Page:The Cricket Field (1854).djvu/234

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THE CRICKET FIELD.

with mutaal dependence; though I would warn good players that, among strangers in a country match, sharp running is a dangerous game.

Symptoms of a Loser of Runs.—He never follows up the ball, but leans on his bat, or stands sociably by the umpire; he has 20 yards to run from a state of rest, instead of 16, already on the move; he is addicted to checks and false starts; he destroys the confidence of his partner's running; he condemns his partner to play his worst, because in a state of disgust; he never runs and turns, but runs and stops, or shoots past his wicket, making ones for twos, and twos for threes; he often runs a man out, and, besides this loss, depresses his own side, and animates the other; he makes slow fieldsmen as good as fast; having no idea of stealing a run for the least miss, he lets the fieldsmen stand where they please, saving both the two and the one; he lets the bowler coolly experiment with the wicket, when one run breaks the dangerous series, and destroys his confidence; he spares the bowler that disturbance of his nerves which results from stolen runs and suspicion of his fieldsmen; he continues the depressing influence of maiden Overs, when a Single would dispel the charm; he deserves the name of the "Green man and Still," and usually commences his innings by saying, "Pray don't run me out. Sir,"—"We'll run no risks whatever." When there is a long hit, the same man will tear away