James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1878

forward or back hard on the ball you will find runs come freely. With fast bowlers especially, this hit, or “ shove,” as it may perhaps be more aptly termed, tells at times with signal effect, and constant practice to secure its achievement will not be uselessly employed. Above all things be careful not to move out of your ground to hit a ball on the leg side, as this is a most hazardous experiment, and should be studiously avoided. In leg-hitting, the right leg must be kept firm, and in all respects the ball treated as in the main principle of batting above described, the policy of reaching the ball as near as possible to the pitch, when a good length, being most to be recommended. I would, too, impress forcibly on the minds of young players the necessity of making their practice consonant with their play during a match. Nothing can be more baneful than the reckless style of batting so often prevalent during the hours of practice. It is this unwise relapse into bad habits that seals the fate of many a promising cricketer. What is virtually the object of practice but to accustom a player to the more important necessities of a match ? What is practically the result of this foolish custom of reckless and unnatural batting but to irreconcile the batsman to his own genuine style, and substitute habits which unfit him for higher duties ? Young cricketers will do well to avoid suicidal tactics. - There are many other sins of omission and commission into which it would be possible to enter were the present volume as capacious as the Koran, or the present writer as industrious as one of its expositors. On the minor topics incidental to the game there is much to be said which has been unsaid. On the various appliances of the game there is much to be writ­ ten, if only to satisfy anxious inquirers. I shall, however, merely bring to an end this my first rough article on cricket with a few brief words of advice on subjects which are not sufficiently attended to. I allude first to the neces­ sity of good running as one of the brightest feathers in the cap of any one who claims to be an effective batsman. It is by the neglect of this essential that many runs are lost, and many a “ notch” indirectly given to the other side. To see two good runners at the wickets is a treat to those who understand genuine cricket. There is no slovenly dallying, no indecision, no call for a run, and after recall. In this respect alone a batsman of mediocrity may be of as much real value as one of far superior powers. Be ready to back up imme­ diately the ball leaves the hand of the bowler, and be careful to act decisively, as on this depends greatly the fate of your opposite neighbour. If you feel in­ clined to run do not hesitate, but call, and on no account reduce your partner to the necessity of retracing his steps, as from the fact of your backing up, you can get to the opposite wicket with greater ease than he can return and recover -his ground. This last caution should not be overlooked. A stolen run, if the batsmen act well in concert, is by no means difficult of achievement— though care should be taken against any really impracticable attempt— and a succes­ sion of stolen runs has the effect of not only irritating the bowler, but of de­ moralising and detracting from the efficacy of the field. Again, to bat with strict care at the commencement of your innings, trusting to time and the ■ gradual diminution of accuracy on the part of the bowler to admit of scoring, is advice that would seem to be superfluous. But patience throughout an in­ nings of any duration is a virtue of great rarity among batsmen. Take care of the stumps, and the runs will take care of themselves is an axiom that cannot be contradicted. Consistent care from first to last will do more in the long run than impatience or desire for fast scoring. Remember, moreover, that it is not bad bowling that wants the least caution, and do not despise it as some . batsmen are too prone to do. To underrate a foe is weakness, and should al­ ways be avoided. One last hint to the young beginner and I have done. Do •not play with a bat too heavy for your strength. I think a bat should not ex­ ceed for any young batsman 2lbs. 30Z., or even2lbs. 2|oz. It is the overweight that cripples many a promising player, and prevents him not only from doing himself justice in the present, but mars his utility in the future. 8