James Lillywhiite's Cricketers' Annual 1874

4 wagging the bat , if I may so term the irritating practice so often witnessed during the delivery of the ball . As a rule these eccentricities are the unmis- takeable signs of nervousness or impatience , and these two defects will prove the ruin of the young cricketer . Decision , above all things , is a strong point in the armour of a batsman, and one that maytend to render himshot -proof. To hold the bat in what is termed the pendulum fashion , in m yopinion gives the greatest scope for freedom of play , without in the slightest degree diminishing 'the powers of defence . I disclaim any notion of egotism in the statement , but merely cite it as a practical demonstration that I always stand thus on guard myself , with the top of the handle just above the belt , and the bottom of the blade almost on a level with the centre of the middle stump. Again, it has from time immemorial been enacted that the left shoulder should be kept "well forward and the left elbow naturally well up. I do not think that the most hypercritical cricketer can say anything in disparagement of this ancient rule . Modern cricket has indeed failed to supersede or find a flaw in the judgment of the past on this point . Try the experiment of playing with a straight and upright bat and the left shoulder in any other position and you will realise the impossibility . Keep yourself as upright as possible to allow yourself the full benefit of your height , and your attention riveted on the sactions of the bowler. It is impossible to have such a good sight of the ball , to judge of its length , or to watch and allow for any break in its course , if the headbe low or the attitude cramped. " H e gets so well over the ball " is perhaps the highest praise that can be bestowed on a batsman, and to deserve such distinction it is necessary that the advice just given be carefully studied . The acquisition of consistently straight and upright play is, as I have before said , by no means an easy task, but, if only in contrast to the manythat fail , it is worthy of an effort to be one of the successful aspirants . Withdue attention to the foregoing hints on position and attitude a candidate for honours will have muchin his favour, but to reach perfection there is need of more devo- tion. The veriest novice will be able to see for himself the advantages , if only on mathematical grounds , of facing the ball with an upright bat ; inasmuch as a greater amount of the surface is thereby presented to the ball , than is possible in any deviation from the upright position . It is this same full -face of the bat that forms the original ground-work of the long scores ; it is this same straight bat that enables a hitter to defy at times the attack of the bowler, and to score freely from balls that would soon dispose of a cross- player . Muchdepends on the accuracy of the eye , and much on the judgment withwhichaball is timed, but,beyond all , I think it will be acknowledged that the great secret of batting , both in so far as it affects defence and hitting , consists in meeting the ball with the full -face of the bat. Let merecommend young players , therefore , to ground themselves thoroughly in this essential , before they enter into the comparative examination of cricketers . To feel that you meet the bowler with the best weapons at your disposal inspires confidence in your own mind, and this feeling may enable you to outlive the attack . Only be careful , whilst seeking to acquire the art of straight play, to follow the rules given , with the bat held firmly in the hands ; to avoid shrinking , or any but decisive movements , as with strict practice perfection will sooner be attained , and an uncertain and vacillating style will inevitably cause the bat to deviate from the perpendicular line , to the probable discomfiture of its owner . Ihave just spoken of the benefits of meeting the ball with the full-face of the bat. It was advisedly that I used the word meeting , and to make myself more intelli