FOOTNOTES:[1]Mr. C. B. Fry, after studying the foundation-positions and foundation-movements which I have found most useful for Racquets and Tennis, was struck with their great similarity to those which he himself had found most important for Cricket.[2]“Keep your eye on the bowler; watch how he holds the ball and runs up to the wicket before delivering it, and you may be able to detect any alteration in length and pace. And never get flurried whatever his action may be; for if you take your eyes off his arm or lose your head for a second, he has you at a disadvantage.”[3]Compare also Dr. W. G. Grace, who says: “Timing the ball is the secret of all good play; and timing, as far as I can make out, means the harmonious working of eye, wrist, arms, legs, and shoulders, which can only be acquired by constant practice.”[4]Murdoch’s words will serve as a good example. “To cut well, you must be able to time the ball well, for the effectiveness of your stroke is entirely due to your proper timing and your wrist work, for you need to use your wrists more in making this stroke than in any other.”[5]“There is a right and a wrong way of holding the ball. Good bowlers grip the ball as much as possible with their fingers—that is to say, they use the fingers and not the palm of the hand to work the ball.”[6]The Macdonald Smith system is most appropriate for Cricket.[7]Invented and taught by Macdonald Smith, of Steinway Hall.[8]The following quotation from a high authority is typical:—“The left foot precedes the advance of the bat, it being one of the first maxims of forward play that the bat must never be in front of the left foot. This rule is absolute. A neglect of it means that there is nothing to prevent the base of the bat being as near, or nearer, to the bowler than is the handle—no certainty, that is, against the ball being spooned into the air.”[9]“If the batsman cuts up the action of the stroke into separate parts, something must be sacrificed: either the weight is not brought to bear on the ball, or balance is lost. The result is an emasculated stroke.”[10]Most authorities are agreed here, as these typical quotations will show:—“It ought to be the aim of all advice in batting to help a young player to get runs, quocunque modo runs, otherwise he will not learn the game.”“Many a devotee has been lured into less noble pursuits simply because he cannot score.”[11]“Any reform of cricket law has for its object a levelling up of attack and defence—in other words, of batting and bowling.”—Haddon Hall Library.[12]Mr. W. J. Ford is against this. He says:—“The grace and the skill of batting is so attractive to the eye and so delightful to the batsman himself that,pacevarious wise authorities, batting must be regarded as the chief factor in the game. Cramp batting, and the game will be spoiled.”[13]Quaife and Jessop are the best modern types of alert anticipation.[14]In 1896 the number of out and home matches qualifying for the Championship was reduced to six, owing to the Australians’ tour, and for 1897 the number was fixed at seven. In 1898, however, all the counties played at least eight out and home matches, thus complying with the rule as originally laid down.
FOOTNOTES:
[1]Mr. C. B. Fry, after studying the foundation-positions and foundation-movements which I have found most useful for Racquets and Tennis, was struck with their great similarity to those which he himself had found most important for Cricket.
[1]Mr. C. B. Fry, after studying the foundation-positions and foundation-movements which I have found most useful for Racquets and Tennis, was struck with their great similarity to those which he himself had found most important for Cricket.
[2]“Keep your eye on the bowler; watch how he holds the ball and runs up to the wicket before delivering it, and you may be able to detect any alteration in length and pace. And never get flurried whatever his action may be; for if you take your eyes off his arm or lose your head for a second, he has you at a disadvantage.”
[2]“Keep your eye on the bowler; watch how he holds the ball and runs up to the wicket before delivering it, and you may be able to detect any alteration in length and pace. And never get flurried whatever his action may be; for if you take your eyes off his arm or lose your head for a second, he has you at a disadvantage.”
[3]Compare also Dr. W. G. Grace, who says: “Timing the ball is the secret of all good play; and timing, as far as I can make out, means the harmonious working of eye, wrist, arms, legs, and shoulders, which can only be acquired by constant practice.”
[3]Compare also Dr. W. G. Grace, who says: “Timing the ball is the secret of all good play; and timing, as far as I can make out, means the harmonious working of eye, wrist, arms, legs, and shoulders, which can only be acquired by constant practice.”
