James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1876

8 Take up a good position on guard after the style of the batsman in the diagram. Be careful to study what is easy and natural, rather than aim at neatness and elegance, as, without thought, tho latter is very often the con­ sequence of the former. It is in this craving for effect that so many batsmen do themselves, in my opinion, so much injustice. You cannot take the art of batting by storm, nor master it in a single lesson. Hence application must be ungrudgingly and unsparingly given, and desultory practice carefully avoided. First acquire a position that suits you and is at the same time not incorrect, and then 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 bo escaped and much after-labour and pain be spared to the young beginner. My own theory on the best position for a batsman I now propose to state, with the 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 over­ step the limits, as in the present age of efficient wicket-keepers, like the four P’s, Pooley, Flumb, Finder and Phillips, the end would soon come; and stumping is, at the best, an unsatisfactory death. Again, the adoption of a guard nearer the wTicket is inadvisable, as, thought a better defence may be gained in some instances, yet this is more than counteracted by the reduction of the reach, the consequent inpediment in tho way of forward play, and, lastly, the greater facility given to the howler to drive you back into your wicket. The right leg should he kept as I have already stated, quite firm, a^ in default of this provision it will readily bo seen that the balance can hardly be maintained, or at least that tho batsman can be so well prepared for a forward or retrogade movement, or so ready for an emergency. The right 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 tho method of placing the left leg and foot there are innumerable varieties and eccentricities. For myself I prefer to dace the latter about a foot in front of, and nearly at right angles to the ieel of the right foot. Thus, in the main, the ruling principle must he that the right leg should he firmly planted and represent a stout 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 my idea on tho subject of position, writh the reservations already mentioned. The young beginner will do well to frame bis play according to this model. From my own experience 1 liave always found it to my advantage to bold the bat half­ way up the handle, and this happy medium I recommend for 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. To hold it higher in the handle neutralises this advantage, as the bat is not so well nor so |irmly grasped, and the power of hitting at a hall with certainty is con­ siderably lessened. Stand, then, in an easy position, w'itli the bat held us 1 have directed, firmly but not too stiffly, to admit of facility of motion, and await the attack of the bowler. Do not beat the air with your bat, as is the manner of some, in unseemly flourishes, nor wave it high over your head af tl.r the fashion of other still more pantomimically inclined performers.