Page:Cricket (Steel, Lyttelton).djvu/64

with W. G. Grace. There are, as far as we know, only three rules which must be observed in taking up a position. The first is—(1) stand so that no part of the right foot is in front of the wicket or outside the crease; (2) stand in the attitude most natural and convenient to yourself; (3) do not place the toes of the right foot nearer the wicket than the heel. The first rule is essential, for the good player never ought to move his right foot to fast bowling. If, therefore, any part is in front of the Fig. 2.—W. G. Grace ready to receive the ball. wicket, he runs a risk of being leg before wicket when the ball beats the bat; if his foot is outside the crease, he is in danger of being stumped; and if the toes of the right foot are nearer the wicket than the heel, he will find himself in a very awkward position—unable to get over the ball. Subject to these rules, the batsman takes any position he pleases. The bat should be held firmly with the right hand and loosely, or comparatively loosely, with the left; neither hand should be tightly clenched. The late Mr. Wm. Ward spoke the truth when he told a sculptor who had made a statue of a batsman at guard that he was no cricketer—the wrists were too rigid and hands too much clenched. It seems that most players lift their bat from the block-hole while the bowler is running prior to delivering the ball, and fig. 2 shows W. G. Grace standing just before the ball leaves the bowler's hand. His whole position is changed from what it was a few seconds before. His first position, before the bowler has begun his run, is given in the