SMILE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16284, 26 November 1920, Page 3

SMILE.

WHAT A GRiCKETER MUST LEARN, ( In an. article entitled “ Don’t?. at Cricket,” D. L. A. Jephson, the wellknown -English player, and ex-captain of the Surrey Eleven, stresses the necessity for keeping a. smiling face no matter what happens. Tie says:— To be a fair, average cricketer, 'there are a good -many things to learn to do, and there nre almost an equal number of things that must be left undone. If you are a batsman, never grumble at your number in the baiting order. If you arc put in, let us say number nine, after a one-eyed man and a player with a. game leg, smile—never remonstrate with your captain. If you are “ leg before ” —which you are hound to be if you play long enough—don't, walk back to the pavilion using sulphurous language and suggesting that you were swindled out —smile. If you are caught on the boundary, don’t say ‘‘ dust my luck.’' Greet the pavilion critics with “Fine catch, wasn’t it?'’ and smile. If you make a “duck” (as you are bound to do some day) say " Better luck next time,” and keep on smiling. If you are a bowler and keep onmissing 'the wickets by ' inches, and - catch after catch is dropped, don’t get your tail down—don’t say you’ll never bowl any mere, and anathematise the game generally, just smile and the fates will smile on you '.the next time you toe the crease. J.t you are a fieldsman, when you put a •* sitter ’’ on the floor, don’t, say that the light was had or that a bumble-bee was in your eye, get back to your placo and say to the disgusted bowler, “Sorry, old chap,” and try to smile and cotton on to the next one. If you are a wicket-keeper, don’t shout How s thatf” every, time, the ball hits the batsman’s leg, don’t dance about like a .’lack-in-the-box, keep cool, calm and collected as G. E. 0. Wood, the Cambridge captain, does. If you are an umpire, don’t, when you give a wrong decision (as you are bound to do, if you umpire, long enough), try to balance accounts by giving another in favour of the side who originally suffered; admit your mistake, get on with the “ truck”— snd smile. If you are a spectator, don’t, “ barrack.” Always remember that the players are doing the best they can tor their side —they may he playing to win a. game or striving to turn disaster into a creditable draw— at anv rate they never play to lose. If -, ou can’ t applaud, say, nothing, and'smile there are many other don’ts on the cricket field, but there is a lc m oiio great necessity— to Keep your face with'sunshine lit. And laugh a- little bit! and then the games you play and the games you watch will do you good.