LEFT-HANDED BATSMEN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 939, 5 March 1908, Page 12

LEFT-HANDED BATSMEN.

The left-handers have achieved no little success against the Englishmen this season (writes “ Not Out” in the “Referee”), as indeed is generally the case in the first-class matches out here. H. Moses was a veritable thorn in the path of the English professional teams of twenty years ago, when great bowlers were not so scarce and wickets did not last as they do now. W. Bruce, too, was a brilliant performer in the classic games. Like Bardsley, he takes a high grip of the bat, which he uses like a whip to lash the ball. At his best Bruce was risky, but elegant and brilliant, and delightful to watch. J. Darling and C. Hill, each great in his own way, are difficult types of lefthanders. The former has a not unusual grip, but Clem Hill in this respect is a law unto himself. He grips firmly with the hand very low, and an unusual space between the hands; it helps him in some of his characteristic and practically unique on-side shots. -Amongst the younger left-handers, V. Ransford has an easy, natural grip of the bat. - M. H. Blaxland takes a higher grip than Ransfora, yet not so high as Bardsley. Clem Hill has scored 160, 104, 87, 61; V. Ransford, 102, 54, 51, 51, 44, 38; and W. Bardsley 108 and 19 against the Englishmen.