Lucas again well set, being ultimately secured in his anxiety to give them the long handle, having played perfect cricket for his century.
1889, Allan Gibson Steel, Robert Henry Lyttelton (Hon.), Cricket (page 77)
You may leave your ground even to fast bowling on slow wickets if you think you can bring off a hit by so doing, and generally hold the bat nearer the top and give her the long handle.
1999, S. S. Perera, S. Muthiah, The Janashakthi Book of Sri Lanka Cricket, 1832-1996, page 300:
Tissera played two fine innings, of 53 and 17 not out and P. I. Peiris (30) wielded the long handle.
