Cricket 1890

70 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. APRIL 24, 1890. OLD LAWS OF CRICKET. B y P ercy C ross S tan d in g , Through the kindness of Mr. S. Hales, the librarian at Toynbee Hall, I am enabled to place before the readers of C r ic k e t a somewhat curious reference to the rules observed by players of the National Game more than a century ago. Unfortunately the title-page of the very rare work— “ Freemasons’ Song Book ”— from which I made this copy, is missing ; but so far as I can ascertain from the text, the date is about 1775. R U L E S TO BE O B S E R V E D B Y TH E P L A Y E R S A T C R IC K E T . This m anly noble exercise being now much in fashion among all ranks of people, it may be useful to give a few of the general laws, as settled at the m ost respectable m eetings. i. The parties, without it is otherwise agreed, generally toss up who shall pitch the first wicket. II. The wicket being pitched, proceed to cut the popping crease, which is three foot ten inches from the wicket. The wickets are generally placed about tw enty-tw o yards distant from each other. h i . The wicket, or stumps as they are called, should be about tw o feet long, and the bail, or stick that lies across, about six or eight inches. IV. The ball generally weighs six ounces, but should not be m ore. v. The party that fixes the first w icket has a right to order which side shall go in first. VI. There should be a crease cut even w ith the wicket, and when the bow ler delivers the ball one foot must be behind this crease. VII. The bowler may order the batter to stand n which side the wicket he pleases, while he s bowling. V III. The bowler shall not be allowed to change wickets but once in the same innings; and he shall bowl four balls before he is perm itted to change at all. N .B .— If the above rules are not adhered to the balls go for nothing, though he should bow l the adversary out, or the adversary should strike the ball, w hich, how ever, is to be decided by the um pire. IX . I f the player beats down or falls upon the wicket in striking, or if it is bowled down by the adversary, it is out. x. If the runners happen to beat down the wicket by over-running, it shall not be out. XI. If the player makes a stroke at the ball, and keeps it from falling to the ground by hugging or striking it with his hands, it is out. XII. If the player, in striking, has both his feet beyond the popping crease, and his bat is not down w ithin the crease, and the wicket should be beat down by the adversary, he is out. X III. N o player is to run off his ground to pre­ vent the adversary from catching the b a ll; if he does he is out. XIV . In running, if the players have crossed one another, he that goes toward the wicket that is put down is out. xv. I f the ball is touched w ith the bat, or nipped, as it is sometimes called, and the player strikes it again before it reach the w icket, it is out. X V I. A ball thrown w hile the adversaries are running, if it beats down the wicket before the runner’s bat or hand is over the popping crease, it is out. XVII. The ball having once grounded, the bowler, or he that catches the ball when it is thrown up, m ust strike one of the stumps down w ith the ball in his hand, or it is not [out]. X V III. The player is never to touch a ball till it is quite still, without desired so to do by the adversary, on pain of being out. X IX . If the players^are crossed or prevented from running by the [adversaries, the umpire may order them (the players) a notch. xx. W hen a ball is struck, the batter m ay pre­ vent its being catched by the adversaries, pro­ vided he does not strike at it, or run out of his ground to do it, but m ay place his body anywhere within the swing of his bat, but must not touch it w ith his hands. XXI. T he players, if they make a stroke at the ball, and touch or nip it, may fall down before the wicket, or clap their bat there to prevent its hitting the wicket. XX II. If one of the stumps are beat down by the ball, and