PRACTICAL HINTS ON CRICKET
By William Clarke,
Slow Bowler, and Secretary to the All England Eleven.
Dedicated
to the
Hon. Frederick Ponsonby.
Sir,
In making a few observations to my Brother Cricketers and the rising generation, I don't say that I lay down the only true method; but from many years' experience I have had (having played from my earliest years, and studied the game in all its various branches), I am able to declare that it will generally be found pretty correct. There are instructions out, such as keeping your right shoulder up, and your left elbow forward, and your right foot fixed firm on the ground, but so that you can turn round on it like a swivel. I shall pass over these, and place my remarks in as plain and simple a manner as possible; so that they will not only be intelligible to the Peer and the Squire, but also to the Artisan, the Peasant, and my Brother Cricketers; and if there be some things they don't agree with, there perhaps will be others that will take their attention. At any rate they are given with a good feeling; and when I am called to that bourn from whence no Cricketer returns, people won't have to say, 'what he knew he took with him.' So, Sir, here are my remarks in the form of—
I. The Science of Bowling.
The merit of Bowling in my opinion is delivering the ball according to a man's play, which you must ascertain
