326 
THE STRAND MAGAZINE . 
desired to bring the right foot across 
the wicket the first thing to do is to 
put the weight of the body on the left 
foot. This frees the right foot, which can 
then be placed in any desired position like 
a flash, the movement being accelerated by a 
thrust with the muscles of the left leg. Need- 
less to say, the action is reversed when the 
left foot is moved ; and I must explain that 
in actual cricket the movements are so quick 
as to be next to simultaneous. I have gone 
into the underlying principle of footwork in 
detail because it is no use writing about 
“ stepping across the wicket ” to make any 
particular stroke unless the reader knows just 
what is meant by taking such a step, or, for 
that matter, a step in any other direction. 
Now comes the application of footwork 
with the commendable intention of increasing 
the discomfiture of the bowler to the point 
of frenzy, if we can manage it. Our first 
consideration under this heading must be 
directed to the fact that by freeing the right 
foot in accordance with modern ideas on 
batting we gain nearly as much latitude 
behind the batting- crease as forward play 
gives us in front of it. We are thus doubly 
armed. By an adroit step backwards we 
can make a ball very short, which is really 
only a trifle under-pitched, or can transform 
a good-length ball into one decidedly on the 
“ MANIPULATES THE BAT 
WRONGLY.” 
short side. In addition, we are able to watch 
the ball right up to the bat. If a batsman ■ 
steps backwards in an oblique direction he 
can make a ball anything except what the 
bowler intended it to be. For instance, a 
capable bat can transform in this manner a 
shortish straight ball into a ball to leg which 
can be hooked with impunity, and a very good 
batsman indeed, even as first-class batsmen 
go, can step back and to the right to a perfect- 
length ball and clip it away to leg for four. 
A beautiful stroke, and one which annoys a 
bowler tremendously, but it is given to few 
men to possess that almost supernatural 
quickness and judgment which alone can 
render the stroke advisable. But straight 
shortish balls, provided they are not too fast, 
can be hooked round to leg by stepping back 
and across the wicket, and it is far better to 
punish them like this than to simply play i 
them. Such strokes make a bowler feel 
nervous about his length, and tend to create 
that feeling of dismay akin to panic which is 
invaluable — to the batsman. 
But, after all, the stroke is played bat in 
hand, and it will not disconcert the bowler in 
the least if a man gets his feet into ideal 
position, and manipulates the bat wrongly. 
But the hook stroke can scarcely go amiss if 
it is attempted at the right sort of ball and 
the batsman is posed correctly in good time 
for the stroke. Then a quick turn of the 
