wards the ball, and which will finally clear the wicket, until he can strike upright, when the line before-mentioned may be dispensed with, and he may play at the ball as his judg­ ment directs him. Very few players can at all times strike upright, as when the ball comes quicker than was expected, it will deceive the best of players. If a striker is in too great haste to meet the ball, and has had but little practice, he is liable to miss; but by placing the bat nearly close to the ground, and keeping the handle forward when he meets the ball, it cannot slip under, nor rise when hit. It is too often the case with players in meeting a ball, that the handle of the bat is leaning backward, particularly the upper edge, which will be exposed to hit up the ball for a catch; the face of the bat should be played square, and not one edge before the other, except a wide ball, when hit off or on. When a ball is pitched short of its usual and proper length, and the striker expects it to rise, it frequently happens on the contrary that it shoots on the ground, and then the striker is often too late; but if at these kind of balls he Plays Baclc about two feet behind the popping crease, in case he can manage so to do without striking the wicket with the bat, it will afford him a little more time to judge how the ball is coming and to strike with more certainty. We consider it good judgment not to strike at those balls which rise five inches or more above the stumps, but rather To l e t th e B all P ass without h ittin g , If it can be done without touching the bat, or hand, as very little good can be expected if hit, and it is very likely to produce what is called a bad hit, and perhaps the striker may be caught out. If a ball should rise so fast that you cannot let it pass without striking, raise your bat perpendicularly, bringing the handle forward so as to strike it on the ground before the fieldsmen can get near enough to catch; this will save the fingers, and frequently pre­ vent a catch. Let nothing take off your attention when about to receive the ball, otherwise it may hit the wicket, or be struck up so as to cause a catch, which might otherwise have been avoided. It requires but little motion in S tepping to S trike , As a person who stands steady has the best view of the ball. It seldom requires both feet to move in striking at aball that iswell pitched ; and as bowlers are not confined to pitch the ball at the same length, the striker must judge what kind of a ball he is about to receive, and where it will probably pitch according to the pace. If the ball should come 4 or 5 inches on the leg side, the striker should move his right foot back at the moment of hitting, playing the ball between his left leg and the wicket; but if the ball be 7 or 8 inches wide or more be­ hind the legs, the striker should turn as quick as possible and strike, which is generally an advantageous stroke; as in addition to the rapidity of the ball from the bowler’s hand, the bat adds to the velocity, and the ball will, in all probability, run a considerable distance We must here observe that it should be a practice as much as possible to strike on the top, or over the ball, rather than under it, to prevent it from rising, and keepit to the ground. If a ball be tossed higher than the wicket, and on the off side, it should be struck back as far as the straight line of the popping crease. If it be tossed within about two feet of the popping crease, the striker should move ba~K and strike as hard as possible; and if a straight ball, nearly in the same direction. The striker should always endeavour to hit the ball on the same side on which it is bowled, and not draw it across the play, as this is a very dangerous mode of striking,and frequently is the cause of hitting down the wicket. We should now consider the proper method of S triking w ell pitched balls . If a ball is five inches or more wide on the off side of the wicket, it is difficult, particu­ larly with young beginners, to strike such balls in a proper manner, as there is a necessity of reaching after them; therefore the striker must be careful, or he will strike under the ball, and by that means may probably cause a catch. It is for this reason that experienced bowlers use occasionally wide bowling, which should be directed to the off side of the wicket. If the striker is right handed, and wishes to play the ball forward, he should step with the - left foot foremost, and supposing the ball not straight to the wicket by five or seven inches on the off side, he will be enabled to play on the ball so as not to rise on striking. If he is desirous of hitting the ball behind the wicket, provided it be wide enough on the near side, so that there is no fear of its twisting into the wicket, he should step his right foot a little past the line in which the ball is coming, which will enable him to face the ball until it is hit. For all balls that are hit behind a straight line of the popping crease, step the right foot for­ ward, and hit the ball well on the top part. Never strive to hit a ball behind the wicket, which is in a straight line with it. If a ball should pitch short of its proper length on the off side, and should twist toward the top of the wicket, the Striker must be very careful in playing back that he does not hit his own wicket, as is sometimes the case, even with the. best players. If the ball should be coming high in a direct line towards the Bail, and the Striker intends to play back, he should step within about 17 inches of the Wicket, playing well on the ball. In H itting a fair $ all hard , The Striker should keep his hands very near or close together, that one may not produce a check to the other, exerting the arms,shoulders, and wrist, and striking the ball five or seven inches from the tip of the bat; as it is of little use to hit the ball hard except it be done with the proper part of the bat, playing on it Next Issue February 25-