CRICKET HINTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 39, 25 November 1938, Page 3

CRICKET HINTS

LECTURE BY I. M. HAMILTON.

ADVICE TO YOUNG PLAYERS. A short lecture on cricket generally, with special-reference to back play, was given by Mr I. M. Hamilton at the Ashburton High School on Wednesday evening.

The meeting, which was well attended was presided over by Mr Iliggar (president of the Ashburton Cricket Association).

The reasons for his giving the lecture were mainly that he himself had derived so much pleasure from the game and had made so many friends through playin'g it, said Mr Hamilton. He hoped, also, by stirring up enthusiasm, to raise the standard of play. He pointed out that it was the duty of all senior members of clubs to try to assist junior members. Judged from a minor association standard—at least after considering the results of last season’s representative matches—it appeared that the standard of Ashburton cricket was not bad. On the other hand, judging from the results of matches with senior Canterbury elevens, it was apparent that our players had much to learn. In representative matches last year our fielding and bowling appeared to lose little in comparison with other teams, but we definitely broke down when it came to defensive batting against steady bowling. The speaker had wondered often if this was a direct result of “one-day cricket,” but finally" came to the conclusion that it was not the type of cricket played so much as the players themselves. Very few local players really made the necessary effort to improve the standard of their own cricket. So long as they could swing a bat and occasionally pick up runs, then they appeared to be satisfied. Another noticeable feature in local cricket was the average of the senior players. Few cricketers stayed in the game after the age of 25 or 26. In the main centres the average age for dropping out of cricket would be in the vicinity of 35. “In Ashburton, then, players have insufficient time to develop,” he said.

Defensive Play. A factor in defensive play was that most of the local cricket was played on concrete wickets. Playing on concrete tended to develop forward defensive play and quick was neglected. Again, on most concrete wickets there was a noticeable drop from the concrete itself to the clay off which the player batted. When playing back this small drop tended to upset the balance of the player and thereby to upset his confidence in his ability to master a really correct back shot. “There is no easy road to success in any game,” said Mr Hamilton. “The player who wishes to improve has no chance he has a. certain amount of coaching and finally, is prepared to put the niecessary effort into the game himself. This was true for all players and all games.” Mr Hamilton proceeded to explain that his purpose was to assist the enthusiast Avho was prepared to do some' 1 conscientious praetide, not only at the nets' but also at home. He stressed the fact that a player to be successful must be a. master of a correct back. He demonstrated to his listeners how this shot can be used not only as a means of defence but also as a definite weapon of attack. He showed l also why quick correct footwork was so essential if young players wished to develop legside play. Other points stressed were a. full lift of the bat on the back swing and also the position of the left elbow —for right-hand batsmen —in all defensive shots.

Forward Shots. p With regard to forward play and general play in front of the wicket, he had found that these shots came naturally to most players, and too much coaching in this direction tended to upset players. He did, however, demonstrate correct footwork for going down the wicket to play slow bowling and stressed the importance of not allowing this type of bowler to settle down. Mr Hamilton then briefly touched on the subject of bowling and demonstrated the importance of balance and how this was attained at the momient of delivery of'.the ball. Referring to fielding, Mr Hamilton pointed out how necessary it was that every man in the team should attempt to make himself into at least a ‘‘utility” fieldsman, that is a man who can be placed in any position on the held and can be depended upon to give a reasonable account of himself in that position. From this point the cricketer should attempt to specialise and make himself a real attacking force in the Cover point was without doubt the most interesting position on the held, but few' fieldsmen really took an interest in that position. In the lecturer’s own opinion good slip fieldsmen we* worth their weight m gold and as big match winners as the wicket-keeper himself. Slip holding demanded intense concentration and much hard practice it one s was to he maintained. In Ashburton the average slips fielder had little confidence in his ability and m consequence fielded far too deep from the batsmen. This gave the batsmen added confidence, but hardly assisted the b °Witli the aid of a lantern slide many interesting pictures •of well-known cricketers were thrown oil the screen, and Mr Hamilton was aide to show how the methods he advocated were carried out by such men as • • • Hobbs W. Hammond and Don Bradman. Of special interest to ' bowlers weve two action photographs ot rl. Larwood and M. AY. Tate, both famous All-England players.