John and James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1882

B y H on . E. II. LYTTELTON. I T WOULD BE HOST INTERESTING to an experienced cricketer to go round our various public schools and examine the different cricket methods in vogue at eacli of them. In some schools it would be found that a great deal is left to the unlettered natural ability of each boy, and in others—perhaps in most schools—would be found Home experienced mentor standing behind the practice-net and instilling into a receptive mind the mysteries of a straight bat, and that which is st ill more difficult, the teaching of a hoy to overcome the first instinct of nature, viz., that of running away from a fast ball delivered in the direc. tion of the batsman’s person. In the uncoached schools the elevens are inclined to vary more in efficiency from year to year. Some Titan like Hr. A. G. S teel makes his appearance, and by individual prowess carries all before him; but sucli uncoacbed schools depend very much on some champion who is superior to any coaching. When lie vanishes, the school must, by the doctrine of chances, wait a long time before such another makes his appearance, and in the meantime the efficiency of the cricket diminishes. The reason of this is, probably, that where systematic coaching exists, the mediocre players, who without instruc- tion do not rise high in skill, by such instruction mould into very correct batsmen, wanting, perhaps, more practice than the natural players, but still consistent and regular scorers. In discussing coaching, it is probable that the best coaches are careful not to interfere with a natural good style, and in this way we think that professionals are apt to make mistakes. If a boy lias got a natural talent for hitting a half-volley to leg with vigour and accuracy, let him retain that faculty, and to enable him to do so, give him frequent opportunity for exercising it ; but how often do we see a professional in practice deliver a half-volley to leg, and after being properly hit, ease his mind by bowling for the remainder of the practice long hops on the off-stump. We can call to mind many a hit driven out of a hoy largely owing to the wit hering accuracy of professional bowling. Another point in public school cricket may be alluded to here, which we think of the utmost importance. Under the guidance o f a good coach, scores o f boys without much natural aptitude are moulded into serviceable batsmen, generally of the defensive order, but rarely do we see the same in the case of bowlers. A lesson in this matter, as in several others, we can learn from the Australians. Visitors to our Australian colonies tell us that there ij> a certain level of bowling proficiency to which a large proportion ol colonial cricketers attain. It is certain that the wonderful spin and odd