A "Bawl" for American Cricket/Chapter 6
Bat for the score instead of the gallery.
Cricket is a game of skill against skill.
A good cricketer is apt to be a good catch.
CHAPTER VI.
GENERAL REMARKS.
SOME cricketers never seem to get beyond the "beginning" period, and it is in vain to expect anyone to delight in a thing which he cannot do fairly well. If these lines can convey a hint or two they will have accomplished a most satisfactory purpose.
Let us for a moment watch a batsman plant himself before the wicket as though with the determination to stay there the remainder of the day. His mental purpose becomes his weakness, for no preconceived idea of what one's opponent will do is at all likely to occur. The cricketer is always a creature of circumstances over which he usually has little or no control, but of which he must be ever ready to take immediate advantage. We used the words "plant himself" advisedly, for no other suits. Having planted, a vigorous growth should follow, but the disappointed spectator sees only a machine cricketer trying to force hands and wrists to do the duty, which they should but assist the arms and shoulders in doing. The beauty of the game is sacrificed to the ounce of precaution, which may have been too much emphasized by an over careful captain. While the game is in progress cricketers should be active mentally as well as physically, and they have only themselves to thank for the erroneous impression which has become prevalent that cricket is a sleepy game. It is waste of time to play a pure defensive game, and if the inveterate blocker could waste only his own time none would have any right to complain, but that of at least twenty-five others is being sacrificed at the same moment, until from that and many other delays a game capable of giving delight has become so little understood, even by American cricketers themselves that only foreigners can draw a crowd.
The blindness of Americans to their own short comings was illustrated by their attitude during the recent visit of the Irish Team. The universal confidence in themselves, was only equalled by the pity expressed for their visitors who were expected to fall an easy prey to the representatives of Uncle Sam. Americans have set up a standard of their own, and many have persuaded themselves to believe in methods which occasionally succeed, but when the Englishman is at his best the American has invariably been defeated, excuses taking the place of good play, which are so generally accepted that American cricket has temporarily retrograded.
This retrogression has been caused chiefly by ignoring the importance of the wicket keeper. The star known as the aggressive batter, or perhaps he had better be called a comet, has turned the heads of American cricketers. We are all sovereigns, though many of us cannot show that amount of cash, and why should we not all be star batsmen? The object is easily accomplished if the wicket keeper can be got rid of. The attempt has not only been made, but has been actually imposed upon the American public as cricket; for though wearing the armor of that great office, he is located ten to fifteen feet behind the batsman, thereby becoming a fielder; with the tremendious consequence that first-class wicket keeping is rarely seen in America. But we have many aggressive batters, who settle down into first-rate bats when in the presence of a standard wicket keeper. We say most of them, advisedly, for a star will shine, wicket keeper, or no wicket keeper. The true aggressive batsman is a combination of cause and effect which no amount of ambition can even hope to imitate. Brain, guiding muscle, with discipline resulting from long and patient training. He can take almost any liberty with the bowler, he can play inside or outside his crease, for the dangerous ball never reaches the wicket keeper. But it must be remembered that he is a star. He is the perfect batsman referred to on several occasions, who hits every ball which does not threaten his wicket, and many that do. His powerful physique, eagle eye, and energetic mind have given him a place beyond his companions. That instinctive knowledge of the presence of a man immediately behind him who will down his wicket with a smile of satisfaction, must be forever present in the mind of the batter. American cricketers may ignore him, but when America meets her English competitor and hopes for the like convenient ignorance, she is sure to have her pride injured.
A match is never lost 'till it is won, and the unexpected may at any time happen, which is a great charm in the game. The disappointment which follows the fall of wicket after wicket, simply because the reliable bat has had the misfortune to be bowled, is not easily described, but we have experienced the keenest anguish when the catastrophy has happened to our side; while excessive buoyancy seems to have taken posession of and intoxicated our opponents. The American audience is so completely bent upon victory that good cricket is momentarily lost sight of. If cricketers will remember that superior play ought to be the object, and will forget the result, these exhibitions of inferior cricket will be fewer. The courage and nerve which are sure to follow careful training and good discipline, can and will prepare each batter to depend upon himself, rather than follow a bad example.
Fielding is too much neglected for the more pleasant occupation of batting. The net is a useful invention, a tremendous time saver, thoroughly in accord with other economic devices of the age, but it has not improved fielding. Fielders should practice their art when the game is not in progress if they expect success while the eyes of spectators are concentrated upon a hard hit ball. The silence which follows faulty fielding is quite as emphatic as the cry of "muff" or "butter-fingers." The fielder is always on exhibition in the proportion of eleven to one batter, so that his opportunities for the display of either good or bad play are many. If cricketers will bring to their game the excellent qualities displayed upon the diamond, theirs will soon be recognized as the popular game. Greater interest is felt in fine fielding than in brilliant batting by the spectator, though from a cricketers standpoint a finished batsman will always be the favorite. There seems no excuse for poor fielding unless to permit the second-rate bat to score double figures. It is with much regret that we feel the necessity of dwelling upon this subject at length, but these hints would be _pg_79.png)
THE F.GUTEKUNST Co.
No. 12―MAKING THE FORWARD CUT.
"Play as 'tall' as you can."—Wisden.
Good bowling surprises the batter by twists, by balls of different lengths, and balls of varied speed.
otherwise incomplete. Before closing we desire to thank Mr. S. V. Merrick, Secretary of the Germantown Cricket Club, for his kind assistance while these photographs were being taken at Manheim. The atitudes of Mr. George Bromhead, their professsional cricketer, which illustrates this essay, were made instanteneously, and wherever possible while bat and ball were in motion. It may therefore be assumed that for the purpose of either "beginner" or "expert" these positions are as close to life as it is possible to secure them.