Page:Out-door Games Cricket and Golf (1901).djvu/272

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HEROES
229

—the big hitter has the power of knocking up 30 or 40 runs on a real difficult bowler's wicket, and such an innings often means bringing about a victory for his side. Sound batsmen like Shrewsbury and A. P. Lucas play splendid and scientific cricket on such a wicket, but they cannot score fast, and often have to carry out their bat because there is nobody to stop in with them; but the big hitter stays there only twenty minutes, and in that time scores 35 runs out of a total of 70, and it is for this reason big hitters are entitled to be numbered among the heroes of the game.

It is not so easy to define the heroes of golf, but in a general way there are certain well-defined characteristics about them. At cricket the real batting genius shows that he understands how to rise superior to difficulties. It is the same with the golfing genius. He has a way of rising to the occasion. He may find his ball anywhere except right under a wall or a railing, and in any of these circumstances you never can be sure that he will not, despite his position, bring off a fine stroke. It may be necessary for him to stuff in a few more yards carry