James Lillywhiite's Cricketers' Annual 1874

3 Takeup a good position on guard after the style of the batsman in the dia- gram. Be careful to study what is easy and natural , rather than aim at neatness and elegance , as, without thought , the latter is very often the conse- quence of the former. It is in this craving for effect that so manybatsmen do themselves , in m yopinion , so much injustice . You cannot take the art of batting by storm, nor master it in a single lesson . Hence application mustbe ungrudgingly and unsparingly given , and desultory practice carefully avoided . First acquire a position that suits you and is at the same time not incorrect , andthen, by the aid of care and practice , preserve it until it becomes a confirmed attitude . It is by this means alone that an evil habit will be escaped and muchafter -labour and pain be spared to the young beginner . M yowntheory on the best position for a batsman I nowproceed to state , with a feeling that it has enjoyed , at least in some degree , the benefit of success . Stand then , I say to the young student , with the right leg quite firm , the right foot just inside the crease , and the toes just clear of a line drawn from wicket to wicket . The advisability of having the right foot just inside the crease is obvious , as thereby the length of reach is greatly extended , but caution should none the less be exercised not to overstep the limits , as in the present age of efficient wicket -keepers , like the four P's , Pooley , Plumb, Pinder , and Philips , the end would soon come ; and stumping is, at the best , an unsatisfactory death. Again, the adoption of a guard nearer the wicket is inadvisable , as, though a better defence maybe gained in some instances , yet this is more than coun- teracted by the reduction of the reach , the consequent impediment in the way of forward play , and lastly , the greater facility given to the bowler to drive you back into your wicket . The right leg should be kept as I have already stated , quite firm , as in default of this provision it will readily be seen that the balance can hardly be maintained , or at least that the batsman can be so well prepared for a forward or retrograde movement, or so ready for an emergency. Theright leg must of necessity form the " pivot " to regulate the movements of the batsman, as on it depends most of the offence and no small share of the defence . In the method of placing the left leg and foot there are innumerable varieties and eccentricities . For myself , I prefer to place the latter about a foot in front of, and nearly at right angles to the heel of the right foot . Thus, in the main, the ruling principle must be that the right leg should be firmly planted and represent astout support for the batsman , and given this provision , the use of the other must be greatly subservient to the difference of play, and be ruled chiefly by the discretion of the player . The batsman in the diagram nearly realises m yidea on the subject of position , with the reservations I have already mentioned . The young beginner will do well to frame his play according to this model. From m yownexperience I have always found it to m yadvantage to hold the bat half -wayup the handle , and this happy medium Irecommendfor adoption , as thereby you can control it as effectively as if held nearer to the blade, and the benefits incidental to the extra length are very important. Tohold it higher in the handle neutralises this advantage , as the bat is not so well nor so firmly grasped , and the power of hitting at a ball with certainty is considerably lessened . Stand then in an easy position , with the bat held as I have directed , firmly but not too stiffly to admit of facility of motion, and await the attack of the bowler. D onot beat the air withyour bat, as is the manner of some, in unseemly flourishes , nor wave it high over your head after the fashion of other still more pantomimically inclined performers . Refrain too, if possible , from wasting your energy in