[4]Murdoch’s words will serve as a good example. “To cut well, you must be able to time the ball well, for the effectiveness of your stroke is entirely due to your proper timing and your wrist work, for you need to use your wrists more in making this stroke than in any other.”
[4]Murdoch’s words will serve as a good example. “To cut well, you must be able to time the ball well, for the effectiveness of your stroke is entirely due to your proper timing and your wrist work, for you need to use your wrists more in making this stroke than in any other.”
[5]“There is a right and a wrong way of holding the ball. Good bowlers grip the ball as much as possible with their fingers—that is to say, they use the fingers and not the palm of the hand to work the ball.”
[5]“There is a right and a wrong way of holding the ball. Good bowlers grip the ball as much as possible with their fingers—that is to say, they use the fingers and not the palm of the hand to work the ball.”
[6]The Macdonald Smith system is most appropriate for Cricket.
[6]The Macdonald Smith system is most appropriate for Cricket.
[7]Invented and taught by Macdonald Smith, of Steinway Hall.
[7]Invented and taught by Macdonald Smith, of Steinway Hall.
[8]The following quotation from a high authority is typical:—“The left foot precedes the advance of the bat, it being one of the first maxims of forward play that the bat must never be in front of the left foot. This rule is absolute. A neglect of it means that there is nothing to prevent the base of the bat being as near, or nearer, to the bowler than is the handle—no certainty, that is, against the ball being spooned into the air.”
[8]The following quotation from a high authority is typical:—
“The left foot precedes the advance of the bat, it being one of the first maxims of forward play that the bat must never be in front of the left foot. This rule is absolute. A neglect of it means that there is nothing to prevent the base of the bat being as near, or nearer, to the bowler than is the handle—no certainty, that is, against the ball being spooned into the air.”
[9]“If the batsman cuts up the action of the stroke into separate parts, something must be sacrificed: either the weight is not brought to bear on the ball, or balance is lost. The result is an emasculated stroke.”
[9]“If the batsman cuts up the action of the stroke into separate parts, something must be sacrificed: either the weight is not brought to bear on the ball, or balance is lost. The result is an emasculated stroke.”
[10]Most authorities are agreed here, as these typical quotations will show:—“It ought to be the aim of all advice in batting to help a young player to get runs, quocunque modo runs, otherwise he will not learn the game.”“Many a devotee has been lured into less noble pursuits simply because he cannot score.”
[10]Most authorities are agreed here, as these typical quotations will show:—
“It ought to be the aim of all advice in batting to help a young player to get runs, quocunque modo runs, otherwise he will not learn the game.”
“Many a devotee has been lured into less noble pursuits simply because he cannot score.”
[11]“Any reform of cricket law has for its object a levelling up of attack and defence—in other words, of batting and bowling.”—Haddon Hall Library.
[11]“Any reform of cricket law has for its object a levelling up of attack and defence—in other words, of batting and bowling.”—Haddon Hall Library.
[12]Mr. W. J. Ford is against this. He says:—“The grace and the skill of batting is so attractive to the eye and so delightful to the batsman himself that,pacevarious wise authorities, batting must be regarded as the chief factor in the game. Cramp batting, and the game will be spoiled.”
[12]Mr. W. J. Ford is against this. He says:—
“The grace and the skill of batting is so attractive to the eye and so delightful to the batsman himself that,pacevarious wise authorities, batting must be regarded as the chief factor in the game. Cramp batting, and the game will be spoiled.”
[13]Quaife and Jessop are the best modern types of alert anticipation.
[13]Quaife and Jessop are the best modern types of alert anticipation.
[14]In 1896 the number of out and home matches qualifying for the Championship was reduced to six, owing to the Australians’ tour, and for 1897 the number was fixed at seven. In 1898, however, all the counties played at least eight out and home matches, thus complying with the rule as originally laid down.
[14]In 1896 the number of out and home matches qualifying for the Championship was reduced to six, owing to the Australians’ tour, and for 1897 the number was fixed at seven. In 1898, however, all the counties played at least eight out and home matches, thus complying with the rule as originally laid down.