James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annnual 1881

6 2 4 L I L L YWHITE'SC R I C K E T E R SA N N U A L. there is nochance of its rising over the shoulder of the bat, recourse must behadto defence. A n din backplay there is always the advantage of an extension of time for resolution and an opportunity of counteracting the course of the ball after its pitch with all its deflections or curvatures . It enables a batsmanto enjoy a better sight of the ball , to stop a bailer , and to be downon a shooter with equal certainty ; but , generally , I recommend 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 . The slightest hesitation maybe fatal ; so let mecounsel rapidity of determination and promptitude of action , and, as in the case of back play-as before stated-a resolute style of defence rather than a weak resistance . There are manyother points in connection with the science of batting that do not comewithin the province of this article , though possibly I mayenter on their treatment onanother occasion . For m ypresent purpose it is enough to direct atten- tion to the points in batting of most use to young cricketers , without wasting time on the fancy strokes which no treatise can teach . To ' cut ' wellis, of course , one of the most brilliant and effective hits in the hands of a goodbatsman, but examplewill here, more than in any other instance , bevastly superior to precept. To state merely that in ' cutting ' the left leg usually takes the place of the right as the pivot -leg, and that the latter is briskly advanced to the off -side , will give but a feeble idea of the beauty ofthis hit. To cut well requires a flexibility of wrist that cannot possibly be transferred to paper, and possesses a fascination to on-lookers that no pen can describe . To meet balls on the leg -side , too , without endangering your wicket , is an accomplishment that can only be gained by practice . It m a ybe safely stated that there is not in the present generation of cricketers a leg-hitter so remarkable for accuracy as was George Parr in his best day; for a goodleg-hitter is nowa rarity , or the field could not be divested , as itnowis so often , of so important a manas long-leg . It maybe that there are fewbatsmenwhocan hit in this quarter without exposing themselves 1 to the chances of a catch , but it is certain that at least amongthe profes- sional cricketers of the day I can call to mind no leg-hitter worthy of comparisonwith George Parr. It is on the leg-stump that manybatsmen are unquestionably weak, with a propensity for blind -swiping ' that inevit- ablydenotes 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 maintained, and by practice the art of making runs fromthembe acquired . For it is an art , believe me, and one that is not sufficiently studied . In this case keep the bat persistently straight as before , paying due attention to the penalty incurred by the infringement of the lawof leg-before-wicket , andbyplaying forward or backhard on theball youwill find runs come freely . With fast bowlers especially this hit , or ' shove,' as it m a yperhaps be more aptly termed, tells at times with signal effect , andconstant practice to secure its achievement will not be uselessly employed. Above all things be careful not to move out of your ground to hit at a ball on the leg-side , as this is a most hazardous experiment, and should be studiously avoided. In leg-hitting , the right leg mustbekept firm , andin all respects the ball treated as in the mainprinciple of batting above described , the policy of reaching the ball as near as possible to the pitch , whena good length , being most to be recommended. I would , too , impress forcibly on the minds of young players the necessity of making their practice consonant with their play during a match . Nothing can be more banefu 1