TO YOUNG PLAYERS.
NZ Truth , Issue 889, 9 December 1922, Page 9
About this newspaper
TO YOUNG PLAYERS.
Some Further Hints.
(By L. T. COB€ROPT.)
How many young players are hindering their advance m the game of Cricket through ; using bats that are altogether out; of proportion In the way of size and weight? It behoves every young cricket enthusiast before purchasing a bat to get Borne senior player to give him an idea as to the class of bat he requires and select one that will m every way meet the youngster's approval. The small boy cannot hope to make any great- advancement In his batting, particularly m making strokes correctly, if he persists m using a bat that is frequently far too heavy for an adult to play with. Boys should be taught that it i.9 not the weight of the bat that makes the ball fly to the boundary -for four; it is the correct timing and otherwise knowing when to meet and hit it Youngsters should remember that playing WITH A STRAIGHT BAT is the first thing necessary before they can hope to become batsmen. Once their - defence is sound, strokes can then be taught, but if they should be using a heavy bat it is almost an Impossibility to attempt to get them to place their bat m position' quickly j enough for the execution of any stroke but the drive, and . even then they would be frequently late for , Just medium-paced bowling. All boys up to about sixteen or seventeen years of age should not use any bat heavier than the Barrow or light Cannon brand. ' The placing of the feet is just: as essential to good batting as it is to a boxer m delivering or evading a blow. When going m to bat see that there are no ends of straps showing out from your pads, as neglect m this matter will often cause the boy to be given out. There is no set standard of how a batsman should stand 'at the wickets, but one thing SHOULD BE INSISTED ON, and that, is, the weight should be on the back leg, thus enabling the batsman to jump forward when occasion requires. I would like to see some of the Management Committee of the associations pay a trip to the playing areas on a Saturday morning and take a look at the youngsters when playing their games. . I feel sure they would express surprise at the talent and promise of some of the boys, and I would advocate the selecting of eight or ten promising lads to be allowed to practice with the senior clubs (one for each club) free of charge. Nothing would advance the boy more than letting him bowl to and be bowled at by players he knew were good senior men. The confldenco he would gain would soon be Bhown when playing m his school: eleven Some kiddles, that I feel confident, would surprise the governing bodies of cricket. In Wellington I have noticed two or three loft-hand bowlers who possess all the qualifications that are necessary to make top-notchers. No doubt there are boys as good In the other towns. Some of the boys could teach some of the higher grade players how to bat When you find boys , going m to bat every Saturday and not ' being got rid of till they have made well over 60 runs there Is something 1 m them.
