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CRICKET

exception. Bennett, Southerton, Buchanan, &c., were all slow, relying on break, length, and judicious placing of the field for their success; while all the fast bowlers hammered away at the same pace, and, helped by the wickets, were difficult and sometimes dangerous to play.

If I had to train a youngster to bowl, I should first of all practise him to bowl a good length and within his strength. If he had a natural break, I should try and get him to acquire the power of varying his pace, keeping the same action, and, if a very apt pupil, to accustom himself to alter the height of his arm. Attewell has this power to a certain extent, and a very useful gift it is. But I feel convinced (and to prove it you need only look at the high rate of scoring in these days) that the principle of variety must be the essence of the bowling art, as long as these perfect wickets are to be the rule, and the days of mechanical accuracy are past; and these remarks seem justified by what has happened in Australia,