the bail or cross-stick does not fall down, it is not out. X X III. The wicket-keeper shall not by any means m ove or interrupt the player, or go near the wicket till the ball is delivered; and if his hands, or feet,or any part of him , be before the w icket, though the ball should beat it dow’n, it shall n ot be out. xxrv: The umpires are to decide all disputes, and from them there shall be no appeal. They are to detormine how soon a fresh man is to come in, and are sole judges of all frivolous hurts or delays. In case a player is ill, or receives a hurt, they m ay let another go in till he is w ell or able to come in again; but on no account to suffer a fresh man to be chosen in his stead. They too are to determ ine how long the game shall stop on that or any other account. They are sole judges of all foul balls, cross­ ings, etc., but are not to order any man out unless appealed to by the players or any one of tfcem. If both umpires call play three tim es, they m ay give the game from the party that refuses, at their option. N o umpire to be changed without the con sent of both sides. STOKE N EW IN G TON CLUB. F ix t u b e s f o b 1890. April 26—Crouch End, Captain v. Vice-Captain May 3—Crouch End, v. Stroud Green May 10—Crouch End (H.P.G.), v. Holly Park May 17—Crouch End, v. Holborn May 24—Walthamstow, v. Lower Clapton May 26—Balls Park, Hertford, v. B. H. Hertford May 31—Crouch End (8.G.), v. Beaumont June 7—Winchmore Hill, v. Winchmore Hill June 14—Crouch End, v. West Hampstead June 21—Romford, v. Romford June 28—Crouch End, v. Cheshunt July 5—Walthamstow, v. North Metropolitan Tramways July 12—Crouch End, v. Beaumont July 19—Crouch End, v.Navarino July 26—Crouch End, v. Lower Clapton August 2—Tufnell Park, v. Holborn August 4—Cheshunt, v. B. H. Cheshunt August 9—Crouch End. v. Holly Park August 16—Gospel Oak, v. West Hampstead August 23—Stroud Green, v. Stroud Green August 30—Crouch End, v. Winchmore Hill September 6—Crouch End, v. Crouch End September 13—Crouch End, v. Claymore SECOND ELEVEN. May 3—Crouch End, v. Peel May 10-Crouch End, v. Springdale May 17—Haynes Park, v. Kennington Wanderers May 24—Crouch End, v. Lower Clapton May 24—Crouch End, v. Lower Clapton 3rd XI. May 31—Crouch End, v. Alexandra June 7—Crouch End, v. Navarino June 14—Gospel Oak, v. West Hampstead June 21—Crouch End, v. Springdale June 28—Enfield, v. Claymore July 5-Crouch End, v. Lansdowne July 12-Silver Street, v. St. Jude’s July 19—Crouch End (P.G.), v. Peel July 26—Walthamstow, v. Lower Clapton August 2—Crouch End, v. Kennington Wanderers August 9—Crouch End (C.G.), v. Caledonian August 16—Crouch End, v. West Hampstead August 23—Crouch End, v. Caledonian August 30—Crouch End, v. Lansdowne September 6—Crouch End, v. St. Jude’s S OU TH G A T E CLUB. F ix t u r e s f o r 1890. May 3—Southgate, v. Stoics May 10—Hendon, v. Hendon May 12 -Southgate, v. Mr. F . R. Benson’s XI. May 17—Southgate, v. Islington Albion May 21—Southgate, v. Thespians May 24—Minster, v. Thanet May £6—Ramsgate, v. South Eastern College May 31—Southgate, v. Hampstead Nondescripts June 7—Tottenham, v. Trafalgar June 9—Cheshunt, v. Cheshunt June 14—Southgate, v. Upper Clapton June 21-Southgate, v. London Scottish June 23—Hornsey, v. Hornsey June 28—Colney Hatch, v. Mr. W . J. Seward’s XI. July 5 - Southgate, v. Mr. C. S. Simpson’s XI. July 12—Southgate, v. Cheshunt July 19—Southgate, v. Park Wanderers July 26—Southgate, v. Brookfield Aug. 2—Southgate, v. Trafalgar Aug 4—Southgate, v. Hornsey Aug. 9—Southgate, v. Stoics Aug. 16—Upper Clapton, v. Upper Clapton Aug. 20- Southgate, v. Thespians Aug. 23—Southgate, v. Walthamstow Aug. 30—Southgate, v. Hendon Sept. 6—Southgate, v. J. H ll’s XI. C lapham , Peckham , Tooting, and other South London Commons under control of County Council. Clubs playing on above are requested to send name of Club, address of Secretary, and average age, to Mr. W . S. Lowe, Cyprus Club, W yndham R oad, Camberwell, S.15. CltlCK E TEU S.— B E 8T < C C B ^ G o o d s BEAB THIS M a EK. —Advt.