No. 7—THE LEG HIT.
The element of danger is almost eliminated by constant watchfulness.
The mind of a brilliant fielder, extends to the ends of his fingers and toes.
The perfect batsman plays every ball with a purpose. Illustration No. 9, shows how to play a well pitched ball wending its way towards the leg stump. This ball he robs of all its dangerous tendency by forwarding his bat toward the bowler, carried at an angle of 85, and almost perpendicular. This position presents almost a full blade to the ball, thereby defending his wicket, but also forces it to glance to the short legs.
No. 10, illustrates a safe and easy method of scoring from a ball not far enough off the wicket to risk a leg hit. Guarding the wicket does not enter into the batter’s calculations. But he forces the bat, carried at an angle of about 70 degrees against the advancing ball, which rapidly finds its way towards sharp leg. We cannot leave this portion of our chapter until we emphasize the part the shoulders should play in making the natural hits. It is in our judgement to be regretted that the exigincies of the game have largely remanded the shoulder hitter to the back ground; but it must be acknowledged that he is no longer the power in the game he was prior to the period of special “off” bowling. But the best “trundlers” give chances to the shoulder hitter, and when accepted the spectator feels gratified that the science of cricket has been momentarily relaxed. If the muscular power of the batsman be not fully exerted upon the natural hits, we think all good cricketers will agree with us, that safety demands that the ball should be “let alone.”
The modern captain instructs his bowlers to give preference to “off” rather than “on” balls, and places his field in accordance. If the bowlers do their full duty, the batter must score from unnatural hits only, if at all.
1st.—He may receive a short pitch “off” ball, which he can drive to mid off, or “cover,” or he may “pull it” to “leg” by advancing his right leg towards point, thereby assuming the natural attitude, and acting as if it were a leg ball.
2nd.—The over pitched “off” ball the batsman drives to long field, or over the bowler’s head. These “off” balls require little beyond a correct eye and ready hand. But the modern batsman who expects great success must learn to “cut,” for the large proportion of balls delivered are best suited for cutting.
There are three distinct varieties of cuts. First, the forward cut. Second, the square off cut. Third, the late cut. Each play resulting from the relative position of the ball to the batsman while he is making the hit. All the cuts are made from rising balls distinctly to the off. When an off ball falls outside of the line of safety for a forward play, the batsman instantly prepares himself for the forward cut. This he does by elevating the bat as in No. 11, at the same moment turning his face towards point, with his right foot somewhat advanced in the same direction, using his left as a pivot. This movement towards the advancing ball enables him to reach the spot it is soon likely to occupy. Then while carrying his bat at an angle of about 70, he suddenly brings it down with a chopping motion until it comes in contact with the ball, which moves rapidly towards the boundary in a line between point and mid-wicket. This hit is illustrated by No. 12. It is effective, as it has a tendency to spread the field forward.