James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1882

HINTS O N B A T T I N G: 2 9 the law of leg -before -wicket , and by playing forward or back hard on the ball you will 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 , and constant practice to secure its achievement will not be uselessly employed. Aboveall things be careful not to moveout of your groundto hit at a ball on the leg-side , as this is a most hazardous experiment, and should be studiously avoided . Inleg-hitting , the right leg mustbe kept 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 mindsof youngplayers the necessity of makingtheir practice consonant with their play during a match. Nothing can be more baneful than the reckless style of batting so often prevalent during the hours of practice . It is this unwise relapse into bad habits that seals the fate of m a n ya promising cricketer . Whatis virtually the object of practice but to accustom a player to the more important necessities of a match? What is practically the result of this foolish custom of reckless and unnatural batting but to irreconcile the batsman to his owngenuine style , and substi- tute habits which unfit him for higher duties ? Youngcricketers will do well to avoid these suicidal tactics . There are manyother sins of omission and commissioninto which it would be possible to enter were the present volumeas capacious as the Koran, or the present writer as industrious as one of its expositors . O nthe minor topics incidental to the gamethere is muchto be said that has beenunsaid. On the various appliances of the gamethere is m u c hto be written , if only to satisfy anxious inquirers . I shall , however, merelybring to an end this m yfirst rough article on cricket with a few brief words of advice on subjects which are not sufficiently attended to. I allude first to the necessity of good running as one of the brightest feathers in the cap of anyone whoclaims to be aneffective batsman. It is b ythe neglect of this essential that manyruns are lost , and manya ' notch ' indirectly given to the other side . To see two good runners at the wickets is a treat to those who understand genuine cricket . There is no slovenly dallying , no indecision , no call for a run and after recall . In this respect alone a batsmanof mediocrity maybe of as muchreal value as one of far superior powers. Be ready to back up immediately the ball leaves the hand of the bowler, and be careful to act decisively , as on this depends greatly the fate of your opposite neighbour . If you feel inclined to run do not hesitate , but call , and on no account reduce your partner to the necessity of retracing his steps , as from the fact of your backing up, you can get to the opposite wicket with greater ease than he can return and recover his ground. This last caution should not be overlooked . A stolen run, if the batsmen act well in concert , is by no means difficult of achievement -though care should be taken against any really imprac- ticable attempt and a succession of stolen runs has the effect of not only irritating the bowler, but of demoralising and detracting from the efficacy of the field . Again, to bat with strict care at the commence- ment of your innings , trusting to time and the gradual diminution of accuracy on the part of the bowler to admit of scoring , is advice that wouldseem to be superfluous . But patience throughout an innings of any duration is a virtue of great rarity amongbatsmen. Take care of the stumps, and the runs will take care of themselves , is an axiom that cannotb e contradicted. Consistentcare fromfirst to last will d om o r ein