CRICKET HINTS

Evening Star, Issue 20672, 20 December 1930, Page 29

CRICKET HINTS

NO. VI.-BATSMAHSHIP [Written for the ‘ Evening Star,’ by J. D. A. Scott and F. T. Baucock.J it lias throughout the centuries been a time-honoured, if not invariably successful, maxim that attack is the best method of defence, and there is no doubt that, taking it by and Jatge, there is very much to recommend it in warfare and boxing especially, to say nothing of the law courts and politics. Assuming that a game of cricket is a miniature war, in which tlm enemy slingers have for their objective the trip Te-turreted bastilie so stoutly to be defended by the batsmen, it is the primary duty of the batsman to defend against the enemy onslaught. He has also, however, another duty, and one no less important. Whilst defending ho must at the same time inaugurate a counter-offensive in the shape of a largo score of runs. Chiefly associated with the gathering of runs is the branch of batting known as forward play, and tbis wo propose to subdivide into two main categories: (1) Offensive forward play; (2) defensive forward play. East week we were left correctly poised facing the bowler as ho was about to take his run and ready to move quickly in whatever direction the “ eyemind ” combination dictated. To make a stroke it is obviously necessary to lift the bat to produce power. The bat is picked up by the wrists first, with the forearm rigid and elbows well bent; its direction should ha immediately over the middle and leg stumps, which will ensure on its return journey a correct direction. If tho two-shouldered stance is adopted tho tendency will be for the bat to return across the wicket from the direction of third man. Supposing tho ball to be pitched on tho middle stump and to come through with no turn, tho bat must, if lifted correctly ’and allowed to fnil straight down and through, connect with the ball at some period of its flight. 11, I however the bat conics Ironi tho direction of'third man and subsequentlyacross the lioc ot ot* the ball, perfect timing is necessary to make contact with tbo ball, since the only point where contact is possible is the point of intersection ol the ciossing lines It is therefore obvious that the j safest method is to play straight down I tho line of the advancing ball, i In anv sport whore a moving ball has '.to be hit we must go towards our . objective. In the present ease the left j foot must ho the method of advancing to meet the ball, and it must bo so ! moved that it will finish as near as possible to tho line the ball is taking. Everything depends on this. As the left foot coos forward or across towards the hall so must tho weight of tho body ! transfer on to the left foot as the hat | follows through. The hall of the left ■ foot now carries the weight. The right J heel is raised and the right foot is just

resting on The toe, not having moved its position. The left toes are pointing in the direction in which the ball is intended to travel. The arms and shoulders now claim our attention. Assuming that the player lias carried out his foot work correctly, his shoulders will in all probability automatically assume their correct position. Trouble usually arises from the tendency to drop the point of the left elbow towards the ground, and by so doing to turn the wrists and bring the bat slightly across the line of flight. If the bat is held and lifted bv the left hand alone and allowed to fall forward it will be seen that the elbow remains on top. The tendency is for the right hand and shoulder to force the left cdbow downwards—a tendency that must be sternly dealt with. ifc is not, however, sufficient to hit the ball only; the bat must follow on, after connecting, on the line the ball is to travel, to the full extent of the left arm. After the player has thoroughly mastered this important detail he may permit himself to turn the wrists alter impact, but the bat must, nevertheless, continue to follow the hue of the ball. Bo careful to keep the hands ns close together as possible throughout the complete stroke. The main fault at first will be the difficulty experienced in getting the left foot sufficiently far across towards the line of the ball. If the foot does not almost reach the desired line a slightly cross bat will be produced and a distinct tendency to overbalance. Resulting from any loss of balance will be a movement of the right toot, aim the more the right foot advances obviously the more the shoulders are turned m tlio direction of log—lacal. Another usual error is the dropping and turning of the right knee, which tends to turn the right too with the same results as above. ~ It will be seen, then, that footwork is really the essence of the correct stroke. - When playing forward do not overlook the fact that the bat is intended to hit the ball, and hit it hard, too. Timing is, of course, the key to power, and if the ball is correctly timed it is amazing what power is derived with seemingly but small ottect. If. however', the stroke is intended to bo purely defensive and the player has abandoned all hop'e of scoring off that particular ball, the same process is necessary, except that the bat should not ho permitted to travel more than a lew inches past the left foot. The stroke is intended merely to stop the ball, and it should be effected as near as possible to the left leg. Tho lelt wrist is brought conspicuously into plav, and stiffens sufficiently to bring the’top of the handle slightly in advance of tho bottom of the blade, and the right hand may, if necessary, be slipped down the handle to assist the left wrist in its duty. In both offensive and defensive forward play, then, footwork is the main factor.