The Art of Cricket

243 Pages·2012·37.09 MB·English

The Art of
Cricket

SIR DONALD BR:\Dl\L\N
Cricket
B: arr.lJ1'...'I'mf'Jit \\ith H()ci(it'r &"_ ~tOUL:ht()1l Ltd
(,.\U t"j-I:\ '\U.AIlABAj) IF)\IHAY Ill.! Ifl
Libr.,.,
l u. A.S. BANGALORE
?1b' '6"->'6 IU NIVERSITY UBRARY,
Rn
30 MAR
~ ACC No.. .f C."lI~" .';.> 1w:' .3 '"
Ct. NO .. ,• ••••
II ..................... :
NOTE: All references in this book (except where otherwise stated) are to be taken as <wplying to
right. . hand bowlers and right. . hand batsmen. The necatSary adjustments must naturally
be made where left-handers are concerned.
Foreword
IN 1934 I wrote a short instructional book on "How to plav nicket". At that time
, I was somewhere along the road of my interndtional playing career which ended
in 1948.
With certain interruptions hrought ahout by illness, World War II, etc., I had by
then been on the stagE' for 2() yearsl and in my judgment thaI was lung enough, V\'hiJst
my mental powers may still have been adequate ti)f tht' task\ my musclr·s certainly
were not.
The final act of renunciation of an activ(, playing rareer is ne\{~r easy, and the
irrevocable decision to retire is so often delayed in the search for some final gesture of
pleasurable fan·well. Or perhaps it is postponed because the player him",'lf realises he
lov(-'s to he in tht' fray and knows that as a lJon-player he can IlC\'t'J' again occupy the
stage as hI:" did when a perl(xmt."r.
And no matter how much one rna) ,!\muillciy dislike publicity alld the fierce spotlight
on your everyday doings, thefr is inevitably a thrill ill the aehievemt'tlt of some
fleeting glory_
For my part I can truthfully say I had no f("greig about retirenlcnt. I knew my best
days were over and helicved r could thereaf~.tcud('r Tny best st:r\,ice to cricket outside
the playing arena,
F'or some time I found it a relief to be spared the strain and the anxious moments
associate.d with playing international sport.
At first I resisted a natural impulse to put on paprr my theories about how the gam(':
should be played but eventually thought perhaps it was my duty so to do-·-not briefly,
as in 1934, but at some kngtb, and drawing upon the many subsequent years of
experience.
I have tried faithfully to portray the many aspects of cricket as they appear to me.
During my playing career I thought I had learnt a great deal about the game, but
humbly admit I have learnt a great deal more since retiring. And I'm still learning.
Indeed, I sometimes feel like the old English prol('ssiollal bowler who retired and took
up umpiring. When asked what he had found out he replied, "Just that a lot of the wickets
I took LBW when I was bowling were not ouL"
When Sir Jack Hobbs made his hundredth century, Prince Ranjitsinhji, the Jam
Sahib of Nawanagar, marvellous batsman though he was, sent the Surrey idol a
souvenir inscribed "From a humble student of the game". He knew one rnan could IH'ver
hope to absorb all there was to know about cricket.
Sir Frederick Toone was right. You can exhaust yourself at cricket hut never 'your
subject.
During one of my visits to England I had the great pleasure of meeting and dining at
the Savage Club with that distinguished author, orator and cricket lover, A. A. Thomson.
He made a memorable contribution to cricket literature through such delightful books
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as "Cricket my Happiness", "Cricket my Pleasure" etc.-books full of human interest
and understanding of the characters of his day land earlier).
1\1 ... Thomson d"id nnt profess to understand all the technical aspects of the game. But
he loved it as jew men could, and I think his description of England's gift to the world
of sport seems to portray its meaning to the watching public better than anything I know.
He says, "There are several ways of looking at the game of cricket; first, and probably
best, it is a game played for enjoyment. It is an art, rich in the expression of subtle
technical skills, where grace and strength may be magically blended. It is a long
picaresque romance, as rich in comedy and character as Don (J..uixote or Pickwick Papers.
