“ They who are acquainted with some of the remote and unfrequented villages of England, where the primitive manners, customs, and games of our ancestors survive in the perfection of rude and unadulterated simplicity, must have remarked the lads playing at a game which is the same in its outline and principal features as the consummate piece of perfection that at this day is the glory of Lord's, and the pride of English athletae—I mean the one in which a single stick is appointed for a wicket, ditto for a bat, and the same repeated, of about three inches in length, for a ball. ”

“ What wonder ere the days of useful knowledge, and Sir William Curtis's three R's,—or, reading, writing, and arithmetic,—that natural science should be evolved in a truly natural way; what wonder that notches on a stick, like the notches in the milk-woman's tally in Hogarth's picture, should supply the place of those complicated papers of vertical columns, which subject the bowling, the batting, and the fielding to a process severely and scrupulously just, of analytical observation, or differential calculus! ”

“ A ball over-tossed on the contrary makes the batsman play out; and if the ball is not well covered with an upright bat, he is almost sure to give a chance. Therefore, a ball should sooner be over-tossed than short. Many bowlers pay no attention to the most essential, and I should say the prettiest part of the game; that is, the field. I have seen a man deliver a ball, and never look to the field, or see whether they are all there, even before the long-stop has got to his place. A bowler must have a high opinion of his own abilities, to think he can beat his opponents without his field. ”

“ My father, John Nyren, was known to the cricketers of his time at the Marylebone Club as 'young Hambledon'. He was a constant player of that manly game, and excelled in all its points, generally carrying out his bat, often keeping the bat two whole days, and once three. [This would be, I assume, in minor matches.] When fielding, by the quickness of his smart, deep-set eyes, he would catch out at the point; this was his favourite feat, and his fingers carried the marks of it to his grave. With some batters one might as soon catch a cannon-ball. ”

“ I think there are no half-way places in the field where a man should stand, either to save the one or the three or four, except in extraordinary cases. The middle-off, cover-point, long-slip, and long-stop should all save one run. Those are places that give a man a fine chance of showing off to advantage; for, by being a good judge and a good gatherer, he may frequently run a man out. The distance of those places depends much on the state of the ground. If it is soft, you can stand much nearer than when very hard; because the ball loses half its speed the moment it touches the ground. ”

“ The young wicket-keeper must aim to acquire the power of deciding at a glance the exact situation of every fieldsman—of those whom he wishes to stand in, for the purpose of saving one run, or out, for that of saving two.
There is only one hit the wicket-keeper should ever have to move after from the wicket: that is, when the long field to the hip is out to save the two runs, and the batsman blocks a ball between his leg and the wicket. There is no other person can save this run but the wicket-keeper, and if he wish to save it he must start before the ball is struck, or he will be too late. ”

“ Brett was, beyond all comparison, the fastest as well as straightest bowler that was ever known: he was neither a thrower nor a jerker, but a legitimate downright bowler, delivering his ball fairly, high, and very quickly, quite as strongly as the jerkers, and with the force of a point blank shot. He was a well-grown, dark-looking man, remarkably strong, and with rather a short arm. As a batter, he was comparatively an inferior player—a slashing hitter, but he had little guard of his wicket, and his judgement of the game was held in no great estimation. ”

“ I like to see every man steady at work. I am sure that every one has enough to do when at play in minding his own business, without gossiping or being careless. I used to admire a certain Gentleman, that has left off playing this last two or three years, at the change over, walking across the wicket as steady as old Time, and when I was starting to bowl, just glancing round the field to see if they were all ready. ”

“ More errors are committed in a man's making himself up to hit, than in the hitting: but let him prepare steadily, coolly, and with decision, and a hundred chances to one will be in favour of his hitting well. Observe any one who is batting indifferently—examine his position—see how he holds his bat, and you will rarely fail to discover in that the cause of his incompetence; for either his position will be out of rule, or his hands will be wrongly placed on the bat; and if the latter be the case, no man can strike well. ”

“ Mann would, upon occasion, be employed as a change-bowler, and in this department he was very extraordinary. He was left-handed, both as bowler and batter. In the former quality his merit consisted in giving a curve to the ball the whole way. In itself it was not the first-rate style of bowling, but so very deceptive that the chief end was frequently attained. They who remember the dexterous manner with which the Indian jugglers communicated the curve to the balls they spun round their heads, by a twist of the wrist or hand, mil at once comprehend Noah's curious feat in bowling. ”

“ I have seldom seen a handsomer man than Tom Sueter, who measured about five feet ten. As if, too, Dame Nature wished to show at his birth a specimen of her prodigality, she gave him so amiable a disposition, that he was the pet of all the neighbourhood: so honourable a heart, that his word was never questioned by the gentlemen who associated with him: and a voice, which for sweetness, power, and purity of tone (a tenor) would, with proper cultivation, have made him a handsome fortune. ”

“ When it is difficult to part two batsmen, and either of them has a favourite hit, I have often succeeded in getting him out by opening the field where his hit is placed, at the same time hinting to the bowler to give him a different style of ball. This, with the opening of the field, has tempted him to plant his favourite hit, and in his anxiety to do so has not unfrequently committed an error fatal to him.
Every manœuvre must be tried in a desperate state of the game; but, above all things, be slow and steady, being also especially careful that your field do not become confused. ”

