James Lilllywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1880

3 2 LILLYWHITE'SCRICKETERS' A N N U A L. ing the powers of defence . I disclaim any notion of egotism in the statement , but merely cite it as a practical demonstration that I always stand thus on guard myself , with the top of the handle just above the belt , and the bottom of the blade almost on a level with the centre of the middle stump. Again , it has from time immemorialbeen enacted that the left shouldershouldbe kept well forward and the left elbow naturally well up. I do not think that the most hypercritical cricketer can say anything in disparagement of this ancient rule . Modern cricket has indeed failed to supersede or find a flaw in the judgment of the past on this point . Try the experiment of playing with a straight and upright bat and the left shoulder in any other position , and you will realise the impossibility . Keep yourself as upright as possible to allow yourself the full benefit of your height , and your attention riveted on the actions of the bowler . It is impossible to have such a good sight of the ball , tojudge of its length , or to watch and allow for any break in its course , if the head be low or the attitude cramped . 'H egets so well over the ball ' is per- haps the highest praise that can be bestowed on a batsman , and to deserve such distinction it is necessary that the advice just given be carefully studied . The acquisition of consistently straight and upright play is, as I have before said , byno means an easy task , but , if only in contrast to the manythat fail , it is worthy of an effort to be one of the successful aspirants . With due attention to the foregoing hints on position and attitude a candidate for honours will have much in his favour , but to reach perfection there is need of more devotion . The veriest novice will be able to see for himself the advantages , if only on mathematical grounds , of facing the ball with an upright bat ; inasmuch as a greater amount of the surface is thereby presented to the ball than is possible in any deviation from the upright position . It is this same full face of the bat that forms the original groundwork of the long scores ; it is the same straight bat that enables a hitter to defy at times the attack of the bowler , and to score freely from balls that would soon dispose of a cross -player . Much depends on the accuracy of the eye , and much on the judgment with which aball is timed , but, beyond all , I think it will be acknowledged that the great secret of batting , both in so far as it affects defence and hitting , consists in meeting the ball with the full force of the bat. Let me recommend young players , therefore , to ground themselves thoroughly in this essential before they enter into the competitive examination of cricketers . To feel that you meet the bowler with the best weapons at your disposal inspires confidence in your own mind, and this feeling mayenable you to outlive the attack . Only be careful , whilst seeking to acquire the art of straight play , to follow the rules given , with the bat held firmly in the hands ; to avoid shrinking , or any but decisive move- ments, as with strict practice perfection will sooner be attained , and an uncertain and vacillating style will inevitably cause the bat to deviate from the perpen- dicular line , to the probable discomfiture of its owner. Ihave just spoken of the benefits of meeting the ball with the full face of the bat . It was advisedly that I used the word meeting , and to make myself more intelligible , I may explain myself to meanmeeting in the most active sense , as opposed to allow- ing the bat passively to await the impact of the ball . Some batsmen consider themselves fully recompensed if they can dispose of a good ball by the simple process of allowing the bat to protect the stumps . This maypossibly be a happy result for the rank and file of the game, but Iamdesirous of appealing at the same time to the superior officers , and I do not think that this policy of offensive defence in cricket is sufficiently valued . In some instances , of course , there are balls which require every effort of the batsman to meet at all ,