Page:A "Bawl" for American Cricket.djvu/50

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N expert batsman experiences unspeakable pleasure during his innings. Cricketers glory in him, his friends delight in him, and the sweetest smile of his best girl emphasizes his triumph.

Nearly every young American learns base ball before cricket. When he first stands before a wicket, he is almost paralysed by the fear of losing it. Nothing corresponding to it appears upon the diamond. When his wicket has been successfully attacked a few times he is disheartened, and is likely to abandon cricket and return to his first love. This is a critical period in the history of the beginner. But a hint from a cricketer able and willing to explain that the straight ball can be successfully met by the straight bat may open the gate of cricket to him.

"A straight bat" is the technical term for an upright bat, as distinguished from a "cross bat." It should also be explained to all aspirants that the regulation wicket was not constructed for beginners but for expert batsmen. But let us not digress from the blunt "straight bat question," which staggers the "man out," as did the straight ball his wicket. Why can a batsman who wields a "straight bat" make a long stand, and why does the