James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annnual 1881

2 0 LILLYWHITE'SCRICKETERS' A N N U A L. diagram, which I have been permitted to use by the proprietors of ' The Cricket Field ,' in illustration of the present article , will serve to demon- strate to some extent myideas , although special attention must be given to the note thereto appended. P R E P A R I N G F O RA C T I O N .* Take up a good position on guard after the style of the batsman in the diagram. Becareful to study what is easy and natural , rather than aim at neatness and elegance , as , without thought , the latter is very often the consequence of the former . It is in this craving for effect that so many batsmendo themselves , in m y opinion , so muchinjustice . Youcannot take the art of batting by storm, nor master it in a single lesson . Hence application must be ungrudgingly and unsparingly given , and desultory practice carefully avoided . First acquire a position that suits you and is at the same time not incorrect , and then , by the aid of care and practice , preserve it until it becomes a confirmed attitude . It is by this means alone that an evil habit will be escaped and much after -labour and pain be spared to the young beginner . M yown theory on the best position for a batsman Inowpropose to state , with the feeling that it has enjoyed , at least in somedegree , the benefit of success . Stand then , I say to the young student , with the right leg quite firm , the right foot just inside the crease , and the toes just clear of a line drawn from wicket to wicket . The advisability of having the right foot just inside the crease is obvious , as thereby the length of reach is greatly extended , but caution should none the less be exercised , *Thetoes are too muchbefore the wicket , and the foot is hardly within the crease .' Fore-shortening suits our illustration better than artistic effectintind Jones I doidw 2 0