P. F. Warner's Book of Cricket
Book of Cricket. By P. F. Warner. (Dent. 72. 6d.) A FELLOW feeling still makes us wondrous kind. I once wrote a Book of Cricket myself. So right away I approved even the outside cover of Mr. Warner's creation. What an excellent title ! But more : like every skilful reviewer I began at Chapter I, line 1, and found to my delight in the first sentence that not only had he written the book himself, but in writing it had been himself. Not, of course, that other authors of books on cricket do not write them out of their own heads with their own pens in their own words, but somehow most of them, who chat and argue so autonomously before the club-room fire with coat-tails parted, seem to become someone else in tone and style and manner when they stiffen to the task of writing.
This author I first observed some forty-four years ago, a small, pale, but cherubic boy, in flannels and a Rugby School XI cap. With a suitable bat he went in first in the Close for Mr. Mitchell's XI v. the Old Reptonians, and remained at the wicket, on a slow and sodden field, throughout the entire innings. And I was bowling, too, most of the time. He never looked back—keen on the game today as then— and think of all the great days he has seen. His keenness glows on every page of his book and compels an answering glow in multitudinous readers. There is an atmosphere of youthful freshness and ripe wisdom curiously mingled, as though spring and autumn were married in his mind under the spell of Cricket.
His book is like Caesar's Gaul. The first part is about the technique of the game (as it has been called since I used the term in my book on batsmanship, which our author has read) ; the second about tours and Test matches ; the third about cricketers and their characteristics. Of these the chapters on. bowling and fielding (part one) is by
far the bravest ; and I venture to think that on these subjects it is the best I have yet read. But the character sketches are captivating and the factual narrative very pleasant and well told.
Naturally I want to argue about some of the principles and practices our author propounds in his chapter on batting. It is my old complaint about treatment of this parlous subject. He, along with other eminent exponents, is rather after telling us what to do, which we some of us can guess, when what we want to know is how to do it. I know I ought to get well over the ball when I cut, but I would have liked to know at the age of 18 what use of feet and arms and hands would have produced that result instead of a catch in the slips. However; on this I assure you I an hypercritical. I was then interested in the batsman's art, and the books always avoided the point I was seeking instruction upon, which was most tantalizing.
Again, our travelled Ulysses of cricket lays continuous stress on the virtues of a " straight bat," but he does not define it. My bats were always straight, but my swing sometimes crooked, alas ! Again, I find him rather com- plicated. The things which matter in batsmanship are not many and they are simple. Rather like the rules of strategy, which were the same for Julius as for Joffre. Of course I want to argue, being a brother cricketer ; it is our soft spot. But I dare say Mr. Warner is right. Why not ? Regard his many centuries—regard his noted efficiency at a pinch. The chapters on bowling and fielding I refuse to touch upon. They are, as I say, excellent ; and I will not spoil them (if so I could) by callous criticism. I just cordially tell every would-be bowler and fielder to study them, and act accordingly. .
The historic and narrative will interest all who read about the game. Mr. Warner, for one thing, under a genial charm of style secretes a meticulous regard for accuracy—I would say he prides himself upon it—and he pulls out the interesting points and passages of actual events with a' certain courteous certainty which might well be a model to historiographers.
When I came to the character sketches I naturally turned up first my own page. But I blushed and passed on quickly to read all the rest with genuine delight and enlightenment. I know a bit about this sort of writing. It is not as easy as it reads apud Platonern. For one thing I would like to know how the author got hold of. his fabulous knowledge of minute facts with which lie punctuates his painting. He must have infinite patience ; and he is a patent seeker after truth.
I doubt whether anyone on the look-out for guidance as to what lies behind the major names in the cricket of our times could turn to a better source of information and illumination than this new Book of Cricket.
C. B. Fa).
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