James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1879

CHAPTER \'lI, THE LAWS OF CRICKET. \V1TH NOTES nv JAMES LILLYn'Hrriz. I. Tlie BA].I. must not weigh less than live ounces and a half, nor more thaii live ounces and three-quarters. It must measure not less than nine inches, nor more than nine inches and one-quarter in circumference. At the heginniiig of cacli innings, either pnrt}’ may call for a new ball. [It is not usual, however, excelit in case of the bull being much ditmaged, for more than two balls to he used in a match. II. Tlie BAT must not exceed four inches and one-quarter in the widest part; it must not be more than thir ' eight inches in length. [The law does not specify how th ' to he enforced, but I think it is the Umpire‘s duty to see that huts larger than the law allows are nut played with; and probably words added to that etieet would he an impruvc- ment. III. Tlie STUMPS must be three in number; twenty-seven inches out of the ground; the Bails ciglit inches in length; the Stumps or equal aml of Sufiieient thickness to prevent the ball from passing through. [Although not stated, it is clearly the spirit of the law, and the stumps slmuld he eiglit inches wide at {hr/11:11”!!! us well as at. the top. I have generally adopted the plan of layingr the hails on the ground as a guidc to settling up the stumps; IV. The B0\\’LING GREASE must be in a line with the Stumps; six feet eiglit inches in length ; the Stumps in the centre; with a return crease at encli end towards the Bowler at riglit angles. [it is impurtgtiit to notice that the return crease shunld he a! Fit/ll, avg/hr.»- tn the bowling crease. I lnwe often sum it drawn in an oblique direction], which would give the bowler an advantage. V. The POPI’ING GREASE must be four feet from the wicket, and parallel to it; unlimited in length, but not shorter than the Bowling Crease. [Unlimited in length, so as to give the batsman an opportunity of keeping clcar of the ball when thrown in, without incurring the danger of being struck by it. VL The wickets must be pitched opposite to eneli other by the Umpires, at the distance ol’ twenty—two yards. [It is advisable to use a: e Jill to measure the distnnee, us tapes are liable ta streteli. VII. It; shall not be lawful foi' either purty during the match, without the cpnsent of the other, to nltei‘ the ground by rolling, watering, covering, mowing, or beating. except at the commencement of each innings, when the ground shall be swept and rolled, unless the next side goiiig in object to it this rule is not meant to prevent the Strllici' from beating the ground with his hat near to the spot where he stands during the innings, nor to prevent the bowler froiii fillmg “17 holes with saw-dust, &c., when the ground shall is wet. t [Qonscnt to rolliiig, &c,, is seldtim or ever asked (luring the progress of an innings: At the commencement of an innings the side goiiig in should see that it 15 swept and rolled, as of course it is to their advantage. \'11. I . W'n'fl N TES li\’ JA S LlLL\'\\'HlT1'.. I. lie B_~1LI, llsi. not eigh le s than live ounce. and a half, nor more l mi five ounces and three-quarters. It unt easure not less thzul nine i ches, nor ore t an nine inches and one-quarter in circumference. At the be i ng at’ eacli inniiws, cithcr purti~ ay call for a ne ball. Flt is net usual, howevet, e. x‘; in came of the hull being mucll da mged, for ore t mi tu'u bulls in he t ed in it aiieli. I‘ lic T ust not excca four inches and one-quurter in the widest art; it ust ot be ll'lDl' t an thirty gill inches in length. [ he la does not specify ho £11 to he eufm- ed. but. 1 t ink it; is the mpire's dut to me that huts not than the luw allows are unt played ith; und Pt'ulmhly Wurds nddcd tu that eil'cet unld he an improve- ent. I. lic F ust he three in nu ber; t enty-seven inehcs out of t e ground; the ulls ciglit inches In le t ; the Stu ps or equal nntl of s fficient Llticlcne s t r VQnt t e ball fro passing t rough. [ lth t state . it iiclcu l the spirit of i-hc hm». and the stu ps sho ld be ei ht; inches ide M 1/14 but/um ell as m, the top. I have e pt t lu f lnyiug t e l.» 5 Oil the ground ms at guide i-U se t in) t e st .- I . he OWLI ust be in a line ith the Stu ps; si.\' feet i lit i c es i le t ; t e Stu s in the centre; ith a rclum crease t ca lt e t ar s t e o ler at l'lglll angles. It is i ort tnt, to otice t nt the ret rn crease should he 14! rig/Id uughx tn t li re se. have ofte seen it tim n in un uhlique direction, ic l i e t e ler uu vantage. . P Cl r\ l-J st h Ib r f t fr t icket, rmtl t it li it i l t , t ot s orter t the o ling Crease. li it i l t , au mi t ine t e huts sm an opportunity of keeping clem- f the hull hen t ru\\'|i m, ithuut incurring the danger of being t it. I‘ i et st h it site t c cli t er by the pires, t t ist ce f t e ty-t ar s. t u iuzthle t se .. e hill t ttstll'u t e istance, us ta e» urc liable to l utclil \'l . t t h lu t’ l fux' it r rt ri g; t e atch, ithout CPl’Isellt t , a t r n tl I1y1-o [i|i . “u t , i , i , h . t t t unnc ce e t f eheli innings. hen the . i iii i j t to it. 1. i t ant t t t triker fr ti t e ground with h t t t t r t s ri t e in i gs. or to pnn'ent i110 h t ler in up l it - st, Seen, e t e gr shall e . ‘ C e n , B., i Scldulll u): r s d riun the progress of mu ; t f u i i s t e Sid; going in should aim that it n: swept. r lle , it» f c rse it, is t t en- a vuubige.