and luck whether you are going to perform brilliantly or indifferently. With all good cricketers, as with all good soldiers, drill and attention to little things have become a doctrine, and a doctrine that is worthy of attention.
The bat used by our forefathers was more like a crooked club, and in their time there were not any rules or restrictions as to its length and width. An old cricketer named Small is said to have been the first man known to have made and played with a straight bat, and from that time bats have gradually become more like those at present in use. White of Reigate, another of the old school, had a bat made wider than the wicket, and this led to the first rule as to the width and size of the bat. Eventually the present law came into force, that the bat must not exceed 38 inches in length and 4¼ in width. The length is more than enough; I have never seen a cricketer play with a bat 38 inches in length. The ordinary and best length is 34½ inches, the blade 22 and the handle 12½; anything longer would be unwieldy, the blade would be likely to dig into the ground and the handle into the stomach when playing. The weight and balance of a bat are the chief points, and make more difference in a cricketer's play than is generally known.
I believe that if a bat is well balanced, it is not of much importance if it is a little heavy; a good player can pkiy nearly as well forward or back, and drive as well as he could with a lighter one; but of one thing I am certain, and that is, if he wants to cut and hit to leg well, he must play with a light bat; if he plays with a heavy one, he will not only miss a good many balls he ought to cut effectively, but others he will just touch, and if he is not in luck will be caught at the wicket or in the slips. A bat should weigh from two pounds to two pounds five ounces. Many young cricketers play with bats far too heavy and long for their strength and height. The length of a boy's bat should vary according to his height. A tall boy might play with a full-size bat if not very heavy, but small boys should play with shorter bats; the blade and handle should be made
