Trumper letter

In this letter to a schoolboy, Victor Trumper briefly outlines his philosophy of cricket and refers to two other great players, the Australian George Giffen and the Englishman Dr W.G. Grace. To succeed in cricket he recommends being a teetotaller and playing your natural game. Interestingly he suggests that the best way to learn fielding is to join a baseball club. (He himself played baseball for Paddington). The letter was written four days before Trumper's testimonial match and two years before his death on 28 June 1915 aged 37 years.

Transcript: Letter From Victor Trumper to R.H. Coningsby, 3 Feb 1913

'Auckland'
Help St
Chatswood
3/2/13

Dear Master Coningsby,
         I am pleased to receive your letter & have to thank you for your kind wishes. 'With Bat & Ball' by Geo Giffen is very interesting & contains valuable advice on the game. In his best days Geo 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 & upper right arm is bigger than Jack Lyons who is both taller & 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 for it will tell on a players constitution sooner or later. When practising watch the ball very carefully in fact never take your eye off it.
         When playing in a match keep in your minds 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 & 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 whereas your work must keep you in comfort or otherwise just as you treat it. I think that I have given you the ABC. Don't let sport worry you. If it does give it up.
         I remain
         Yrs fhly
         Victor Trumper.