I am pleased to receive your letter and have to thank you for your best wishes. With Ball and Bat by George Giffen is very interesting and contains valuable advice on the game. In his best days, George Giffen was the best all round Australian player. His performances are splendid not only from a cricket point of view but as a very strong athlete. Giffen’s fore and upper right arm is bigger than Jack Lyons who is both taller and considerably heavier than Giffen.
To advance in the game you must lead a good healthy life. Dr W. G. Grace is still a non-smoker. Avoid alcohol because it will tell on a player’s constitution sooner or later. When you are batting watch the ball very carefully, in fact never take your eyes off it.
When playing in a match, keep in your mind’s eye the exact position of every fieldsman. To learn fielding, join a baseball club.
Do not copy any player but when you see him score four off a ball, try and score a four off that ball in the same direction but do it your own way for that will be the natural way for you.
Be very particular not to let sport interfere with your work, for sport only lasts for a while and your work must keep you in comfort or otherwise just as you treat it.
I think I have given you the ABC. Don’t let sport worry you. If it does, give it up.
