The Hambledon Men/A Letter to Cricketers
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 by strictly watching the movements of the batter; that you will be able to do, by giving him what you would call a good-length ball, according to the speed; for instance, Clarke 4½ yards, Hyllier 5, Wisden 5½. By giving him a few of those to begin with, as near as you can, you will be able to find out his particular play, and where he is most deficient. In the present day you will find they are most of them inclined to play back. I should say this has been caused by bowlers not working sufficiently with mind, but always pitching the ball at the same length. When you see this back play, you must force the ball onwards, so as to make the man play out; and the ball is never tossed far enough, till that object is gained; that is, the batsman made to play forward. Perhaps before that is the case, you will have caused him to retire; for instance, in 1 850 I drove twelve men on their wickets. If your man is particularly fond of playing back, you must keep repeating the dose; for if he plays out once or twice, he is sure to go back to his old play. If he does not, but tries to hit you forward, he will very likely give a chance, not being used to that style of play. In case he should hit you forward, you will be well prepared for him, by having a man or two placed in the long-field. The hit will most likely fetch but one; and if hit up, it may be caught. A short ball is the worst ball a man delivers; the batsman can hit it almost where he chooses, and is likely to give no chances.[1]
A ball over-tossed on the contrary makes the batsman play out; and if the ball is not well covered with an upright bat, he is almost sure to give a chance. Therefore, a ball should sooner be over-tossed than short. Many bowlers pay no attention to the most essential, and I should say the prettiest part of the game; that is, the field. I have seen a man deliver a ball, and never look to the field, or see whether they are all there, even before the long-stop has got to his place. A bowler must have a high opinion of his own abilities, to think he can beat his opponents without his field.
In laying out your field, you should be careful in selecting good men for your principal places, such as wicket-keeper, point, stop, short-slip; those posts being well secured, you will be able to move the others at leisure; which you will have to do, if your bowling is pretty correct, which it must be if you are to have an efficient field. How can you lay out a field for an uncertain bowler? How can you tell where the men will hit him? I mean one of the any-how style, happy-golucky, yard on this side, yard on the other, all men alike, one straight in about two overs. How careful the Public Schools ought to be in selecting bowlers of a good delivery for their instructors, men who go up to the wicket as if they were going to put the ball somewhere about the mark. On them depends the future style of the learners, who ought not to be taught to throw away all their manly strength in empty air. Why, a person who recommends a wild scrambling bowler to teach cricket ought to be took up under the Cruelty to Animals Act.
A Bowler should first try to get a steady style of delivery, easy, not distressing, and should be sure not to bowl at the very top of his strength, for in that case he must become wild and reckless, losing that precision, which is so necessary to defeat a good batsman.
It frequently happens that when a Bowler finds he is dropping the ball short, he will stoop forward and try to propel it with greater force, which will cause him to drop it still shorter and get him into greater difficulties; the very reverse should be the case, when he finds himself that way inclined, he should immediately rear himself as erect as possible, for the more upright a Bowler stands the greater the ease with which he will deliver the ball, and the more difficult will it be to play; the ball is delivered higher and there is more circle, and the greater the circle the greater the deception to the Batsman. This applies to all sorts of Bowlers. For instance, if a Bowler has been forcing a man on his wicket, till he won't submit to it any longer, he may by tossing the ball a little higher and a little shorter so deceive the Batsman that he will play out, though he has been playing balls back that have been pitched a yard farther, and will very likely lose his wicket by this mistake: at the same time he must be careful to deliver with the same action, or he will be detected by the Batsman, who will be put on his guard.
The greatest proof that it is not speed alone that tells, but the length according to a man's play, with as much deception as possible, is that you will see a good slow Bowler do as much or more execution on a fine even damp or dead ground, than Bowlers of greater speed that have not equal precision. Why is this, but because many Bowlers never study the state of the ground, but deliver at the same speed and at the same place, as near as they can, on a dry as on a wet ground? On a dry and hard ground five yards would be a good length and difficult to play, but on soft and spongy ground such a ball would be hit away. Therefore it is necessary in such a case to put a little more speed on as well as pitch the ball a little further. This proves my argument that a man should not always bowl with all his strength, but have a little left for particular occasions.
