MR. MURDOCH ON CRICKET.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1276, 16 February 1883, Page 2

MR. MURDOCH ON CRICKET.

The January number of Longman’s Magazine contains a “ Chat about Cricket,” by the Captain of the Australian Team. Our space will not admit of our giving the article fa full, but a few extracts may prove interestfag. Mr Murdoch maintains that batting ia the branch of cricket which always most pleases the onlookers, and finds most favour with cricketers themselves. The chief charm of batting undoubtedly te fa the gr- at variety ef hits which the batsman can make. One of the first points to consider in the art of batting te undoubted the position which the batsman takes at the wicket. Styles of batting when formed are very hard to alter and great care, therefore, should be taken by the beginner'to attain as nearly as possible what te known in cricket parlance as a proper stand at the wicketa. To do this the batsman should stand with hte right foot just inside the popping crease, as upright as possible so as to take the greatest advantage of hie height, holding the bat not too tightly gripped, but still firmly enough to enable him to hit with full force without the bat turning in hte hands. Every batsman should always bear in mind that the bat must strike the ball, not the ball the bat; it te when a ball has to be played back that this rule is chiefly applicable, for if the ball is allowed to play the bat, it is very likely to go up fa the air and bring about the end that the bateman is trying to avoid. Every straight ball should be met with the full force of the bat, and to do this the old rule should always be remembered : keep the left elbow well up and the left shoulder over the ball. This, no doubt, wants a lot of practice, and cannot be learned at once. The batsman, when in the act of playing, should move his left hand as well round the handle as possible ; this position will keep the left ejbow well up, and consequently the bat will be as straight as 1 possible ; but he should always bear in mind to get well over the ball, and to have the . point of the bat towards the stamps. I