James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1879

32 movement, with both arms and Wrists acting in concert, as if yoii had some “other idea than a mere passive occupation of a beleaguered fortress. XVhen you hit, hit hard; when you bloclr, do not be deterred from using Vigour even in this movement. So much for what I may call the first rudiments of scien- tific batting. There are other points which may affect the student who has mastered the early lessons, and succeeded in gaining a knowledge of batting, as well as zt sufficiency of confidence to enable him _to.expcrimentalise on his own behoof. I am not going to enter into a. description of the three kinds into which, I have read, straight balls are divided, as I cannot but think. that this is a line of instruction of but little practical value. It_is practice, and, as I have previously remarked, the altl of a good example for imitation, that will do most to form a successful batsmaii. Indeed, no more useful lesson can be de. rived in the study of batting thaii the sight of a sltilful batsman at work. Tlie willing scholar will learn much to do, and more still to leave undone, from the example ofa goocl master. He will he, as it were, Initiated into in sreries that were previously beyond the pale qf'llls comprehensron. He wil , if he love the gaiue, take up readily the position, be_quick to comprehepd'the exi- gency of cacli movement, and, with _1ncreasing perception, Again increased knowledge as well as the confidence incidental thereto. He Will see for him- self the practical good of the theoretical‘mstruction he has received, the prac. tical demerits of the defects against which he .hflS'b?Ell_Cfl|l(lQned. _He will find that there is something more needed to gain distinction than a display of wild hitting; and that in hitting there IS a certain skill that requires more than the possession of great physical force. He ii’ill, if the lesson proves fruitful, find that to hit well necessitates a combination of eye and hand, the former to time and the latter to strike; as well as a_ large amount of wrist play which will aloiie tend to produce a freedom of hitting anti a power inconceivable to one who has not discovei‘ecl the secret of this peculiar gift,_ He will see, too. with what confideiice every ball is plflycdnWllll what (113051011 every artifice of the bowler is met, and how skilfully the line is drawn between t e delicate distinctions of forward and bnclr play. It is obViously in the uncertainty of decidiiig on these two last points that the bowler has the greatest advantage, There is a ball of certain length that biiflles every player, or at least one that requires the undivided attentioii of the best batsman. “ It is _a length,” Says Mr. Felix, n that bfi,,g5 over a man most indescribable emohons.” _ Perhaps I may not be inclined to go so far as Mr. Felix _m the extent of his expres. sion, though I have realised fully the force of his statement attu-ncs. It re- quires inuch paticiice and decision indeed to be able to meetthis' same repre- sentatii'e ball with fortitude, nml a continuance of_ practice to master it thoroughl)‘. The mechanical persistency of a bowler in working away at the weak points in the batsman's armour is seldom unsuccessful. There are only two methods of playing what is termed a length ball, and it depends on the immediate selectioii of the one or the other whether discomfiture oi‘ success ensues. A batsman with a long reach will smother balls that would puzzle one of smaller stature. Reacli has unquestionably much to do in the menu, but patience and decision are still more powerful allies. To play forward is, undoubtedly, when possible, the more advxsable plaii, as by this means are avoiderl all the deviatioiis of the ball from spin or accidental deflections by reason of ground or other causes. But forward play should be onlyused with caution, and to step out to a ball for the sake of smothering it isa dangerous expen‘ment that should be discouraged. VVith a straiglit bat much is possible, am] it Will be found much caii be accomplished. Obviously, in'playing for- ward the ball must be met at or nearils pitch, audjunless it can be so met that there is no chance of'its rising over the shoulder of the hat, recourse must be hat! in defence. And in bat]: play, there is always the advantage ofnn exten-