CRICKET COMMENTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 81, 26 November 1931, Page 2

CRICKET COMMENTS

■ "Cover-point.")

(By

Rain last Saturday again delayed play in the third serieS of ericket matches eommenced on Novemher 14, ahd it was decided hy the Gricket Assobiatioh oii Monday night to abandon the games, each team being awarded two points. This decision is very urifortunate for Albion, who on the first day had : dismissed eight Mamaku batsmen .for •24 ruhs and were therefore assured of at least a first innings win. Mamaku, who are leading in the competition, can connt themselves as very iucky in eseaping a sure def eat so easily, Hints for Players. Ih the hope that players may henefit thereby, the writer proposes when opportunity offers, to publish a few articles which should help to improve the standard of cricket. . . ' ■ As has previously he.en, mentioned ih these notes, practice is very necessary to good cricket and if players will combine this with a study of the articles to follow, there is no doubt that improvement will be showri in their play. . Timihg ati'd Hittittg the Bdll. : With the easiest- stance, which is the oue .that suits the individual ihe heStjthe batsman is ih the best posi- 1 tion to step back- or to step forward to force a ^ood length ball paSt j cover, or to jump out to turn it into a half- volley or "follpw thrpugh" With a ppwerful drive. It must be remeihbered, 'however, that td do this the batsman must make. up his niind quickly . on .the shpt he ihtends pl'aying and follow that intention out. "Timing" is the art of choosing the inpst favourable moment to hit the ball, and its disc'overy is a niatter of experience. The correctly timed shot 'can always be felt and leaves the bat with an absence of jar and at a pac'e which is often SUfij prising to ,the young batsman. Defensive hatting is all right itt its place, hut far too many players ap: pear tp regard the time they spend ■ at the crease as the rnain considefation, regardless of the. number of runs they score: This is a fallacy, and it would be well to take note of the number of wickets which, are lost \ off half-hearted strokes, The ball should he hit with a will and plenty of power and although chances may ^ he given, and they are given in most | innings, the ehance is less likely to be accented hy the fieldsman than off

i the weak stroke. ; Position of the Feet. ) The proper use of the feet when J | playing the ball is very important and J j marks the accomplished batsman.. The 1 1 j movement should he quick and he be- j gun at the earliest possible moment after the ball has left the bowler's hand, so that the batsman may he in. j the correct position ih plenty of time j . to make the stroke desired. j j j When dealing with the off ball, the ' feet should be moved across the wicket as the hat is raised, to ensure that the full weight of the hody may assist the square-cut or the off-drive For the iate cut the feet and right | leg should he moved smartly to a po- j s'.tion outside the. off stump. Tp play a ieg hit or a glide from ! a ball off the leg stump, the batsman I i should immediately step in front ^ of 1 his wicket, and if the bowling is fast cr medium fast, the movement must . he done quickly. 1 Some batsmen will never attempt these strokes owing to a fear of being ■ bowled, but if they would forget their j wickets more frequently and try and i play strokes their figures would be ' considerably higher: The reason for | the batsman's .visit to the crease is to • score runs for his side, which can never be done by "sittihg on the ' spliee." This practice alsp tends to flatter the bo .vler and will give him , encouragement to bowl even better. j The fast scprer is the one that is always valuable to his team and he ' ; will always get preference when the ' side is being chosen. He is also popular with the speqtators, ,as there. is . no question that fast and interesting cricket is what the public require and if it is provided for them there will be no doubt of their attendatice and support. Merritt's Wickets. It is incorrectly recorded in the annual report of the New Zealand Cricket Gouncil that W. E. Merritt took 100 wickets in first-class matches on the New Zealand team's recent tour. Merritt's total was one short of the century mark.