James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1879

I 29 you say, that is by this time wom threadbare, but ood cl th v' patching, and I ivould fain hope that in my hands gthe gafmcr‘r‘tuivillazitnl‘fihcs‘li e treated practically', if not shi!fully. On the proper position to be unhi- lained at the wicket by' the batsman, the doctors who have ahead b‘ccl) - engagetl m the ease, disagree. On the one hand, Mr. Felix, of whose tsi'eatise on the bat I think no one can spcalc except in terms of the highest praise recommends, as the best attitude, “to stand with your knees slightly bent, just enougli' to enable you to spring immediately into whatever attitude yell may be required to go.” But I ain compelled on this poiiit respectfully to disagree with that. ancient authority. Tlic author of “The Cricket Field” on the other hand, advises the adoptioii of mi entirely different plan, and his reconuuendation my own experience induces me cordially to endorse. In- l’lll‘ll‘All [Nu FUR ACTION. ‘r't'he toes are too much before the wicket, and the foot is hardly within the crease. Forcshortenmg suits om' illustration hotter than artistic tfl'euti deed, the latter' writer has a very powerful case to support his side of the questioi). He maintains that the knees hould be kept firm and rigid, as it is onlyv then that the muscles caxi be relaxed and read)' fOl‘ sudden action. In this respect, however, much may be lenmt by' watching the attitude of a goat] batsman. To my mind the facility of acquiring a good position is a valuab’e gift, to which I cannot but think too sliglit importance is accorded. TflliC up a good position on guartl after the style of the batsman in the (lit!- g'ram. Be careful to study what is eus)’ arid natural, rather than aim at neat- ncss and elegance, as, without thought, the lattei' is very often the consequence of the former. It is in this craving fol“ effect that so many batsmen do them- selves, in my opinion, so much injustie You cannot take the art of batting by' storm, nul‘ master it in a single lcsum. Hence application must be