James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1875

• ' - ' • • • • .. • • .. . . . ' PART I. . ' � . �· CHAPTER I. · • • • ' . ( • · :B . TNTS ON BATTING. · ,. I �y w. G• . GBACJt, - E S Q• . • • I • ' . • . • .. • • • • ' ' - • • �ms-r let it be pr�sed that, in my � opinion, one hour o� praeti� tuition·� ericket will be of more use than vo l ti , me s of theoretical mstruot1on., It has been cleverly stated by some one or . other that - _:' an oun ? e of moth � r's ;wit is ivorth a pound of clerg r .'' And w�e depr�c&i1 ng a� y � � 1t � r&l _ application of the proverb to clerical mteresta, I th1nk there is mu.ch m its 1�ferenoo that may not only be worthy of universa,l conside r ati on, but of Sp$0U\l connection with the topie before us. In batting, indeed, as in e."fJrY pursuit whe1·e -science ba,e to a. great extent refined what at first depeDded mainly on the :supera.bundsnce of rough and uncttltivated foroe, co111mon sense, and a reasonable a.mount of obsenation, wUl do much to promote success. There is no royal road to cricket ; and batting, above all ., is Btn i art that requires much culti"Vation. · '' I have remarked,'' says Carlyle, '' that of all things a -nation must first be drilled.'' Ponder over this and consider it in the light of a cricket precept. Above- all things it is essentially necessary for a young batsman at the outset to receive judicious tuition at the hands of a qua.lined �ill sergeant. The necessity of acting upon this advice cannot be over­ rated. A. habit aoq11ired in youth �f correot play, will roaterwly aid the aspirant, and will, believe me, never be lost, while . on the other hand.. an awkward atti tude or a peculiarity calculated to mar the execution of a batsman will ta.ke much time to �adicate, even if the habit be not formed beyond the hope of eorreotion. '' The gods themselves cs:nnot undo the thing that is done.'' Hereon l should like to base my first word of caution to the young beginner. The aoqui · sition of a good style and natural poCiition is as easy as falling into loose and nngainly attttude, and the one will do much to inspire confidence, while the o�her will alway s , prove an obstacle in the way of excellence. Nothing is of such ineaJ.culabl e , benefit to the tudent in the art of batting as the eai-ly adherence to the necess� prin pe · .of playing with a straight bat. It · is in this spe� point that a young cricketer mt1st of all others seek earnestly to excel, It is the want of this �ssential habit, or the momentary negleQt of it, that causes so mauy . ex.pei ie n ced batsmen to retire with the fatal cipher attaohed ts their names. p ��e then, first . of . an ? tne secret of stl'aight and upright play, and you. will have grounded well in the ffrst ruditnent� of tha art. � - � am r·eady to anticipate the argum�nt that there are many batsmen who · have gained fame without t � e . �quisiti(?n of this p��iple • _ Bu}; I maint � in _ that they are V'8r'Y e1cept1onal mstane , and that, despite tlie eooentr1cities of the learned critics who have advoeate4 a contrary course with their motto ,, Runs at any price," to play with a str�t and upright bat is the point by whioh you can recognise above all others the accomplished and skiliul batsman fo ao�eve t�s �esir�ble . en� . eo�stant praetiee is necessary, and w ith 1 n or �a&n g - p er 1 e ct 1 on w1� also lie . gaine4 a i;i.atural position, wbieh mu.st · b e · tudied a- o.nly n�t in un�ortanoe. On . th e s e top,ies i it may Pfl . {Qly b 1\rgued, there can � but }1ttle to say that ean be : ne or origlh-.}� · · The , . . 2 .· '\ ,I • • • , • • ,, • . . . . .. • • - . • • • l