James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1882

H I N T S O N B A T T I N G. 2 7 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 , but there are , beyond doubt, hundreds of others that this passive style of defensive batting allows to escape unpunished. To block a shooter or stop a bailer can as easily be accomplished in a resolute as in ahesitating manner, whilein the one case runs will accrue , and in the other, runs may never come. Play vigorously , then, and whenyou ' play'a ball , play it confi- dently andwith a resolute movement, with both arms and wrists acting in concert, as if you hadsome other idea than a mere passive occupation of a beleaguered fortress . W h e nyou hit , hit hard; whenyou block, do not be deterred from infusing vigour even into this movement. So muchfor what I m a ycall the first rudiments of scientific batting . There are other points which m a yaffect the student who has mastered the early lessons and succeeded in gaining a knowledgeof batting as well as a sufficiency of con- fidence to enable him to experimentalise on his ownbehoof. I a m 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 instruc- tion of but little practical value. It is practice , and, as I have previously remarked, the aid of a good example for imitation , that will do most to form a successful batsman. Indeed, no more useful lesson can be derived in the study of batting than the sight of a skilful batsmanat work. The willing scholar will learn muchto do, and more still to leave undone, from the example of a good master. He will be, as it were, initiated into mysteries that were previously beyond the pale of his comprehension . He will, if he love the game, take up readily the position , be quick to compre- hendthe exigency of each movement, and with increasing perception , gain increased knowledge as well as the confidence incidental thereto . H ewill see for himself the practical good of the theoretical instruction he has received , the practical demerits of the defects against whichhe has been cautioned . H ewill find that there is something more needed to gain dis- tinction than a display of wild hitting ; and that in hitting there is a certain skill that requires morethan the possession of great physical force . He will , 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 alone tend to produce a freedom of hitting and a power inconceivable to one who has not dis- covered the secret of this peculiar gift . H ewill see, too , with what confidence every ball is played, with what decision every artifice of the bowler is met, and how skilfully the line is drawn between the delicate distinctions of forward and back play . It is obviously in the uncertainty of deciding on these last two points that the bowler has the greatest advantage. There is a ball of a certain length that baffles every player , or at least one that requires the undivided attention of the best batsman. ' It is a length ,' says Mr. Felix , ' that brings over a m a n most indescribable emotions .' Perhaps I m a ynot be inclined to go so far as Mr. Felix in the extent of his expression , though I have realised fully the force of his state- ment at times . It requires much patience and decision indeed to be able to meet this samerepresentative ball with fortitude , and a continuance of practice to master it thoroughly . The mechanical persistency of a bowler in working awayat the weakpoint in a batsman's armour is seldomunsuc- cessful . There are only two methods of playing what is termed a length ball , and it dependson the immediate selection of the one or the other