TWENTY GOLDEN RULES FOR CRICKETERS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2369, 5 November 1881, Page 3

TWENTY GOLDEN RULES FOR CRICKETERS.

1. Go in when you are told by your captain cheerfully, whether first or last on the list ; it is hie fault and not yours if yon are put in the wrong place. 2. Think only of winning the match, and not of your own innings or average ; sink self and play for side. 3. Make up your mind that every ball may take your wicket, and play very steady for the first over or two, even if the bowling is not first-rate ; if prepared for defence you are doubly prepared to hit a loose ball, 4. Except under special circumstances (vide rule 14) never run a sharp run, or run one instead of two, or two instead of three, for the sake of getting the next hit. 6. Be equally anxious to run your partner’s runs and every bye you safely can (although the byes do not appear to your name in the score) as yon are to run for your own hits. 6. When the bowling is very fast and longstop is a long way behind, arrange with your partner, if possible, to run a bye for every ball, until you drive your opponent to take a man from the field to back up behind the bowler to save overthrows from long-stop. This will probably occasion the withdrawal of one man from the slips. 7. If the field get wild, take every advantage you can, by drawing for overthrows ; if the field once begin throwing at the wickets, their discipline is gone. In carrying out this and rule 6 great judgment is required, as you are backing your steadiness against your enemy’s anxiety. 8. Remember the batsman has five things to trust to, viz., his brains, his eyes, his arms, bis legs, and his tongue, and he must use them all.

9. The striker ought to be stone-blind to every ball which passes his wicket, or is hit behind his wicket ; he is a blind man, and the non-striker is the blind man’s dog, and onght to lead him straight. The same rnle applies to the non-striker in respect to balls driven past him or out of bis sight. 10. The man who has the ball in eight ought to keep his partner informed of his movements. The non-striker (who ought to back up directly the ball is out of the bowler’s hand) should cry “not yet,” if the run for a hit behind the wicket or bye is not certain ; and then cry “ hold” if there is no run; or “ one,” “two,” or “three,” as the case may be, if there is a bye or a hit past the field—so for a hit to deep middle off or middle on out of non-striker’s sight, the striker ought to cry “ go back” if there is no run, or “ one,” &c., as the case may be, if there is a run. After the first run made the player whose wicket is most in danger has the call, 11. In the case of a hit within view of both batsmen, such as a ball hit slowly to deep cover-point, either batsman has the right to say '• no,” if called ; for both wickets are in equal danger. 12. After drawing your partner past recall, you are bound to go, and run yourself out if necessary, be you who you may. 13. No matter what you think of the umpire's decision, if he gives yon out go away and make the best of it. 14. If the batsman is well set, and is making a score, and only a few runs are wanted to win the match, and there is a weak tail to the eleven, he is quite right when a fresh man comes in in trying to “ jockey the over” and get the ball. This is not selfishness, as he is throwing away a chance of a “not out,” and may pull the match out of the fire.

15. If the bowling is very slow and the batsman makes up bis mind to go in at it he should not give the bowler a hint by any movement what he is after, but stand like a statue till the ball is out of the bowler’s hand.

16. If the batsman does go in and means hitting, let him go far enough, and right in towards the pitch of the ball, so as to catch it at full pitch or half-volley, and hit with all his might and main ; if stumped, he may just as well be four yards off his ground as four inchei. 17. If the batsman either does not know or will not practise the rules of running, his partner is quite at liberty to use his own judgment, and to turn round and look after the byes, hits behind the wickets, Ac., and if a bad runner insists upon running himself out, his partner may let him commit suicide as soon as ho pleases. 18. Never keep your partner in doubt by prowling about outside your wicket, mooning backwards and forwards over the crease 1 a dancing bear, or a mute outside a gin-shop, doubtful whether he is going in or out ; a silent wanderer is even more dangerous than a noisy bad runner. 19. Remember, cricket is an amusement and manly sport intended for good fellowship, and not as a vehicle for envy, hatred, and malice, or uncharitableness. If you have any complaint against your captain tell him to his face quietly what you think ; but do not form conspiracies against him behind his back. The grumblers and mischiefmakers are always the greatest muffs, and the worst enemies of cricket. THE ONE GOLDEN BDLE FOB FIELDING. 20. Take the place assigned to you (assuming it is within your capacity), and give your whole mind to the game, from the delivery of the first ball to the fall of the last wicket. It you make a mistake, try and mend it; many a good field has dropped an easy catch and picked up the ball and thrown it in and run a man out. “ Remember the backing-up." A fieldsman is not a sentry on duty, but is always a fighting soldier, and if a fiver is hit to the off, long-leg even can go into the battle and render hie aid by backingup. Every hit which is made is the business of the whole eleven in the field, until the ball is dead. A man who will not attend unless a ball comes near him had much better be in the tent smoking his pipe.