I said it was not speed alone that tells, but I don't wish it to be supposed that I recommend very slow bowling without alteration; a ball must have some pace, or a man will walk into it and do as he likes, if he has got legs, though of late years those articles have not been so much exercised as of old, while padding has been substituted for their use.
Nothing tests the truth of Bowling so much as a good level ground, it will find out the bad balls soon enough, and will enable the batsman to hit them, and perhaps leave so few good ones that the Bowler will be obliged to retire, while on rough ground the same bad balls might have escaped and perhaps even proved effective. Suppose you have what I call a skimming Bowler, for mind you, all straight-arm Bowlers don't deliver alike. Some sink their body in delivery and turn their elbows in close to the side, which makes the ball more like an underhand one, and causes it to come straight from the hand so that it is plain, as you can see it all the way, and by placing the bat full at it you will rarely make a mistake. Such a ball has no deception; as it is delivered from the hand, so will it rise from the bound. It is no use putting it further up, as there is nothing to deceive the batter, he will drive it forward. This is the part I said I would refer you to. Well, such a bowler is seldom any use on level or soft grounds. There is no fire in the ball. It won't get up, and being pitched rather short to keep it from being hit forward, can't do any execution. But on hard, uneven or glibby ground such bowling often tells well, but I question if under like circumstances a better style would not tell better.
Though I recommend you to get the style of delivery that is easy to yourself, I don't say that you should be careless or lazy; on the contrary, you must put all your body and mind in a determination to get your man out, and be guarded above all things not to lose your temper. At times it's enough to make you bite your thumbs to see your best balls pulled and sky-rocketed about—all luck—but you must console yourself with, 'Ah, that won't last long.'
Now as for the place for delivering the ball—the bowling crease is three feet on each side of the stumps. You will find most men deliver with the foot placed half-way betwixt the end of the crease and the wicket, some nearer the wicket. I think this is an error; they ought to deliver at the very end of the crease, for the ball then has to go more across the wicket and is more deceptive to the batter. It is a plan I generally adopt, and if it is advantageous to me that is only half round, how much more it must be to a straight-arm bowler.
Now a word as to the variation in delivery, such as raising the hand higher and lower (I am now speaking of Bowling according to the rules), variation of speed and height, sometimes higher and sometimes lower, sometimes faster, sometimes slower, deceives the batsman. These are all little things, but though appearing trivial may amount to a great deal. But in all that has been said, I have never stated what is the most dangerous ball for a batsman, except the one that gets him out. It is the ball that catches him in two minds, so that he does not know whether to play forward or backward, but plays half-way; that's the ball, if you can do it. How? By putting the ball exactly in the right place according to your man's play.
From these hints and observations you must not expect, to reap the advantage in a week or a fortnight. Some may profit perhaps in years, some never, for—
One science only will one genius fit,
So vast is art, so narrow human wit.
II. On Fielding
In placing the Field the men should be laid out according to the hitting; all batters have favourite hits. When in the Field you should be particular in watching the movements of the batsman; you should not take your eye off him when in the act of playing, but always expect to have the ball played to you. That will cause you to be on your legs; and, though the ball should be played on the opposite side to where you are, you will get a good start at it, and actually be on your way almost before the batter has played the ball. In returning the ball, you should be sure and try to throw it in breast high. I think the system of making the ball bound before it comes to the wicket is bad. It may shoot, or be turned out of its course, in either case the chance is gone; therefore it is better to throw straight at the man. In nine cases out of ten, it is bad to shy at the wicket. There is the uncertainty of hitting it; and very likely the field will not be prepared by backing up; and so you will cause one of those annoying sights, an overthrow. Any fieldsman intentionally shying at the bottom of the wicket, when a man is there to receive the ball, ought to have 'a dozen' immediately. You will frequently see the ball returned hard in, when there is no chance of a run being attempted; this is bad, it affects the wicket-keeper's hands, as he is not prepared for it; when there is a chance he would not feel it, if you were to send it in like shot; his anxiety would take away the thought.
