James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1876

190 T ill . After rain the wickets may be changed with the consent of both parties. A very uocws&ry provision, especially if the ground is much cut up. 1\. The BOWLER shall deliver the hall with one foot on the ground behind the bowling crease, and within the return crease, and shall bowl one over before lie change wickets, which he shall he permitted to do twice in the same inuings, and no bowler shall bowl more than two overs in succession. Notice that the law reads “ behind the bowling c r e a s e h e n c e it follows that if the bowler’s foot touches any part of the line, it is a no ball. By “ changing wickets twice,” it is understood that a bowler, afur changing ends, may return to his original end only. X . The ball must be bowled. Tf thrown or jerked the Umpire shall call 44No Ball.” A distinct action of the elbow distinguishes a throw, and a jerk would, clearly be shown by the arm striking the bowler’s side before delivery of the ball. XI. He may require the striker at the wicket from which he is bowling to stand on that side of it which he may direct. So a* to give him ample,.room for bowling. XII. If the Bowler shall toss the ball over the Striker's head, or bowl it so wide that, in the opinion of the Umpire, it shall not be fairly within the reach of the batsman, he shall adjudge one run to the party receiving the innings, either with or without an appeal, which shall be put down to the score of Wide Balls; such ball shall not be reckoned as one of the four halls ; but if the Batsman shall by any means bring himself within reach of the ball, the run shall not be adjudged. “ Either with or without appeal.” This shows that it is lawful to enquire of the Umpire if a ball, which he has not called, is wide or not. The appeal, however, is seldom made. Umpires should notice that the sole requisite for a wide is that it should not be “ within the reach of the batsman.” Hence a wide to a short batsman (Jupp) might not be so to a tall one (W. G. Grace). XIII. If the bowler shall deliver a “ No Ball” or a “ Wide Ball,” the Striker shall be allowed as many runs as he can get, and he shall not be put out except by running out. In the event of no run being obtained by any other means, then one run shall be added to score of “ No Balls,” or “ Wide Balls,” as the case may he. All runs obtained for “ Wide Balls ” to be scored to “ Wide Balls.” The names of the Bowlers who bowl “ Wide Balls,” or “ No Balls,” in future to be placed on the score, to show the parties by whom either score is made. If the hall shall first touch any part of the Striker’s dress or person (except his hands), the Umpire shall call “ Leg Bye.” The only runs, of course, thftt can bo obtained from a “ wide” are from the long-stop missing the bail, and should, it follows, be scored to “ wides,” and not to “ byes.” If the batsman get to the hall it is no longer wide, and any runs made by him from it must bo credited to him in the ordinary way. Although the last sentence of the law i« worded carelessly, custom says that a run must be made before the Umpire calls “ leg- bye ” ; and, moreover, tliat when he lias called one it should lx? counted on the score-sheet for as many runs as are obtained from it. Singularly enough the rule altogether omits to stale this. XIV. At the beginning of each innings the Umpire shall call “ Play.” From tliat time to the end of each innings no trial ball shall he allowed to any Bowler. That is no trial hall on the wicket. A bowler is generally allowed to 4 open his shoulders,” by sending one down at tho side or elsewhere ; but, of course, this concession must not bo allowed to impede the game.