It is also a f~lscinating form of controversy. It is a spectacle, it is drarna, it is good ftw.
It is undoubtedly an art; an art that can giYl~ pleasure to those who practise it and to
those who watch.~'
Since joining the ranks of watchers I have obtained a great deal of pleasure~"-alb('it
somewhat less exhilarating and intimate than in playing days"~""and find it has the virtue
of being less demanding on one's concentration and responsibility.
From the Test cricketer Inay I request tolerance for the space taken in dcs<'ribing
simple things (such as a yorker). He may feei my descriptions arc superfluous, hut this
book is designed to help all classes of cricketers, including children.
Then to the youngster who may find the tc:chnicaJ portions somewhat advanced
may I just say·--pass them by for the time being. ConcentIate on the more elementary
matters and come back to the Test match stage rdinements when you are older.
May I express my grateful thanks to all those who assisted in its preparation. PartiClI
lady do I thank Dr. LyttlctOIl for his contribution on the science of swing and Arthur
i\hiJey fClr his humorous sketches. To Advertiser :\Tcwspapero Limited and :\Tews Limited
of Adelaide and their stafls for their help in tracking down suitable illustrations. To my
willing assistants in our efforts to produce suitable movie film sirips. All haw played
a valuable part.
The illustrations are not perfect hut nevertheless they have been carefully st"kcted to
portray what was required, and action, ratber than photographic excellence, has
dictated my choice.
If this book can be the means of kindling enthusiasm in the breasts of some youngsters
or of assisting older players to overcome the game's complcl<ities, I shall be rewarded for
the time spent in compiling it.
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Contents
EQUIPMENT
pag, 9
BAT 9 BOOTS AND SOCKS '5
PADS 11 TROUSERS AND SWBATERS '7
BATTING GLOVES CAP '7
PROTECTOR '4 GENERAL. '7
THIGH PADS '4
TOSSING FOR INNINGS
pages 1!}-21
THE. ART OF BATTING
page !i2
GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS 22 THI; SQUARE CUT 48
THE GRIP 26 THE FORWARD DRIVES 51
THE STANCE 3° JUMPING our TO DRIVE. 58
TAKING GUARD OR BLOCK 33 THE PULL SHOT 60
THE BACK LIFT 35 THE HOOK SHOT 66
FOOTWORK 37 FORCING SHOT OFF BACK FOOT j'O
BACK DEFENCE . 38 LEG GLANCES 73
BFOARCKW AcRuDr DOERF ELNACTEE CUT 445' B~A'OCRKW LAERGD GLELGA NGCLEA NCB 7735
DOWN THE GULLY 47 THE SWEEP SHOT 76
THE ART OF PLACING THE BALL WHEN BATTING
{Diagram of Arta.s Coverni~, the Varitnts Strokes)
pages 80,81
WAYS OF GETTING OUT
POI' 8,
BOWLING ..
pag.83 ,
A BOWLING ACTION 87 LEFT·HAND SPIN BOWLING
LENGTH 97 THE CUTTER 122
DIRECTION 98 CHANGE OF PACE 124
BOWLING ON A STICKY WICKET 99 FLIGHT Bz6
FINAL WORDS . 99 USE OF WIDTH OF THE BOWLING
THE YORKER 101 CREASE.
~FuU.~Ha!f-"'Uey---(Jood lmgth '02 OVER OR ROUND THE WICKET
FAST BOWLING 103 NO BALLS .
MEDIUM.PACE BOWLING ,oil SWERVE AND SWING.
