 When bowling , Trumble made the most of his height , bringing the ball over the full extent of his right arm . His action was described by his team @-@ mate and bowling partner , Monty Noble , as " sidelong and insinuating , with his neck craned like a gigantic bird " . He bowled off spinners with an impeccable length at medium pace and was able to swing the new ball . He had a well @-@ disguised slower ball , <unk> batsmen such as Stanley Jackson , who said , " You old devil . You get me caught @-@ and @-@ bowled whenever you like but I 'll pick that slow one sooner or later . " He preferred English pitches , saying he hardly saw one on which he could not get some turn and the temperate weather allowed him to bowl all day . In Australia , Trumble had to work harder for his wickets on firmer pitches , relying on his change of pace and consistent accuracy ; he claimed he could land the ball on a saucer 17 metres ( 19 yd ) away five times out of six . Johnnie Moyes named him as an " immortal of the art " who succeeded by " attacking the batsman 's strength " . W. G. Grace called him " the best bowler Australia has sent us " . While Trumble was able to score 1 @,@ 183 runs during the 1899 tour of England , the demands of bowling did not allow him to consistently score heavily . His long , prehensile fingers helped him make a reputation as a fine slips fieldsman and he was the first to take 20 catches in an Australian season . English cricketer Johnny Douglas said , " Trumble should not be allowed on the cricket field — his natural place would be up trees in the bush . " He practised slip fielding by catching a tennis ball thrown against a brick wall ; he believed this practise trained him not to " snatch " at the ball but allow it to fall into his safe hands . 
