Slow bowling is most effective when there is a fast bowler at the other end. It is very puzzling to alter your time in forward play from fast to slow, and slow to fast, every Over: so, Clarke and Wisden work well together. A shooter from a slow bowler is sometimes found even more difficult than one from a fast bowler: and this for two reasons; first, because the batsman is made up for slow time and less prepared for fast; and, secondly, because a good slow ball is pitched further up, and, therefore, though the fast ball shoots quicker, the slow ball has the shorter distance to shoot into the wicket. Compare the several styles of bowling in the following diagram. A good length ball, you see, pitches nearer to the bat in proportion to the slowness of its pace. Wisden is not so fast, nor is Clarke as slow, practically, as they respectively appear. With Wisden’s straight lines, it is far easier to calculate where the ball will pitch, than with the curved lines and dropping balls of Clarke; and when Wisden’s ball has pitched, though its pace is quicker, the distance it has to come is so much longer, that Clarke, in effect, is not so much slower, as he may appear. Lillywhite and Hillyer are of a medium kind; having partly the quickness of Wisden’s pace, and partly the advantage of Clarke’s curved lines and near pitch. From this diagram it appears that the slower the bowling the nearer it may be pitched, and the less the space the bat can cover; also, the more difficult is the ball to judge; for, the curved line of a dropping ball is very deceiving to the eye. [Illustration: Slow Bail balls--Clarke’s. Fast Bail balls--Wisden’s. Medium pace--Lillywhite’s. Slow Shooters--Clarke’s. Medium pace Shooters--Lillywhite’s. Fast Shooters--Wisden’s.] In speaking of Clarke’s bowling, men commonly imply that the slowness is its only difficulty. Now a ball cannot be more difficult for hand or eye because it moves slowly. No; the slower the easier; but the difficulty arises from the following qualities, wholly distinct from the pace, though certainly it is the slowness that renders those qualities possible:-- 1st. Clarke’s lengths are more accurate. 2dly. He can vary his pace unobserved, without varying his action or delivery. 3dly. More of his balls would hit the wicket. 4thly. A slow ball must be played: it will not play itself. 5thly. Clarke can more readily take advantage of each man’s weak point. 6thly. Slow bowling admits of more bias. 7thly. The length is more difficult to judge, owing to the curved lines. 8thly. It requires the greatest accuracy in hitting. You must play at the ball with short, quick action where it actually is, and not by calculation of its rise, or where it will be. 9thly. Slow balls can be pitched nearer to the bat, affording a shorter sight of the rise. 10thly. Catches and chances of stumping are more frequent, and less likely to be missed.