1st.--Almost every good bowler holds the ball in the fingers at right angles to the seams, for two reasons, first a better grip can be taken; second, if any twist or spin is desired, the roughness of the seams increases the action of the fingers.
2nd.--Begin delivering what are technally known as slow balls. Do not attempt fast bowling until your mechanical command of the ball has in a large degree, been able to materialize from your conception of what a good ball should be. This mechanical command of the ball comes from practice only. When it is observed that every batsman has his own peculiar style, some right handed, some left, some long, some short reach, some forward, some back, the beginner will at once percieve that success depends upon this, absolute command of the ball. When the possible fast bowler has learned to bowl “slows” with precision, he may put up an occasional fast ball. If he has properly conceived the art of slows, the chances are all in favor of his also becoming a good fast bowler. No eleven is perfect with only slow bowlers. Batters must be worried by fast as well as slow balls. But let every bowler whose ambition is to attain speed, recollect that accurate slows are the fore-runners of speedy balls.
3d.--The slow bowler having mastered the pitch or length must practice twists or spins by which he endeavors to deceive the batsman. These must be performed with such ease that mind and body simultaneously act, the ball rotating upon its own axis, with such force that when it leaves the ground it no longer continues in its apparent direction, but rising abruptly according to the bowler’s desire passes the astonished batsman into the wicket.
4th.--An easy elegant style of bowling is attained with less fatigue than a slouchy one. Some men will start ten yards behind the bowler’s crease, rush at it as though preparing for a somersault, come to a halt to deliver a disappointing ball. The fault here lies in the misconception of the bowler. He has not studied cause and effect, nor has he studied his own powers. These must not be squandered upon an over or two, but must be husbanded for a long day’s work.
5th.--Place the ball as near the batsman as possible without its becoming a full ball, should such a ball strike slightly to leg, all the chances are in favor of its working between legs and bat into the wicket.