You should never hold the ball, but return it to the man at the wicket immediately; if you are in the outfield and the batsman is on the alert, he will steal a run, and you will get laughed at. In throwing in, avoid a long swing of the arm, but shy with as short and sharp a motion as possible.
In catching, you will frequently see the easiest chances missed. For why? men don't give way sufficiently with their hands. Thinking it easy, they hold their hands stiff, which causes the ball to rebound, and they lose it, with the old saying, 'I made too sure of it.' That's very little consolation to a bowler. Balls hit with the greatest force you will generally see caught; for the man seeing the ball come with such velocity, feels a little fear, which makes his hand give, and causes the very action that makes the ball stick. Most catches, particularly high or slow ones, are missed for want of humouring the ball.
In gathering to a ball, you should try to get it at the bound, which you will be able to do if well on your legs. At the same time be prepared, in case it should shoot; sometimes it is worth the risk of losing a run by darting in a little further to run the batter out, especially if he is a good one. I think there are no half-way places in the field where a man should stand, either to save the one or the three or four, except in extraordinary cases. The middle-off, cover-point, long-slip, and long-stop should all save one run. Those are places that give a man a fine chance of showing off to advantage; for, by being a good judge and a good gatherer, he may frequently run a man out. The distance of those places depends much on the state of the ground. If it is soft, you can stand much nearer than when very hard; because the ball loses half its speed the moment it touches the ground.
When you have the office for moving in the long-field from the general, move a good distance. It is unpleasant to both parties to keep saying 'further yet'; besides, he can sign to you to stop when you have got far enough. This point is difficult to give advice about. It depends on the quality of the bowling. Now, with respect to point, if you have that any-how stuff, that you can't tell where it is coming to a yard or so, I should say it is better to fall back, and make yourself useful in the field. However fond a man may be of Cricket, he does not like to stand in a place where he has no chance of defending himself. If the bowling is nearly correct, I am an advocate for standing well up to the batter. There are some whose style of play won't allow them to be dangerous, and to these you may stand very close.
The long-stop should place himself at such a distance that he can save the run, and not any nearer. If he could stop the ball close to the wicket, what's the use? He loses the advantage of covering a great space of ground on each side, and saving the tips or touches that frequently occur. The great merit of a long-stop is getting to balls that are put a little out of their course, so as to save the run. If you see the batsman trying to get the best of you by stealing a run, gather in a little closer. It is better to prevent him attempting, than to give him the chance of getting it; which he will do, if the ball is not well handled in every way.
If a Batsman has only one good hit and is weak at all others, it ought to be very difficult for him to get runs; for if your field is good, and well laid out, and the bowler bowling at points, you can afford to make your field doubly strong in his favourite place. In altering your field, the bowler may have only one more ball to deliver in the over. Some one will be sure to say, 'Oh, never mind till next over.' I don't believe in that doctrine. I would have the field altered then and there, as the thing may come off that very ball. Delays are dangerous; and, as a great general said, 'There is a moment to decide a victory.' Though you should have a captain in the field (as you ought to have, for what is every one's business is never well done), it is proper for him to say to the bowler, 'Don't you think it would be better to do so and so?' It makes it appear as if somebody knew something as well as himself, and there is always a way of speaking to a fielder, so that it will be pleasant for him to receive it, unless it be one of those shake yourself sort of men that seem to do everything reluctantly; with him you must do as well as you can. These little things always create a good feeling.
I have one more remark: I like to see every man steady at work. I am sure that every one has enough to do when at play in minding his own business, without gossiping or being careless. I used to admire a certain Gentleman, that has left off playing this last two or three years, at the change over, walking across the wicket as steady as old Time, and when I was starting to bowl, just glancing round the field to see if they were all ready. There he was sure to be, with his eye on every one to see if all was right. There is plenty of time for a little funny saying or something to laugh at, when a man is out, without keeping every one waiting between each over.
