LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

[I.]—[Waiting for the ball, with the weight balanced almost evenly upon the two feet (which are near together), but rather on the right foot][Facing page 22]
[II.]—[Forward play: the bat has been drawn straight up and back (not in a curve) before the stroke][Facing page 25]
[III.]—[Playing back: the right foot has retired nearer the wicket, so as to give longer time for seeing the ball. (Note.—The bat should be held straight. This photograph was taken before Shrewsbury was in practice)][Facing page 26]
[IV.]—[The glide: both feet well back][Facing page 28]
[V.]—[Playing back: right foot retired, to give extra time for seeing the ball; weight on right foot. This was Shrewsbury’s stroke when he felt “beaten” by the bowler][Facing page 29]
[VI.]—[Playing forward to a ball on the off: the straight bat has passed near and beyond the left foot in a “follow-through.” Notice the fingers, especially the first finger and thumb of the left hand. At the end of the stretch the left arm is fully extended, and the right heel has come off the ground]Between pages [30] and [31]
[VII.]—[Playing forward to a ball slightly to the leg side: see remarks on previous photograph, and notice the head well over the bat-handle]Between pages [30] and [31]
[VIII.]—[Playing forward to a straight ball: see remarks on previous photographs]Between pages [30] and [31]
[IX.]—[Position of hands and fingers at the end of the forward stroke: the left hand has shifted round, the right hand holds the bat with thumb and first finger only][Facing page 35]
[X.]—[Preparing to drive with a pull: the left leg is well out so that the bat may get nearer to the pitch of the ball][Facing page 39]
[XI.]—[Preparing to pull a short ball: right foot across, so as to help the stroke well round to leg]Between pages [40] and [41]
[XII.]—[Preparing to pull a short ball: right foot across and well back, so as to make the short ball still shorter]Between pages [40] and [41]
[XIII.]—[Hook-stroke to leg: both feet well back, but weight on right foot]Between pages [40] and [41]
[XIV.]—[Cut-drive. Right leg firm and straight, left leg bent and well across][Facing page 41]
[XV.]—[The late cut: right foot well across, left leg extended so far as to bring heel off ground]Between pages [42] and [43]
[XVI.]—[The late cut: right foot well across, left leg extended]Between pages [42] and [43]
[XVII.]—[The way of running out with fairly long steps, weight should be chiefly on right foot and right leg should be ready to serve as firm pivot]Between pages [46] and [47]
[XVIII.]—[Abel’s way of running out, with feet interlacing]Between pages [46] and [47]
[XIX.]—[Turning quickly at the crease after the first run][Facing page 50]
[XX.]—[Bowling, third position: bowling arm extended fully forwards and downwards, body facing forwards, back leg fully extended][Facing page 61]
[XXI.]—[Bowling, second position: bowling arm extended fully upwards, body coming round with arm][Facing page 61]
[XXII.]—[Bowling, first position: bowling arm back and down, body facing sideways, weight on back leg][Facing page 67]
[XXIII.]—[One of Hirst’s grips when he bowls: the little finger does not touch the ball, and only the knuckle of the third finger does]Between pages [70] and [71]
[XXIV.]—[Same grip for right hand bowler]Between pages [70] and [71]
[XXV.]—[Another of Hirst’s grips: all the fingers touch the ball, the little one only just with its side]Between pages [70] and [71]
[XXVI.]—[Same grip for right hand bowler]Between pages [70] and [71]
[XXVII.]—[Bowler waiting for ball to be thrown in: he is standing well back from the wicket][Facing page 91]
[XXVIII.]—[Fielding a low ball with one hand: the opposite leg is fully extended][Facing page 112]
[XXIX.]—[Fielding, second position: the hand drawn back behind the ear, somewhat further back than most American Baseball fielders prefer][Facing page 114]
[XXX.]—[Waiting for a catch: elbows ready to draw back slightly the moment the ball touches the hands]Between pages [116] and [117]
[XXXI.]—[A one-handed catch: body bent slightly back from the hips]Between pages [116] and [117]
[XXXII.]—[Fielding a ground ball: no interval left for the ball to get through; body well down to the work]Between pages [118] and [119]
[XXXIII.]—[A waiting position at point, where there is less foot-work than at most places. It is easier to rise quickly than to stop quickly]Between pages [118] and [119]
[XXXIV.]—[Preparing to throw in with the high action]Between pages [118] and [119]

THE CRICKET OF ABEL, HIRST AND SHREWSBURY.

CHAPTER I.
BATTING AND RUNNING.

I.—INTRODUCTORY.

It was once thought that the universe moved round our earth merely as its accompanying condition, existing simply and solely for the sake of our earth. And so the batsman has been, and generally still is, regarded as the centre of cricket, for whose enjoyment the rest of the players subsist. Batting seems best worth while, not so much because of the qualities, such as pluck, which it demands, as because of the pleasure it may give. The reason why most people like batting, even if they hate wicket-keeping and fielding and watching, and do not bowl, is the enjoyment of striking and of scoring runs. Perhaps in this there is some relic of the desire for hitting and killing—the desire for overcoming and controlling Nature, for using power. Moreover, batting includes defence as well as attack; indeed the safest defence may really be to attack boldly. Batting at its best and fullest involves a complexity of characteristics: it involves back-play, with gliding and late cutting, pulling, forward play, with the cut-drive and ordinary drive, the “half-cock” stroke, the snick; a decision between these varieties, followed by a hit, then recovery of balance, then a decision whether one shall run or not, then perhaps a run, then a turn at the crease—and much besides this. It may involve a great change of habit. Thus in many other ball-games the ball is hit when it is further off from the striker’s foot—as in Golf, Racquets, Tennis, Lawn Tennis, Fives. In Cricket, except in such strokes as the pull and the cut, the ball should be hit when it is near to the striker’s foot.

He who is not born a batsman, he who wishes to be made—that is, make himself—an all-round batsman, must learn not only general rules like this, but also details with regard to the individual strokes. In studying these details he will meet divergent theories; here again is scope for individual trial and judgment, and for observation. He can notice what the best players actually do, for, as Murdoch says, this is of more importance than what they think they do.

The would-be batsman, therefore, is offered perhaps a few really universal laws, and certainly many general hints, yet he must judge of each hint by its results in his own case after fair experiment. He must be a free agent. He may find that the advisers have assumed that he has little reach, little activity, whereas he may be a Ford or Abel for reach, a Jessop or Abel for activity, without the safety of a Shrewsbury or the strength of a Hirst. Why should such a one be tied down by a law that in forward play he shall not let his bat pass beyond his left foot, if he has it in his power to send his bat with force many inches beyond that point, and so smother the ball? Who shall bind down such players? On the other hand, who shall spoil the slow player’s pleasure and safety by bidding him run out?

Throughout this chapter all rules or hints are submitted to the test of utility for the individual. They must be studied; questions must be asked of coaches and others, who should explain strokes by doing them; the mechanisms must be found out, and also the causes and reasons for them. These mechanisms—some will be described later on—must be mastered, if not in early life, then now; they must be mastered sensibly, not with huge bats and balls to begin with, but with lighter implements. The advice must all be judged by its effects.