Cricket 1894

38 0RICKET * A WEEKLY RECORD L.-J THE GAME MAR. 22, 1894 13. The ball shall be bowled in overs of five balls from each wicket alter­ nately. When five tails have teen bowled and the ball is finally settled in the bowler's or wicket-keeper’s hmds, the umpire shall call “ Over.” 1*either a “ no-ball ” nor a “ wide ball ” shall be reckoned as one of the over.” 16. The striker may hit a “ no ball,” aud whatever runs result shall be added to his score ; but he shall not be out from a • no ball ” unless he be run out or break Laws 26 27, 29, 80. All runs made from a “ ro ball,” otherwise ihan from ihe bat. shall Ie scored “ no balls,” and if no run be made one run shall be added to th t score. If om a “ wide ball ” as many ruus as are run &h*ll be added to the score as “ wide bal’s a n d if no run be otherwise obtained, one run shall be so added. 17. Neither a “ no-ball” nor a “ wide-ball ” shall be reckoned as a ball of the over, and at the umpire’s call the ball shall be dead (Law 50c). For every such ball one run shall be added to the in-side score, as “ no­ balls ” and “ wide-balls” respectively. The striker may hit a “ no-ball,” but as the ball is “ dead,” he shall not be out from such stroke, nor shall any runs be scored therefor. If th'se balls do not count in the Over, it follows that they have nothing fuither to do with the game. They are “ dead,” in the same way as a “ fault” is in Tennis. It seems preposterou.3. then, that various uses may be ma^e of them, according to the exist­ ing law. They are penalised already: in­ crease the penalty if you will—make it the same as a boundary—but surely, if the bats­ man cannot be put out., he ought not to be able to sc re, from a “ No-ball.” In certain instances it might be well to make the penalty higher, as when a bowler, within a few minutes of “ time,” and when only a v*ryfew runs are wanted,deliberately bowls such balls so as to bring about a “ draw.” For such a violation of the spirit of the game, no penalty could be too severe. But then accidents would have to come under the same condem­ nation. As I propose to do away with the “ follow-on,” one glaring abuse of this law is summarily prevented. Mr. Burnside would make this alteration— “ No runs shaU be scored for either a ‘ No-ball ’ or a ‘ Wide- ball,’ but they shall be duly noted against the bowler in the Analysis.” 14. The bow’er shall be allowed to change ends as often as he pleases, provided only that he does not fcowl two overs consecutively in one innings. 18. A bowler may change ends as often as he pleases, provided always that he do not bowl two overs in succession in the same innings. 35. After the ball shall have been finally settled in the wicket-keeper’s or bowler’s hand, it shall be “ dead ” ; but when the bowler is about to deliver the ball, if ihe batsman at hi* wicket be out of his ground before actual delivery, the said bowler may run him ou t; tut if the bowler throw at that wicket and any run result, it shall be scored “ No ball.” The S t r ik e r is o u t - 21. If the wicket be bowled down, even if the ball first touch the strikei’s bat or person “ Bowled.” 19. A batsman can be put out only when the ball is “ in play” (Law 49); excepting only, that if the batsman at the bowler’s wicket be out of his ground (Law 58) when the bowler is about to deliver the ball, and before actual delivery, the bowler may put him out (Law 26.) If the bowler throw at the wicket, and any runs result, they shall be regarded as overthrows, and scored as “ extras ” (Law 53.) 20. The Striker is out — if his wicket be bowled down (Law 57), even if the ball first touch the striker’s bat or person ; except under Law 17 : Bowled. The firct sentence seems unnecessary. Law 35 of the present code calls such balls “ no- balls.” But that would require an enlarge! definition of “ no balls.” Practically the old law; but provision is explicitly made for the case of a “ no-ball.” 22. Or, if the ball, from a stroke of the bat or hand, but not the wrist, be held before it touch the ground, al­ though it be hugged to the body of the c a t c h e r “ Caught.” 21. Or, if the ball, from a stroke of the bat or hand, but not the wrist, be held by one of the opposite side before it touch the ground or pass the boundary line, although the ball be hugged to the body of the fieldsman, or the fieldsman’s hand be on the ground. Provided always that the ball have not first struck, and rebounded from, any obstacle or boundary, or person other than one of the players—except only under Law 17 : Caught. N .B . In the event of the batsmen running for the hit, and the ball Ie caught before they have crossed each other, the non-striker must return to the wicket he has left. The N.B. ought to appear. It is open to discust-ion, seeing that no run is scored when the ball is caught, whether the nonctriker should not return to his wicket, even though the batsmen have crossed. Umpires often are in doubt as to whether they have crossed, and much unseemly wrangling results. Sundry small additions are also made here. 23. Or, if in playing at the ball, pro­ vided it ' e not touched by the bat or hand, the striker t e out of his ground, and the wicket be put down by the wicket-kaeper with the ball or with hind or arm, with ball in hand;— “ Stumped.” 22. Or, if in playing at the ball, provided it ba not touched by the bat or hand, the striker be “ out of his ground” (Law 58), and the wicket be put down (Law 57) by the wicket keeper, with the ball, or with his hand holding ball, or with the arm of the hand that holds the b a ll; except only under Law 17 : Stumped. Beworded as to closing clause. Clumsy, I admit, but perfectly plain, wh'ch the existing law is not. 24. Or, if with any part of his person he stops the ball, which in the opinion of the umpire at the bowler’s wicket shall have been pitched in a straight line from it to the striker’s wicket and would have hit it;—‘ Leg lefore wicket.” 23. Or, if with any part of his person, hands (if holding bat) excepted, he, standing with either or both legs in front of the wicket, st< p any ball which, in the opinion of the Umpiie, would have hit the wicket; provided, of course, the ball was not first touched by the bat. Except only under Law 17: Leg before Wicket. A radical alteration, but imperatively demandel by modern practice of playing the ball with the legs. In recommending this alteration, I am backed by the authority of the earliest publish'd code, that of 1/74. As I wrote at length on this matter in C r ic k e t , November 30, 1893, I will add no more here. 25. Or, if in playing at the ba’l he hit down his wicket with his bat or any part of his person or d r e s s “ flit wicket.” 27. Or, if the ball be struck, or te st pped by any part of his person, and he Wilfally strike it again, except it be done for the purpose of guarding his wicket, which he may do with his bat, or any part of his person, except his hind*; “ flit the ball twice.” 21. Or, if in playing at the ball, but not when run­ ning, he hit “ down” bis wicket (Law 57) with his bat, or with any part o( his person or dress. Except only under Law 17: Hit Wicket. 25. Or, if the ball be struck, or be stopped by any part of his person, and he wilfully strike it again, except for the purpose of d-fending his wicket, which may be done with his bat, or with any part of his person except his hands ; H it ball twice . A small, but useful addition; though it is fami iar enough to all cricketers. The Laws, however, are framed for the uninitiated, and should omit nothing of consequence. The schoolmas'er again !