James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1879

33 sion of time for resolution and an opportunity of counteracting the course_of the ball after its pitch with its deflections or curvatures. It enables a bats- man to enjoy a better sight of the ball, to stop a bailer, and to be down on a shooter with equal certainty; but, generally, I_rccommend the adoption of forward play, whenever it is consistent With safety. To select at times the more advisable of the two methods is difficult, but with consistent patience success will generally follow. Tlie slightest hesitation may be fatali so let me counsel rapidity of determination and promptitudc of action, and, as in the case ofbucli play—as before statcd~a resolute style of defence rather than a weak resistance. There are many other poiiits in connection With the science of batting that do not come within the province of this article, thougli possibly I may enter on their treatment on another occasion. _ For my present purpose it is enough to direct attention to the points in batting of most use to young cricketers, without wasting time oil the fancy strokes which no treatise can teach. To “ cut ” well is, of course, one of the most brilliant and efl'ective hits in the hands ofa good batsman, but example will here, more than in any' other instance, be vastly superior to precept. Io state merely that in w cut- ting,” the left leg usually to (es the place of the right as the pivot leg, and that the latter is briskly advanced to the offside, Will give but‘a feeble idea of the beauty of this hit. To cut well requires a ficxibilityv ofwrist that cannot pos. sibly be transferred to paper, and possesses a fascination to onlookers that no pen can describe. To meet balls on the leg-side, too, without endangering your wicket, is mi accomplishment that can only be gained by practice. It may be safely’ statotl that there is not in the preseiit generation of cricketers a leg- hitter so remarkable for accuracy as was George Parr in his best day; for- a good leg-hittei' is now a rarity, or the ileltl COlli(l not be divested, as it now is so often, of so important a man as long-leg. It may be that there are few batsmen who can hit in this quarter without exposing themselves to the chances ofa catcli, but it is certaiii that at least among the professioml crick. etcrs of the day I can call to mind no leg hitter worthy of comparison with George Pair. It is on the leg-stump that many batsmen are unquestionably weak, with a propensity for “ blind~swiping” that iuevitably‘ denotes a certain recklessness; or, on the other hand, desire or fear for the safety of their limbs. Here, again, in playing balls on the leg-stump, a firm position must be main. mined, and by practice the art of making runs from them be acquired. For it is an art, believe me, and one that is not sufiiciently studied. In this case keep the bat persistently straiglit as before, paying due attcntioii to the penalty incurred by the infringement ofihe law of leg—before-wicket, and by playiiig forward or haclt hard on the ball you will iiud runs come freely. \Vith fast bowlers especiallyi. this hit, or “shove,” as it may perhaps be more aptly termed, tells at times with signal effect, aml constant practice to Secure its achievcinent will not be uselessly employed. Aboi'c 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 stiidiouslyi avoided. In leg-hitting, the right leg must be kept firm, and in all respects the ball treated as in the inaiii principle of batting above described, the policy of rcacliing 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 makiiig their practice consonant with their play during a match. Nothing can be more baneful than the reckless style of butting 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. “first is virtually the object of practice but to accustom a player to the more important necessities ofa match? What is practically the result of this foolisli custom of reckless and unnatural liming but to irreconcile the batsman to his own genuine style, and substitute habits C