13th.—The bowler more than any other fielder needs patience, perseverance and pluck. He must be strong, steady and sure. He must smile and look happy when catches are missed. He must look contented and satisfied when the umpire gives decisions against his interest. All will recognize the successful bowler even without the aid of these few rules.
Point is next in importance, he is always expected to have safe hands, for when a fast ball is cut to point, a run is sure to result if he is not alert; in ancient cricket he stood much nearer the batsmen than at this period. His place is now so far from the striker that his position upon the field seems to have given way to silly point, a position so dangerous that a fielder possessing great courage generally volunteers for it. Few captains would order a man to the position of silly point, yet there are still fewer who do not delight in the man who fills it advantageously, for “chances” abound near the wicket.
The slips, short leg and mid wickets follow in importance, while the outfielders and covers should not be deficient as stoppers, while as throwers they frequently have grand opportunities for the display of great activity. The Australian and English teams who came to this country were most effective fielders, and our native cricketers learned much from their prowess. They seemed ubiquitous. The ball did not seem ever to bore its way through them, their anticipation of its direction seemed instinctive. But if a hard hit one passed through the phalanx and did get by the fielder and was rapidly wending its way to the boundarys, the foreigner chased it with a speed and determination which gradually overtook it before it reached the ropes, thus reducing the score to a minimum. Let the cricket fielder constantly bear in mind that the time allotted to him to pick up and return the ball to the wicket is less than that required for a fast runner to traverse 18 yards at speed. If he is just as fast as the runner his exertions are lost to his side, for the batsman has reached his crease. The fielder must therefore be mentally and physically active while the ball is in play. It is not enough for him to take the ball and return it to the wicket keeper.Thousands of wickets have been held by a failure on the part of the fielder to return to the right wicket. Which one that is can only be determined by instant thought followed by immediate action. If the fielder waits for notification to receive and return the ball he will in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred belong to the bump on the log variety.
Fielding should be practiced whenever cricketers meet on the turf. Many captains advocate meeting for fielding only. In view of the numerous occasions for practice which constantly present themselves it seems to the writer unnecessary. But these must be used. The hardness of the cricket ball causes fear to the unpracticed. It hurts tender hands to be rudely struck by the hard ball. Companions can practice fielding indoors or almost anywhere, if a ball is provided. Cricketers will find a ball a delightful companion. Passing it around gives the practice which fielders must have to become expert. A dozen occasions innure the hands to the sensation of stopping a fast ball. It will no longer feel hard, but the fielder will take it at lightning speed.
Perfect fielding is absolutely unknown on the American cricket fields. Errors are so numerous even among the best players, that bowlers lose courage and nerve. Each fielder should recollect that he is the support of the bowler. The strength of every bowler depends upon his field. A catch missed means a game lost which might have been won. Most fielders feel little of the great responsibility resting upon them, and even many good ones fail to appreciate it.
When our American gentlemen were winning the match against Surrey on the “Oval,” the sympathy of the London crowd was with the Americans, who they thought fielded better than the English gentlemen. One of the crowd said to the writer our cricketers “worship the bat.” They play forever in the nets, and forget the importance of fine fielding, this did not seem a just criticism, for although he has seen every foreign eleven that has ever played in America, he has never seen any American fielding compare in excellence with that of the English and Australians. Almost every American fielder fails to realize that there are two wickets. He picks up well, returns well, runs well, and the mechanical part is often better than that of his English brother, but when head work is needed the English fielder returns to the right wicket, and the batter little expecting it is run out. The American batter is expecting the same loose methods to prevail among English fielders, but disappointment awaits him, for much to his astonishment the English fielder recollects the other wicket. Nothing has impressed itself upon the writer’s mind in commenting upon the play of foreign elevens, like the constant watchfulness of the fielder. If English cricketers worship the bat at home, they show no evidence of it upon American cricket grounds. They set an example to American cricketers which the sooner they follow, the sooner will they equal their alert foreign competitors.
The last fielder to be spoken of but the most important, is the captain of the XI. Upon his judgement in placing his men depends the result. He is responsible for the work of the field. He is looked to as the one to place his men in good or bad localities. If bad judgment is used he is most severely criticised by the on-lookers. If he shows good judgement he gets little credit, as the fielder is supposed to be doing it all and receives the applause. But the captain must be watchful, helpful, courageous and sanguine. He must not loose nerve and energy because his side is hunting leather. He must work harder because he has an up hill game. In short, he must lead all the time, and if he expects his side to follow, he must set the example.
CHAPTER IV.
BATTING.
An expert batsman experiences unspeakable pleasure during his innings. Cricketers glory in him, his friends delight in him, and the sweetest smile of his best girl emphasizes his triumph.
Nearly every young American learns base ball before cricket. When he first stands before a wicket, he is almost paralysed by the fear of losing it. Nothing corresponding to it appears upon the diamond. When his wicket has been successfully attacked a few times he is disheartened, and is likely to abandon cricket and return to his first love. This is a critical period in the history of the beginner. But a hint from a cricketer able and willing to explain that the straight ball can be successfully met by the straight bat may open the gate of cricket to him.