OFF-SPlN BOV{LING . 110 SEAM AND SWING BOWLING
LEG.SPIN'NER, TOP·SPINNER AND FIELD PLACING
GOOGLY. "5
DEALING WITH AN OFF·SPINNER
paglJ 11'1-151
7
LEG THEORY
/JDIU 154-157
FIELDING
pag,IS8
THROWING IN FROM THE RETURNING THE BALL TO THE
BOUNDARY '59 BOWLER 168
WHERE TO STAND 16. RUN-OUTS ,6g
WICKET-KEEPING
pag'I71
PRACTICE FOR WICKET·KEEPING. 173 STUMPINGS. '75
EQUIPMENT '74 WHERE AND HOW TO STAND. 175
RUNNING BETWEEN THE WICKETS
pagtS 179-184
CAPTAINCY
pages 185-190
COACHING
pages 191-196
THE LEG-BEFORE-WICKET RULE
pages 197-J105
SELECTORSHIP
pages 20tJ..".JUO
UMPIRES
pages 211-:U5
TEMPERAMENT
pages kl5, 217
SPORTSMANSHIP
page Ill8
RELAXATION AT OTHER SPORTS
pages 21!}-221
THE IDEAL ELEVEN
CRICKET PROBLEM
page 224
HISTORICAL
77u Pi"" Balk w an Dc"
17u WICk .. Th. lJa, .
77uBall DularatWns
THE VIRTUES OF CRICKET
/KJIU Rj6-'!J9
8
Equipment
THE BAT
* * *
I AM a great believer in taking very Then we come to size six bats, which are
special care to obtain the best equipm~l1t. about 33 inches long, and sizes five and
I t can playa tremendous part in building four, which are correspondingly smaller.
up confidence, and from personal experi Purely as a guide it is generally taught
ence I know how much easier it is to com that a boy five feet five inches tall is big
pile a score with the right equipment than enough to use a Harrow size or Short
with unsuitable components. Handle bat. However, many grown men
This applies more forcibly to the used Short Handle bats.
highest grade of cricket but is applicable I started my Test career with a full size
right through one's Career. but changed later 011 to a Short Handle
A legend has been built up around which I used for the greater part of my
certain players, particularly Victor Trum career. My height is about 5 feet eight
per, who, so it is said, would take out any inches and I found the full-length handle
old bat and play equally well with it. slightly cumbersome for my build and
If that is true I admire his skill all the stroke play.
more, because frankly I could not do so. But many taller men have used Short
For the young lad it is important to Handle bats. There is no infallible rule.
get a bat of the right size. When mother The player concerned must decide which
and father show their generosity by pro type suits him best.
ducing a lovely bat for Christmas or There is a great thrill ahout having
birthday, the tendency is for them to get one's very own bat. I can still remember
one which is too big. The cost of bats is the excitement of my first possession. A
high and they say the boy is growing. team mate gave me one of his old ba ts
One can fully sympathise with their which had split at the bottom. My father
point of view. Nevertheless, it is a grave sawed off the damaged end and partially
handicap for any youngster to try to reshaped the blade. Despite the need for
learn the rudiments of the game with a repairs and the obvious defects, no other
bat which is substantially wrong in size. bat ever quite took the place of that on~
A full-size man's bat is some 35 inches in my affections.
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and a good serviceahle weIght IS I believe it is a good thing to encourage
about,: lb. o40ZS. pride of ownership at an early age. It is
Wh~ IS known as a Short Handle good for one's play and also one's morale.
bat has a bl:l.de of normal size but the In choosing a bat, I am satisfied one
handle is about one inch shorter. should be guided by the feeJ or baJance
The Harrow size ill usually about the and not by the appearance. The most
same as a Short Handle but an ounce beautiful-looking piece of timber in the
or so lighter. world may turn out to be dead, whilst
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the unattractive blade will become a an old ball in a sock, or rubbing the blade
treasure. So No. 1 priority is the way the with the shin-bone of an ox, may help.
bat feels in your own hands. And is there a lovelier aroma to the
It is wise to oil the blade before using true cricket enthusiast than that which
it, especially in the drier climates. A light ensues from raw linseed on a new piece
coating of raw linseed oil (or one of the of willow?
proprietary lines of bat oil) once a day for Don't oil the bat 100 frequently. A very
a week should do, and for those who want light sandpapering, followed by a thin
to extract the maximum durability from coat of oil after a day's play, is ample.
the blade, some preliminary hitting with And be careful not to oil over the splice.
Th. SyktS Don BrtUimll1l bal with which I made th. world r«ord score of
452 nol 0111 (Syd"9'-.II'.S.W. • Q"tensland, 1930), Siazengen Lid
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