Page:Out-door Games Cricket and Golf (1901).djvu/130

Mr. Shuter, whose opinion is entitled to the greatest respect, a few years ago seemed to anticipate that a great crop of l.b.w.'s would ensue if the law were altered, owing to the fact that players play forward with the left leg close up against the bat. The batsmen play forward, but do not smother the ball, which breaks and hits the player on the leg, and if the umpire thinks the ball would hit the wicket gives the striker out. Mr. Shuter, it may be inferred, thinks this a hardship from the batsman's point of view. It must be remembered that the cardinal fact in arguing this question is that the bat is meant to be the only and correct weapon wherewith to play or hit the ball, and let us keep this in mind in considering Mr. Shuter's objection. A bowler bowls a good length ball with a break back from the off. In nine cases out of ten a batsman must play forward or back to any ball. In Mr. Shuter's case the batsman has rightly or wrongly played forward, and has missed the ball and saved the wicket with his leg. The point on which I am at issue with Mr. Shuter is, that whereas he thinks that the batsman is to be pitied because he failed to hit the ball with his bat, I think, on the contrary, that