III. The science of Batting
First, you should try to get that firm yet easy position that best suits you, so that you may have the freedom of action so requisite for both hitting the bad and middling balls, and defending the wickets from the good ones; and not be so fixed that you are only prepared to play or hit one or two particular balls. It is the man that hits all round, that is prepared to play the ball on the side it comes, that makes the awkward customer for a bowler. Never get too fond of one particular hit. If you do, it will lead you into error; I have known it to occur to the very best batters. Sometimes a good leg-hitter, sometimes a good off-hitter will be getting so partial to his favourite hit, that he will be trying it with straight balls. If bowled out, will say for an excuse, 'I thought it was not straight.' A ball straight for the wicket should be played with an upright full-faced bat, back towards the bowler, with the handle of the bat inclined forward. There is as much room behind the bowler and often more than in any other part of the field.
There is no half-way play at a good ball: it should be played to the extent of your reach forward, so as to smother it, or back as near as you can safely get to your wicket, by that means there is a longer sight from the bound. Never let the ball get you in two minds, if you do, it will cause you to play half-way. Ah, there 's where all the mischief lies. It is caused by an error in judgement, you are deceived as to the spot on which the ball will pitch; that causes the mistake.
In playing forward take the upper part of your body with you, and have the top or left hand placed well on the top side of the handle of your bat, and not too far apart from the other hand; by the handle of the bat being nearer the bowler than the blade (always bearing in mind to keep it straight), the ball will be prevented from rising. If you don't take your body with your arms when playing forward, it is undoing what the other is trying to do. Take care not to get a habit of sinking your body when hitting. It takes away your power, and not only that, but it will cause you to hit under the ball.
Don't strike with all your strength, a man is often out with hitting at a bad ball. For why? he wants to make too much of it, and by hitting past his strength loses precision. It is not always the long swinging hit that drives the furthest. No, it is hitting the ball at the proper time, with a quick or short motion of the arms and wrists. If you go out of your ground to hit, you should forget the wicket-keeper: if not, your mind will be one way, your body the other. You must go far enough to cover the ball and drive it straight before you. Never try to pull a straight ball across you. There are many chances against you if you do. For you have only the width of the ball to hit at, while it may chance to rise suddenly or turn out of its course; but if you take your bat upright, straight down the wicket, and play on to the ball, you have the whole length of the bat; always taking care to play the ball with your bat, not the bat with the ball. Lay your bat on to the top of the ball, and don't pull your bat from the ground up to it. That is not Cricket. The bat was made to play the ball.
Never make up your mind for a certain ball before it is delivered. Your mind being prepared for one sort of ball and another coming, as is almost sure to be the case, there will most likely be an accident. How often you hear men say, 'I have not been used to this or that sort of bowling.' It's all nonsense, they ought to practise all kinds. If a fast underhand Bowler is put on for a change (what I call a trundling Bowler, who gives a ball that bounds three or four times before it comes to you), he often does execution, especially with the rising generation. Why?—they have only been practised at one style; then they say, the twist of the ball, hop-stride, and jumping before it comes, deceives the eye; they having been used to only one bound, and perhaps to one straight ball in the over, and the other being nearly always straight, they are rather alarmed, and, losing their confidence, the ball goes rolling through the wicket. In reality such balls are the easiest in the world to play. They want no judgement as to playing backwards or forwards. They only want a good full-faced bat put to 'em upright, with a bit of a drive forward. Play of that kind will beat any Bowler of that style. Though bowling shall be ever so bad, I don't say you shall hit away every ball. No, for it may by chance get up at the proper place, and make itself a good one. But you will be fully prepared by playing in the method I have described. You will see, by what I have said, that it is well to have an hour of 'all sorts' now and then. Besides, it will teach you to be on your legs, and show you that there are many balls you have been in the habit of merely playing at and laying down, which you might hit away with confidence. For instance, balls over tossed, you will be able to drive forward hard by using your feet, while if you stand screwed to the ground you can only lay them down, and by that means you make a Bowler seem to deliver many more good balls than he really does. There is, in short, only one true method of play. That is, not to make up your mind till the ball is delivered, then if it be a little too far, play forward; if a little too short, play back. If it be put on the right place, be decided, and play either one way or the other, no half-way.
