James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1882

28 LILLYWHITE'S CRICKETERS' ANNUAL. whether discomfiture or success ensues . Abatsman with a long reach will smother balls that would puzzle one of smaller staturë . Reachhas un- questionably much to do in the matter , but patience and decision are still more powerful allies . To play forward is , undoubtedly , whenpossible , the more advisable plan , as by this means are avoided all the devia- tions of the ball fromspin or accidental deflections by reason of groundor other causes . But forward play should be only used with caution , and to step out to a ball for the sake of smothering it is a dangerous experiment that should be discouraged . With a straight bat muchis possible , and it will be found much can be accomplished . Obviously , in playing forward the ball mustbe met at or near its pitch , and unless it can be so met, that there is no chance of its rising over the shoulder of the bat, recourse must be had to defence. A n din back play 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 tob ed o w non 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 methodsis difficult , but with consistent patience success will generally follow . The slightest hesitation m a ybe fatal ; so let m e counsel 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 many other points in connection with the science of batting that do not come within the province of this article , though possibly I mayenter on their treatment on another occasion . For my present 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 ' well is , of course , one of the most brilliant and effective hits in the hands of a good batsman, but example will here , morethan in any other instance , be vastly superior to precept . To state merely that in ' cutting ' the left leg usually takes the place of the right as the pivot -leg, andthat 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 meetballs on the leg -side , too, without endangering your wicket , is an accomplishment that can only be gained by practice . It maybe 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 good leg-hitter is now a rarity , or the field could not be divested , as it n o wis so often , of so important a m a nas long-leg. It m a ybe that there are few batsmenwhocan hit in this quarter without exposing themselves 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 comparison with George Parr. It is on the leg-stump that manybatsmen are unquestionably weak, with a propensity for ' blind -swiping ' that inevit- ably 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 maintained , and by practice the art of making runs fromthembe acquired . For it is an art , believe m e, 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