THE BEST WAY TO PLAY A BALL, BOWLED AS WIDE AS YOUR LEGS ON THE ON-SIDE
Make a quick movement in before the wicket, and hit the ball behind you. A ball played in this way is always safe, and gets many runs. It goes farther than any other, for the batter gives additional force to its speed in the direction in which it is already going. The great error in playing these balls is, that the batsman begins at them too late.
Balls tossed beyond a length must be met with a full bat, and held in the same position as when stopping a length-ball—that is, with the left elbow turned well up. The only distinction in the two cases consists in this; that on the present occasion the ball is hit; in the other, that it is blocked. Care must be taken here to strike late enough, or the ball will be hit into the bowler's hands.
If the young practitioner wish to go in at a length-ball (I speak with reference to slow bowling), it must be at a ball that comes straight to the wicket: let him bear this in mind. If the ball be wide, how can he play at it with an upright bat? and unless he do so play it, he can be at no certainty in hitting the ball: again, therefore, I repeat—the ball must be straight to the wicket; then the movement to get in must be quick; the position the same as before described. If his legs are not at their proper distance from each other, it will be impossible for him to make anything of a hit. Having pointed out the difficulty of playing these balls to advantage in this way, the learner will, of course, act as he pleases. I will, however, take the opportunity of naming the very few of the best players who have succeeded in going in at length-balls. Sueter, of the Hambledon Club; Hammond, a Sussex man; Lambert, a Surrey