In running your runs you should always be prepared to take the advantage; which you will be able to do by leaving your ground as soon as the ball is out of the Bowler's hand. That will give you the advantage, not only by being well on your legs, but by having a less distance to run. But bear in mind not to leave your ground till the ball has quitted the Bowler's hand, or he will be justified in trying to put you out. Nothing looks worse than a man standing like a fixture, perhaps leaning on his bat. Then having to make a start, and calling that a hard run, which, if he had been prepared, he might have walked. Run your first run well, in case of any mishap in the field, and be sure always to let your partner know what you are going to do, by shouting at the top of your voice, so that he can't mistake your meaning. How bad it looks to see two men getting into the middle between wickets and staring at each other, not knowing which way to go for want of decision and speaking out. If a man stands fast to his ground and seems to have no care about the runs, he deadens the play; the Fielders care nothing about him; what puts Fielders about more than when two determined runners get in and take every advantage? I am not an advocate for overrunning, for I think men may lose more than they gain by being out of wind, and therefore not so well prepared to play the next ball.
Now you will see some, the harder they hit the more certain they are to run, though the ball be going straight to a man, when if it were hit very slowly they would not attempt it; that speaks badly for their judgement. It should be quite the reverse. The ball hit slowly may be a certain run, while the ball hit with greater force to the same place is not half one; as it gets to the Fielder so much quicker. There are many little advantages to be taken of Fielders, such as the ball going to a man's left or wrong hand, or a man not being able to shy, but always jerking in. These points want judgement: they may be done, and often are done by two decided men, who understand each other, but they will not answer with vacillating men. It is never right to risk your innings for the sake of a run. If your innings is only valued at a run, it is not worth much.
IV. On Matchmaking, Managing, and Umpiring
When playing a match it is not always right to keep on the same bowling, though the bowlers be bowling ever so well. Suppose you have a fast bowler on, a batsman comes in that don't like slow; or the contrary; why, I say give him what he don't like, never mind persons saying, you dare not do this or you dare not do that, if you gain your object by getting the batter out, you may win the match through it. There are plenty of Gentlemen as well as Players, who cannot play both fast and slow. Some would shut their eyes at a fast one, but might perchance swipe away a slow one for four. It 's bad judgement to put a fast bowler at a man who can't hit. Why? he may stick his bat down, the ball may hit it and glide away for three or four runs without his having anything to do with it. Such a man with a slow bowler is probably a certainty.
In choosing your side don't choose all batters. In the first place make sure of your bowlers (that's the principal matter), your wicket-keeper, your long-stop. Then come the batters: five or six there will be no question about. Now as to the one or two last; if you have a middling bat and no fielder; if he gets ten and loses fifteen in the field, he is five worse than nothing: a bad bat and a good field saves fifteen in the match, his side have that fifteen less to get, so give me the good field.
Umpiring is a very arduous and often unthankful office, especially in country places, where a jealousy exists on each side, and a doubt of his doing his duty fairly and impartially. That is sure to be the case, when he belongs to one of the parties, and is not sufficiently acquainted with the game. It is better to choose men connected with neither party. If you have anything against a man, object to him at once, but not on suspicion; with some players Umpires never can be right. Don't let a man take his place and then be dissatisfied with his decisions, and in lieu of making the game a pleasure and creating a good feeling among all, make it quite the reverse. It is difficult for an Umpire to please both parties; but let each give him credit for good intentions. It is impossible for an Umpire to be always right; but I would always take his decision (if he understands the game) before the opinion of a spectator or one of the players, for he stands in the best position to judge correctly. It is on those nice points, which create a difference of opinion amongst spectators and the field, that the decision of the Umpire is required. How unjust it is to an Umpire, when he has given his best opinion on some nice point (such as the ball grazing a man's bat or glove), for the batsman to go away and say he was not out, and so create a bad feeling. I said before, there are some (and they ought to know better), who never are out, unless the bowler makes the middle stump turn a summerset.
