James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1875

• I I I I I I 1 4 Rrf1�a in too, i f poRsil )lO , f1·on1 wnRti11g )·011 1· e11c1·gy i11 wagging thP bat , if I mny R< ) t . r1n tl10 ir1·itati11g p1·act i ce t) (> ftr•n wit11 ssed cln1�ing tl1e dclivc•ry of the ba ll . As n 1·ule tl1eso cce11t1ici ti0s a1·0 the t1nruisto keabla signs of nervo11s11e�s or impatien ce, ru1d these t ,vo defects will prove the 1-n i 1 1 of the young cri cketer. Decision , above all th i 11g� , i � a st1·ong point in the armot1r of ti batHmnn , tt1 1d 011e that may ten <l to rrl l <ler him sl1ot- J)roof. To hold the l>at iu wl1at is te1·1ned the pentl 11 l t t 1n fasl1 j o11 , in my opini o11 gives the; gi·eatf l st S<'<)pc for freedom of play, "' � i t h o ut in tl.te sl igb � est _ degree c l i 1nini�h­ i 1 1g tbc 110,ve1�s of <.lefence. I disc l aim n11y notion of egotism 11 1 the s tatemf>n i .,. bltt 1u rely ite it as a practica l <tCID()n stratio11 thnt I a lways s ttt t1 <l tht1 R 011 g11ard 1nyHC1lf, " ' ith tl 1e top of tlle hnn cl l j t 1st above the . bel t , n11 tl tl 1c bottom <>f the l)l•1<le al1nost on a level ,vi th the tc11tre of the 1n1dclle stt1rup. Agf1in, it l1ns fI·om time immemorinl boer1 c• 1 1 :tctcd thnt the left Rho1 1ldor f;houl<l be kt1pt wel l fonvo.rd and tho left elbow nnt11r11lly wel l ttp • . I clo not thi nk that. the 1nost h 3- �percritical criclceter can s : 1y anything in clispnrageme11 t of this ancient r,110. Modern c1·icket has in<loe<.1 fai led to st1perseclc or fi11 < l a flaw in the j udgment of tho past 011 this poir1 t . Try the � xperiment of })laying witl1 a strnigbt a11d t1pright bat and the left shot1lder m any _ otJJ (!r JJosition aud yot1 wil l realise the im11ossibili ty. I{@ep yourself as 11pnght tlH l)Ossible­ to n lio,v yo11rs If the full benefit of Jroitr height, an<l yot1r atten tion l'ivetted 011 the actio11R of the Lowle1· . It i s i 1npossible to have sttch a good sight of the ball , to j t1dge of its le11gth, or to "·a tcl1 and allo,v for a11y break in its cou1·se, if tho llend be low or tho attitude cramped. ' ' He gets so ,,·ell ot·er the ball ' ' is pe1·haps the higl1cst p1·aisc that can be besto,ved on a but ·mnu, and to dese1've such distinction it is 11 ece�sary that the ad,·ice j t1 t given be ca1 -- ofullJ 7 stt1died. The acquisition of cousi stently st1·aight anc1 ttpright play i s , as I have befo1·e said , by 110 mea 1 1 :-; an ensy task, but , if onlJ' i11 co11 trast to tl1c many that fai l , it i s wo1 -- thy of :1 n effort to be one of tl 1c Rll /\ CeFsful as1Jirants . Wi tll Llue at tention to the fo1·egoing hints on pos i tior1 an d . at t i tt 1 c le a cn11didate for honot1r will have much i11 hi s favour, b t1t t o 1 · ench pe1 11 fectio11 there is need of · more de,·otion . Tl1e veriest novi ce ,, p ill be able, to see fo1· himself tt1e advantages , if onl}� 011 mathematical gro11n cl � , of fneing the ball with nn t1pright bat ; inasmucl1 as a greater amount c)f the �urf ace is thereby p1·esented to tho ball tha11 i s pos sible in any cle"iatior1 from the U}Jright }Josition . It is this same fl1ll-fnce of the bat that forms the original grou11d..wo1·k of the long sco1·es ; it is this same straight bat tha t enabl es n. bitte1· to defy at times the at tack of tJ1e bowle1 -- , and to score f1·eely f1·om balls that wot1l<l soon dispose of a rross-pl aJ,.er . Much depends 011 the acc t1racy of the 0y , a11d 1nt1ch on the j uclgme11 t ,,· itl1 which a ball is timed , bt1t , beyond al l , I tl1 iuk i t "\\"i ll be acknowleclged th1it tl1e great secret of batti11Jl, both in so far a � it affects defe11ce a11d bitt ing, consists in meeting the ball w i1 h the full force of the bat. Let me recommend yot1ng players , t}1e1·e f ore , J o g1·ound themselves thorot1ghly in this esse11tial , before they enter into the competitive exami11ation of cricketers . To feel that yon meet the bowl < 1� ,, ..ith tho bes t weapons at your disposnl inspires confidence i11 J"Ol1r o '\'\ · n min<l , and tbiR feeling may enable yott to 011tlive the attack. Onl3' be carr - fttl , ,vbtl. t seeking to aoqt1ire the art of st1·aight play, to fol lo,v the ri1 les give11 , ,vi th the bat held firmly in the l1a11ds ; to avoid shrinking, 01· any lJt1t clccisive movements , as with st1·ict pract i ce }Je1·fection will soonc1 -- be attai ned, ancl an t1ncertai11 and vacillating stj· le ,,i l l inevitably cause the bat to <le,riate Irorn tl1e 1>erpe1 1 ,lict1Ja1· line, to the p1·ol )aule discomfiture of its o,,rn · 1 -- . I hnve just polcc11 of the benefits of 11ieet ing the ball with the full-face of tl 1c bat. It