James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1875

, • • CHAPTER VIII. • TI-IE LAWS OF · CRICKET, W1TH No-irEs nY J1 - 1r:&s LILLY\VHlTE• • • • • ' • .. . . , . I. The BALL ml1s·t weigh not less than five ounce� and-a-half, nor more than five ot1nces and three-quarters. It must measure not less than nine lllobes, nor . more thaP nine inches and one-quarter in . circumference. At the be gi nn _ ing of each innings, either party may call for a new ball� It is not usualt however, excep.t in case of the ball - bci11g mu®. damaged, for rn-ore than two bolls to be used in a match. · � • II. The BAT must not e·xeeed four inches and one--quarter in the widest part; it must not be more than thirty-eight ino�es in length. The law does not specify how t h is is to be enforced, but I think it is tho Umpire's · du.ty to see thnt bats larger than the l�w allows are no·t played with � ; ·Band probo,bly words added to that effect would 1>e an improvemant. · .. , III. The STUMPS must be three in number ; tw e tlty s8Ven inches out of the ground ; the Bails eight inches in length ; the Stumps of equal and of sl1fiieient thickness to prevent the ball from passing ' through. Although not stated, it is clearly the spirit of the la-w 1 and the stnmps:should be eightinche$ wide at tlu bottom Oti well os at the top. I have gen,i:o.lly a.dopte!]. the plan ot layingthe bails on the ground as a guide to setting 1,1p the stumps. IV, The BOWLING CREASE must be in a lille with the StQmps; six ieet eight inches in length; the Stumps in the centre ; with a. return orease at each end towards . the Bowler at right angles. ,. It is i1nportant to notice tha·t the return e1·ea.se should be at r¾,kt angle& to the bowling erease. I have of.ien seen it �rawn in an -0bliquE} direetiQn, which would give tho bowler an n.-dv&ntage. · · ' . V. The POPPING CREASE must be four feet from the Wicket, and para1101 to it ; unlimited in length, but not shorter than. the Bowling Crease. Unlimited in length, so a.s to give the b&tsma11 an opportunity of keeping elear of the ball when thrown in, without . lneurring�e d anger of bei ng struck by it. . . L • VI. The wickets must be pitched opposi.te to ea,ch other by the Umpires, · .. at th - e distance of twenty-two-yards� It is advisable to use o. cha.i n to mea,sn.r� the . dista.nce,c as tapes o.re . llal>le t<> sit'iltch. • I vn. It shall not be la.wfui for either party durillg the match, without the consent of the other, to alter the ground by rolling, watering, covering, m()WU'lg, or beating e�cept at the oon:)mencement Of each · innings when the . ground shall be swept and rolled unless the next side - going . in object to it. This rule is not meant to pteTen.t · the s.triker from · beating the ground with bis ba.t near to th � spot were he _ stan�s during the innings 1 nor to pre'vent . · the bowler from :tilling up holes mth saw:-d,ust, etc., when the · ground shall be .- • < wet� Consent tQ rolling, &c., i8 seldom or evel' &Sked during the progresa : of an innin gs. A.t thG eo��ment of. aD · ipnings the side going in ahould JJeetha.t it is �ept- u.nd tolled:, 8.6 e i course 1t 1e to thett advantage. . . · I ' • •