Umpires have many points to attend to, they have not a moment to lose; and if they allow the eye to wander to any fresh object, that very moment a nice decision may be wanted, so they should let nothing but Cricket and their immediate duty in the game occupy their minds.
In Pitching Wickets I often hear Umpires say 'it'll do', when there is some little object that looks queer at the pitching place. In such case my opinion is, it'll not do. The wicket ought to be altered, till it is a good one. I don't like those 'it'll do' wickets. They may either spoil the batting or the bowling, and consequently there may be no play in the match. It is better, therefore, for both sides, that all objections should be removed, if possible, by having as good a wicket as can be got on the ground.
V. Advice to Practice Bowlers
You will often see Practice Bowlers bowl away at all players, good and bad alike; that should not be. A Practice Bowler ought to bowl according to the batsman's play. Suppose a Gentleman thinks he should like Cricket, he joins a Club or engages a bowler. Say he has never played; do you think the bowler is justified in knocking down his wicket constantly, or perhaps giving him sundry hits and bruises? No, certainly not. Give him something he can hit to begin with, and that will please him and make him fond of the game, so that he will play again. Then bowl at him according to his improvement. He will so become a player, and perhaps, what is of more consequence to cricketing in general, a good supporter of the game. For mind you, it is the Gentleman that makes Cricket by his countenance and support. Besides, what's the merit in bowling out a person who has not learned to play? It don't add anything to the reputation of the Bowler, while the Gentleman may be so disgusted, that he won't play any more: and so no one left for you to bowl at.
In practice it is often the way to pitch wickets anywhere. That is a bad system. You ought to be particular and have a good wicket, if you mean to have a good practice and be of any service to the person you bowl to. On a good ground he will have confidence and pleasure, all the balls will be playable; on the contrary, if the ground is rough, the balls will be cut about, he will be hit and lose his confidence and his play. Not half the balls will be playable, so that half the time will be lost. Therefore there ought to be a good wicket. The roller should always be run over the ground at the pitch of the ball before commencing practice, it's well worth ten minutes' patience to get good Cricket instead of bad.
I recommend Practice Bowlers to take a little pains with their batting, and also to study the science of the game, for they will then be good men to be engaged, even if their bowling is not quite tip-top. Clubs, it is true, when first established usually begin by applying for a first-rate bowler. But I think that is a mistaken notion. Let them begin with a moderate bowler, who is a pretty good bat. The bowling will be quite good enough, while by having one who can bat, they will, by seeing him in now and then, catch the idea and learn to play in a correct method. More can be taught in a week by showing the manner of play, than by months of talking. Another consideration for Clubs may be that such men are not so expensive.
The Conclusion
Cricket is a noble, manly, and athletic game. It adds vigour and health to the whole frame. It is now established so strongly as a national game, that it will never be forgotten. I think I may fairly say that I Zingari and the All England Eleven have contributed much to establish the good feeling that now exists towards Cricket, and Cricketers, in all parts of the kingdom, by showing the science as well as the true spirit of the game; that is, by playing with all their skill and determination to beat their opponents, and at the same time to be the best of friends with them. Their system allows them to play in all parts of the kingdom more than any other Club, and wherever they have once been, I believe they are always welcome again. These matches bring all classes together; men of all shades congregate, folks of all ages meet: if they can't join in the game, they take a delight in seeing their relations or friends excelling others. The wealthy and great derive advantage from them, as well as those inferior in station: they have an opportunity of seeing that there is good sense as well as good dispositions amongst their poorer neighbours, while these, by mixing in better society, gain an improvement in manners and morals.
Sir, I have gone rather minutely into different parts of the game: to some I may have been tedious, but as I had never read a book where these different points of the game had been sufficiently explained, I determined at your request to try my hand. It 's my first attempt, and probably the last. If it was making a match or playing it I should be more at home. Take the will then, for the deed, and I only hope I shall live to see some who have profited by my remarks. I now conclude, Sir, and hoping that we (I mean you, I, and our readers) may all meet in the field in this and future years,
- ↑ There are few exceptions as to bowlers whose style won't allow them to over-toss the ball. I shall explain this in another part.