Page:Cricket (Steel, Lyttelton).djvu/424

392 should wear thick woollen socks, and always have an extra pair or two in the bag when travelling about. They are better made plain, not ribbed, and in natural colours they are more comfortable and do not mark the feet.

Cricket boots or shoes must be worn. I prefer lace-up boots, and think most cricketers who play a good deal do the same. Have them made of brown or white leather. It is rather difficult to say what is the best thickness for the sole; for while a heavy man must wear very thick ones when the ground is as hard as a brickbat to prevent the feet being hurt by the spikes or bruised by the ground, a thinner pair would be sufficient under different conditions. I always wear thick soled boots with low flat heels; by having the heels low and flat you are not nearly so likely to sprain or twist your ankle as you would be with high and narrow ones. To prevent slipping, it is necessary to wear spikes or nails in your boots or shoes. Be careful what sort of spikes or nails you use; I prefer short spikes, which are made in different sizes and can be screwed into the boots in a very short time. These spikes are very convenient, as when they wear down short they can be taken out and new ones easily put in. Nails are used by some cricketers; they are of different sizes and shapes, but large square-headed ones hold best. I should advise all cricketers who play often to have two pairs of boots, one with short spikes or nails which will hold and prevent slipping on a hard dry ground, and the other with longer spikes for a soft wet spongy ground.

Pads were not worn in the early days of cricket, and although I have seen a few first-class cricketers who never use them, at the present time I cannot call to mind anyone who plays without them. It is much safer to wear them, and when they are properly made and fit well they but slightly affect the freedom of the legs. The sense of confidence that comes from wearing them more than makes up for the slight loss of freedom. No doubt the old players of whom we hear so much from certain old fogies did not like being hit on the shin any