Lives in Cricket No 50 - Tom Emmett

104 and ‘Old Ebor’. Emmett spent a lot of his final years passing on his skills and knowledge to a new generation. In 1899, his approach to the game was set out in some detail in an article full of practical tips, entitled ‘Coaching the Young’, which appeared in many newspapers. On bowling he wrote: The first thing a bowler must do it to adopt the style of delivery easiest to him and most natural, and the one that he can bowl the longest with the least distress. Having done that the next point is to attain a good length, because a good length ball is a good ball whether or not it is on the wicket, and if you can get a little spin on all the better. It is not good for a beginner to try and get too much screw on at once, as it may interfere with his length, an object to be borne in mind. Emmett recommended that bowlers put as few balls to leg as possible and never forget to try and bowl to the fielders. Referring to hints on bowling by Alfred Shaw, in which he had recommended a bowler to hold the ball with all the fingers and thumb, Emmett said a great many bowlers preferred the thumb and two fingers. He added ‘From my experience I have found the latter to be the better way. Of course, this is a matter the bowler can decide for himself, as he will be able to know which feels the better way for putting the spin on.’ On matters of temperament, he cautioned that bowlers needed plenty of patience and ‘if they happen to have an easy chance missed off their bowling, they must let it upset them as little as possible. A good memory is also essential, for when a man is bowling he must try and find out his batsman’s strong and weak points, and bear them in mind when he meets him again.’ He also urged bowlers not to be afraid to move their fielders around depending on the batsman. Turning to fielding, Emmett wrote that there was not much advice that could be given but offered a number of thoughts. In particular, he considered: Always think the ball is coming to you, then, of course, you are on the alert as though you were going to start for a sprint race, because getting off quickly is a great thing in fielding...In ground fielding as well as in catching, rely on your eye, which has more to do with it than your hands. To know at what pace the ball is coming, whether in ground fielding or catching, helps you to make more certain of stopping or catching it. As for batting, Emmett considered that it was harder to instruct a pupil who had already had some teaching. In his opinion: if you get one who has had a little coaching and his methods do not coincide with your ideas, you will find the unlearning is far more difficult than the learning. Before giving any hints on teaching batting, allow me to impress on everyone connected with any public school or club, never to teach pupils to adopt that unmanly and selfish method of ignoring the bat and stopping a good ball with their legs. It is hard on the bowler, and does no good to the game. The later years (1889-1904)