“ It takes away your power, and not only that, but it will cause you to hit under the ball.
Don't strike with all your strength, a man is often out with hitting at a bad ball. For why? he wants to make too much of it, and by hitting past his strength loses precision. It is not always the long swinging hit that drives the furthest. No, it is hitting the ball at the proper time, with a quick or short motion of the arms and wrists. If you go out of your ground to hit, you should forget the wicket-keeper: if not, your mind will be one way, your body the other. ”

“ If a ball be hit very hard in the direction of the long field, the safe way to play it is by dropping on one knee with both hands before him: should these miss it, the body will act as a rampart to prevent its farther progress.
To the young cricketer I cannot too frequently repeat that activity, observation, and steadiness are the most valuable qualities in a fieldsman, and allow me to add, as an old 'Tutor'—in any other man. ”

“ He was the first single-wicket player of his day; for his bat and ball were equally to be dreaded. He beat at one innings the three Mitcham players, who had beat Robinson. He slew Hector who had vanquished Patroclus. His batting was (say is) as elegant as strong; his knowledge of every point of play complete. His fielding was astonishing in its activity, and in the space of ground he could cover; and his bowling was far more swift and tremendous than even Harris's. We would back him now for a score of balls (for his age will not let him continue) against any bowler in England. ”

“ A good cricketer, like a good orator, must be an honest man; but what are orators compared to the men of cricket. There have been a hundred, a thousand orators; there never was but one David Harris. Many men can make good speeches, but few men can deliver a good ball. Many men can throw down a strong enemy, but Harris could overthrow the strongest wicket. Cicero once undermined the conspiracy of Catiline; and Harris once laid prostrate even the stumps of Beldham. ”

“ Why is this, but because many Bowlers never study the state of the ground, but deliver at the same speed and at the same place, as near as they can, on a dry as on a wet ground? On a dry and hard ground five yards would be a good length and difficult to play, but on soft and spongy ground such a ball would be hit away. Therefore it is necessary in such a case to put a little more speed on as well as pitch the ball a little further. This proves my argument that a man should not always bowl with all his strength, but have a little left for particular occasions. ”

“ He would invariably choose the ground where his balls would shoot, instead of selecting a rising spot to bowl against, which would have materially increased the difficulty to the hitter, seeing that so many more would be caught out by the mounting of the ball. As nothing, however, delighted the old man like bowling a wicket down with a shooting ball, he would sacrifice the other chances to the glory of that achievement. ”

“ But bear in mind not to leave your ground till the ball has quitted the Bowler's hand, or he will be justified in trying to put you out. Nothing looks worse than a man standing like a fixture, perhaps leaning on his bat. Then having to make a start, and calling that a hard run, which, if he had been prepared, he might have walked. Run your first run well, in case of any mishap in the field, and be sure always to let your partner know what you are going to do, by shouting at the top of your voice, so that he can't mistake your meaning. ”

“ If your man is particularly fond of playing back, you must keep repeating the dose; for if he plays out once or twice, he is sure to go back to his old play. If he does not, but tries to hit you forward, he will very likely give a chance, not being used to that style of play. In case he should hit you forward, you will be well prepared for him, by having a man or two placed in the long-field. The hit will most likely fetch but one; and if hit up, it may be caught. A short ball is the worst ball a man delivers; the batsman can hit it almost where he chooses, and is likely to give no chances. ”

“ The long-stop should place himself at such a distance that he can save the run, and not any nearer. If he could stop the ball close to the wicket, what's the use? He loses the advantage of covering a great space of ground on each side, and saving the tips or touches that frequently occur. The great merit of a long-stop is getting to balls that are put a little out of their course, so as to save the run. If you see the batsman trying to get the best of you by stealing a run, gather in a little closer. It is better to prevent him attempting, than to give him the chance of getting it ”

“ On 'the Old Players' I may be brief; because, the few old gentlemen (with one of whom I am in daily communication) who have heard even the names of the Walkers, Frame, Small, and David Harris, are passing away, full of years, and almost all the written history of the Old Players consists in undiscriminating scores.
In point of style the Old Players did not play the steady game, with maiden overs, as at present. The defensive was comparatively unknown: both the bat and the wicket, and the style of bowling too, were all adapted to a short life and a merry one. ”

“ Lumpy would uniformly select a point where the ball was likely to shoot, that is, over the brow of a little hill; and when by this forethought and contrivance the old man would prove successful in bowling his men out, he would turn round to his party with a little grin of triumph; nothing gratified him like this reward of his knowingness. Lumpy, however, thought only of himself in choosing his ground; his fellow-bowler might take his chance; this was neither wise nor liberal. Harris, on the contrary, as I have already observed, considered his partner ”

“ Clarke said, "My success depends not on what is called a good length, but on the exact pitch, the one 'blind spot', according to the reach and style of the player." He was also always on the wicket with great spin and twist. "Also," said Clarke, "I can vary my pace without betraying the change by my action, and this few fast bowlers can do; and if a man takes liberties with me, I can send in a very fast one as a surprise; or I could not defend myself against a hitter." As to stepping in, Clarke's elevation was such that you could not judge him till very late ”