Cricket 1913

306 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. Jun e 14, 1913. “ T imber” Woodcock and Warren and Bestwick, and good­ ness knows they “ flew ” enough, and at a faster pace than ever Hitch has propelled a ball, for all the energy he puts in. Yet we seldom heard of any of these expresses really hurting anybody. As a fact, most blows sustained from fast bowling are due to bad batting—and funk! The batsman who retreats towards square-leg gets more damaged than he who moves the other way. It is a matter of angles. The body-ball, whether bowled accidentally or otherwise, is veering in its flight more and more towards leg, especially from a bowler like Lockwood or Knox, whose hand at the instant of delivery was some three feet or more to one side of the line of the middle stump. Thus, retrogression at the batsman’s end brings the striker into the line of fire, whereas if he stepped across his wicket towards the off-side he is not only safe from injury, but can add insult to it by snicking the fleeting ball for a stand-still-and-watch-it-while-the-bowler- foams-at-the-mouth four. George Gunn 109 out of 129 1 I had the pleasure of breaking the news to “ Jessopus ” by saying, “ Some of your records are in danger up at Trent Bridge. George Gunn 95 out of 104 for 2.” Jessop was as delighted as any disciple of “ get-runs-or-get-out ” would naturally be. Am not surprised at the splendid showing of young Russell at Northampton. The best bat in the Essex team, this lad— as I suggested to a brace of astonished Essex officials at the Oval, while Hitch was throwing! They wouldn’t have it at any price, but they will have to. When Peter Perrin gets into luck Russell will be second best, but j not until then. Nobody else on the side, bar McGahey, is { in the same class. A. C. has only to practice dashing about ] the field in his spare moments to play for the Players before very much older. It is a jolly lot that will -be playing against the two ’Varsity elevens at Eastbourne ten days hence, as the follow­ ing names show :— H. D. G. Leveson-Gower, E. Smith, S. J. Pegler, Capt. W. G. M. Sarel, L. H. W. Troughton, W. G. Druce, A. H. Fyffe, N. C. Tufnell, G. P. Ritson, and G. G. Napier. By the way, I hear the last-named was j not playing for Army v. Navy at Lord’s last week because j the Indian Army is not included under the heading The Arm y! Well, well. “ Ca prend le gateau.” I should like to hear a livery Oui Hai on this subject! g Special Club Notes. C o n tribu ted by T he C h ie l . During the present season I have had opportunities of watching the play of many of the best London clubs, and from the pavilion one sees and hears things that may pass unnoticed on the field of play. One thing I have seen has been a lot of rank bad fielding. Bad throwing, worse gtound work, and catching worst of a ll! Many of the most glaring casescan be traced to the placing of men in positions they are unused to. Bad throwing can usually be overcome by practice, and the same remark will apply to ground field­ ing and catching. Too much attention is given to net- practice, and I am a strong advocate of giving at least one evening a week entirely to fielding practice. The average club cricketer after twenty minutes or so batting and bowling at the nets gets tired. To overdo it is a mistake, more especially for young cricketers. Leave the nets alone for once, get your men well out in the field, and practice thoroughly all branches of field work. Captains vary. Lately I have noticed in several cases an absence of consultation by the captain with bowlers as to placing the field. Many bowlers are indifferent as to this; some resent suggestions; they go along in their own sweet way, regardless of results. Many critics consider that a captain should field near the w icket; but while this has its advantages, it has also its drawbacks. Playing the same clubs year after year, captains know— or should know—most of his opponents’ scoring strokes, and it should be their first object to place fieldsmen so as to block those strokes. But this season I have seen the same batsmen place shot after shot in his favourite direction unchecked. The mechanical bowler leaves everything to his captain, and forgets that he is within his rights in placing his own field. I have also seen captains take off their best bowlers and not put them on again, and this is I think a mistake. Make a change, by all means, if the first batsmen are stuck there; but don’t retire your best trundler for the rest of the innings! After all, your object is to get your opponents out, and here the judgment of the captain should some in. I am afraid very few wicket-keepers realise that a wicket­ keeper is not primarily a long-stop. A stumper receives plenty of kicks and few ha’pence; but that is not the point. Let him remember that he does not occupy his post for the sole purpose of stopping every ball. Often that is impossible. But he should take the ball cleanly and as close to the wicket as possible, that he may hold catches and effect stumpings, also watching for run-outs and quick returns. Each wicket­ keeper has his own style, but there is only one way to take a ball cleanly. That is to face the ball directly, avoiding the turning sideways. The post of a wicket-keeper is a hard one; but a good wicket-keeper is a tremendous asset to his side, and his comrades should not rub it in too much if he misses a catch or give away a few byes. In club cricket I am doubtful whether there is that complete understanding between wicket-keeper and bowler that there should be. A wicket-keeper should work hand-in-hand with the bowler; he is in the best position to spot the batsman’s weak points. It has been said that a good wicket-keeper makes a moderate bowler bowl w ell; and the reverse also applies. I have noticed with regret several club cricketers wearing dirty boots. Nothing is worse form than this. I am sorry to note negligence in appearance upon the field. • But I suppose all the talking in the world won’t alter it. Nowa­ days there is no reason why any cricketer who has the slightest respect for his appearance should turn out in dirty flannels or boots. Most groundsmen for a small considera­ tion will turn bags out, hang clothes up for airing, or even get them washed if wanted, and see that boots are cleaned. This type of cricketer comes under the heading “ slacker.” He cannot be really keen, and he shows small regard for the feelings of his colleagues. It is pleasing to note action taken by any club for the good of the game. I have heard with pleasure that the Battersea Cricket Club has done one of these kindly acts, by lending their ground for the interesting annual match between the boys of the Poor Law Schools of the Metropolis and the selected boys’ team from the Battersea Schools, on Thursday next, 19th inst. Mr. John Burns always takes a very keen interest in this game, and the boys will play this match exactly under the same conditions as the first team of Battersea. Wickets will be pitched at 12 o ’clock, and doubt­ less Mr. Burns will attend, with thousands of others. May the best side win, and the boys enjoy themselves 1 -------- ■•S'Sf'S-*-------- Answers to Correspondents. L l a n e l l y . — Hobbs’s test match figures are 41 innings, 5 not outs, 2022 runs, average 56-16. Braund’s are 41-3-987- 2 5 - 9 7 - Boy.rcad- “ Cricket Hints for Youngsters and others,” *Dd3,lcceeJ- P R I C E - - O N E S H I L L I N G (for Charities). From J. H. FA R M ER . - ■■ - — - M U N D ESLEY, NORrOLK