Page:Cricket (Lyttelton, 1898).djvu/87

Rh course he is adopting; and that his position is not one to be envied.

In county and other matches a committee chooses the eleven; at the Universities and public schools the further onerous duty of selecting the side is also thrown on the captain, handicapped, in many instances, by a multitude of ignorant advisers, each recommending a different selection. We will pass this by and try to give a word of advice on other points. The glass is rising; there has been rain over night; if the sun comes out the wicket will play very difficult; it may come out in ten minutes, it may in two hours, and a captain has won the toss. If ever a man desires the gift of correct prophecy he desires it now. When will the sunshine? This is the question, and not being possessed of supernatural powers, what is a captain to do? I humbly think that if the sun is out he had better put the opposite side in; if not, go in himself. If the wicket is soft and just rolled, put a hitter in first; it will play tolerably easy for twenty minutes,