The Ladies' Guide to Cricket

28 ao ninny cunning device? to bo plotted and counter-plotted, in trying to get the better of the enemy. Amongst men it i8 often remarked tlmt a player endowed by nature with the most splendid physical gifts,, but deficient in generalship, fo excelled by some weak, insignificant looking creature whose brain power enables him to apply his inferior strength at the right moment, and in the right way. And now let us turn to what wo shall call ‘ softball cricket.’ Lady principals sometimes refuse to allow their girls to piny cricket lest they should endanger their precious lives and limbs, or the school windows. In unskilful hands the hard heavy missile which men use in the game is a frequent cause of damage and disaster. It will, therefore, be a good deed to show how a capital game of cricket may be played in a small play­ ground, without the slightest, danger of black eyes, bleeding noses and bruises, broken finger nails, or smashed window- panes. The gordian knot of the puzzle is easily severed. If a hard ball is objectionable, why not use a soft one ? Let us suppose that a number of young ladies at school, tired of ‘ rounders ’ and ambitious to try then* hands at an in­ finitely superior game, have equipped themselves with a boys’ set of bats, stumps, and bails. What description of ball should they procure for Soft-ball cricket ? None can be better than the hollow, India-rubber, wash-leather cased article, used in lawn tennis. When sufficient dexterity has been acquired by playing with a soft-ball, a harder one may be substituted if desired, as the danger by that time will have been reduced to a minimum. Having chosen as smooth a pitch as possible near the centre of the playground, the wickets should be pitched opposite each other, and with a distance between them of from 10 to 15 yards (according to the age arid strength of the players.) In real cricket, the regulation space between the wicket s is 22 yards ; but with a light ball the distance must be reduced, else the bowling would scarcely travel from one end to the other. Measure from the foot of the stumps towards the other wicket the whole length of the bat and handle laid flat on the ground, and add to the point thus reached another handle length only—a bat and a half in all from the foot of the wicket. Here mark a thick chalk line, about 1 feet long, and across or parallel with the stumps. This is what is called the popping crease (See diagram, p. 12). Also draw at each side of the stumps a line for the bowling crease parallel with the popping crease, (see Diagram p. 12). Do the same thing exactly at the opposite wicket, and all the necessary prepara­ tions are complete. Next, let two players who are to act. as Captains, choose sides—any number from 4 or 5 to 15, or oven more. The Captains, whom we shall call Alice and Mary, should now toss for choice of innings. The winner may either put her own wide in to hat first, or send in her opponents, 8ho