cannot be exhibited, by the adoption of any other attitude than that which forms the immediate subject of our inquiry; because, in so doing, I should have to contend against the fact, that many long scores have been made by those who have made their attitude of "Play" a matter of no consideration at all. Every Cricketer seems to have adopted for himself a certain method of standing at the wicket, out of which he can spring and arrange himself in the quickest manner for the required exertion, defensive or offensive; and I must content myself with supposing that their well-tried experience will not be shaken by any of my recommendations; but I feel quite confident that those of my patient Cricketing readers who have not as yet quite determined upon the position of " Play," will do well to examine and prove what we have said. Some very good young batsmen of the present generation have selected attitudes at the wicket, out of which it is only surprising they could recover themselves at all, much less with the required activity. I do not intend the accompanying sketches as caricatures, neither do I mean to particularize their representation as belonging to one more than another; but, without much exaggeration, they are some amongst the many of those extraordinary positions. No. 1 will find it almost impossible to make the necessary spring preparatory to the driving hit; he can but imperfectly command the back block, back cut, and forward. No. 2 must get up from this curious attitude, and, consequently, has yet to prepare himself: thereby losing much time, and disquieting the guard. No. 3 is by no means the worst of the number; he is the best prepared for a hard hit; but it is a dangerous position where the bowling is very good. A shooter is almost certain destruction. How is it possible to bring the bat down time enough to stop this most cruel casualty? No. 4, like Nos. 2, 5, 6, has to gather himself after getting up, thereby disturbing the line of sight, which, be it well remembered, should take in the eye, the bat, and the wicket: that is to say, if a line were let fall from the eye of the batsman to the ground, it should seem, to a person standing at the opposite wicket to pass down the centre of the bat, the bat being held to cover the middle stump. No. 6 is a very common one, and is selected by many young players; but it has only to be seen to be rejected. |