6. Use both hands whenever possible.
7. Do not get nervous if you make a mistake.
8. Obey your captain cheerfully and promptly.
9. Never be slack about taking up the exact position assigned to you; never move about in an aimless, fidgetty manner.”
These Commandments apply to the whole side, since, as has been well said, “In a true sense, the strength of a fielding side must be measured by its weakest member, as that of a chain is measured by its weakest link. Then, again, when there is a really bad fielder on a side, more balls seem to go to him than to any one else. Put him where you will, he seems to attract the ball.”
Let the reader fancy himself fielding at cover. What must be his habits?
He must be ready to back up the wicket-keeper.
He must be ready to start at once in any direction either with his legs or with his arm or with both.
He must time the ball; he must also anticipate, his foreknowledge being based on instinct, observation, and memory.