Lives in Cricket No 37 - William Clarke

128 Practical Hints on Cricket starting to bowl, just glancing round the field to see if they were all ready. There he was sure to be with his eye on every one to see if all was right. There is plenty of time for a little funny saying or something to laugh at, when a man is out, without keeping every one waiting between each over. III The Science of Batting First you should try to get that firm yet easy position that best suits you, so that you may have the freedom of action so requisite for both hitting the bad and the middling balls, and defending your wickets from the good ones, and not be so fixed that you are only prepared to play or hit one or two particular balls. It is the man that hits all round, that is prepared to play the ball on the side it comes that makes the awkward customer for a bowler. Never get too fond of one particular hit. If you do it will lead you into error; I have known it to occur to the very best batters. Sometimes a good leg hitter, sometimes a good off hitter will be getting so partial to his favourite hit, that he will be trying it with straight balls. If bowled out will say for an excuse, ‘I thought it was not straight.’ A ball straight for the wicket should be played with an upright full faced bat, back towards the bowler, with the handle of the bat inclined forward. There is as much room behind the bowler and often more than in any other part of the field. There is no halfway play at a good ball: it could be played to the extent of your reach forward, so as to smother it, or back as near as you can safely get to your wicket, by that means there is a longer sight from the bound. Never let the ball get you in two minds, if you do it will cause you to play half way. Ah, there’s where all the mischief lies. It is caused by an error in judgment, you are deceived as to the spot on which the ball will pitch, that causes the mistake. In playing forward take the upper part of your body with you and have the top or left hand placed well on the top side of the handle of your bat and not too far apart from the other hand; by the handle of the bat being nearer the bowling than the blade (always bearing in mind to keep it straight), the ball will be prevented from rising. If you don’t take your body with your arms when playing forward, one is undoing what the other is trying to do. Take care not to get a habit of sinking your body when hitting. It takes away your power and not only that but it will cause you to hit under the ball. Don’t stroke with all your strength, a man is often out with hitting at a bad ball. For why? He wants to make too much of it, and by hitting past his strength, loses precision. It is not always the long swinging hit that drives the furthest. No, it is hitting the ball at the proper time, with a quick or short motion of the arms and wrists. If you go out of your ground to hit, you should forget the wicket keeper, if not your mind will be one way your body the other. You must go far enough to cover the ball and drive it straight before you. Never try to pull a straight ball across you. There are many chances against you if you do. For you have only the width of the ball to hit at, while it may chance to rise suddenly or turn out of its course,