saw. Both of them would put the wicket down without any flourishing or fuss; but I never saw either of them do so without a chance of putting out the batsman. The young wicket-keeper will do well to follow their example.
My last advice is, that the ball be always tossed easily home to the bowler.
THE POINT OF THE BAT (SLOW BOWLING)
The young fieldsman who is appointed to this situation should possess a quick eye and a quick action. Without these two qualities he will never succeed in this important place.
He should place himself within three yards and a half of the batsman, directly opposite to the popping-crease. This is nearer than is generally recommended; but I have played for many years against the best of batsmen, and always found the distance named preferable to one farther removed; indeed, I have more frequently played at three yards than at three yards and a half from the batsman, and yet never received an injury from the ball.
For the position of body in the point, I can do no better than refer him to instructions upon this head given to the wicket-keeper—they will be essentially the same: the legs rather extended; arms to the elbows hanging easily, and near to the body; from the elbow inclined upwards, and hands open.
The next subject for this fieldsman's consideration is to know from what balls he should play back, and at which he should go in. Let him master this, and he need never fear any batsman.
When a ball drops short of a length, yet straight to the wicket, and rises, he will notice that the batsman will be under the necessity of raising his bat high to play above the ball. Upon such occasions
