SPLENDID HINTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1623, 14 December 1912, Page 12

SPLENDID HINTS.

[By Harry Trott, captain of the South Melbourne team, who will be touring New Zealand' shortly.] A Few Things Worth Remembering by Batsmen. Always play for your side and forget self. Take no notice of outsiders who toll you how to bat. Remember you are the best judge of the bowling when at the wickets. Get the pace of the bowline and the wicket, and try to play jourself in before trying to knock the pickets off the fence. Remember the bowler has to get you out; don't get yourself out. It's your head against his. If you can keep the bnll along the carpet you cannot be caught out. Over 80 per cent, of batsmen are caught.' Remember the match is never lost until tho other side has won it. If you make a bad etroke or are missed in tho field don't ' throw your wicket away, but profit by the mistake. When you get 50 go for the 100; when there go for the second century. Watch the bowler's hand; back up a couple of yards when at the non-striker's end. Remember that it is tho striker's call for all strokes made in front of the wicket, and the non-striker's call for all strokes made behind tho wicket. Always call out loudly "Yes" when you are going to run,' and "No" when you do not intend to. A Few Things Worth Remembering by the Bowler. Remember that you have ton men fielding beside yourself, and they are all waiting to accept catches. Don't bowl too much at the wicket; good batsmen arc not bowled every ball, but they are sometimes tempted to make a miss-hit. It's your head against the batsman's.' If a catch is dropped or a ball mis-field-ed when you are bowling take the incident philosophically, and remember tho fieldsman is more disgusted at the miss than you arc. Use your brains as well ns your muscle, and endeavour to find out a bateman's weakness. Don't feed

him on his good etrok«s, but try and block them. Don't think of your avoraee, but bowl to get tho batsman out. Plnco your field necording to tho peculiarities of tho batsman. Bowling against tho wind is rather an advantage than otherwise, as it often helps a swervo and altors tho pace of tho ball. Don't get too far away from your ivicket when the batsmen arc running, as you are there to take the ball from the field. A Few Things Worth Remembering by tho Fieldsmen. There's only one captain on one side, andho expects loyalty from his team. He may make mistakes, but your growling will not improve matters. Keenness, good-fellowship, and good Gelding has won more matches than anything else. Don't skylark on the Sold when the batsmen nro at tho wickots, but play tho game. . Mid-off and cover-point should endeavour to anticipate the batsman's stroke, and always niake a couple of yards toivards the ball. Slip and third man should back up the wicket-keeper when the ball is being returned from the off-field, mid-on backing up the bowler. As players get little or no fielding practice at the nets, it is a. good policy to try and improve your catching and fielding by throwing the ball about between" the fall of wickets. Always return the ball to the wicket-keeper or bowler OiN THE FULL, as this eaves a few seconds, which often runs a batsman out. Always see that your boots are properly spiked before'entering the field.