I do not remember to have seen Lambert cut at a ball with the bat held horizontally: such as I have described he always played with an upright bat.
Lord Beauclerc mostly, beldham always, and the principal part of the best batters, play the bat horizontally at such balls.
Having now given the example of the above eminent men, some playing one way and some another, I shall venture to ofter to the young batsman my own opinion. I have frequently played in both styles, and I consider the holding of the bat upright the safer, and horizontally the more brilliant playing. At the same time, whichever way it be played, I still recommend the movement of the left foot across the wicket. The power that this action gives the striker over the ball, must always be felt and acknowledged.
There are other balls dropped still shorter of the length. On the off-side these may be played straight off, or between the point of the bat and the middle wicket, whichever the batsman may find most pleasant to himself; yet taking care to play well above the balls, and to hit them on the ground. In preparing and making himself up to hit a fair ball, let the batter bear in mind the sportsman's motto: 'Never to be in a flurry.' If he neglect this caution, he will surely find something wrong when it is too late to remedy it: his legs, for instance, may be too widely extended, in which case he will certainly play under the ball. More errors are committed in a man's making himself up to hit, than in the hitting: but let him prepare steadily, coolly, and with decision, and a hundred chances to one will be in favour of his hitting well. Observe any one who is batting indifferently—examine his position—see how he holds his bat, and you will rarely fail to discover in that
