James Lillywhte's Cricketers' Annual 1884

T H EL A W SO F C R I C K E T . 1 7 5 VIII. After rain the wickets m a ybe changed with the consent of both [Avery necessary provision , especially if the ground is muchcut up.] parties. I X. The BoWLERshall deliver the ball with one foot on the ground behind thebowling crease , and within the return crease , and shall bowlone over before h echange wickets , which he shall be permitted to do twice in the sameinnings , a n dno bowlershall bowlmorethantwo overs in succession. [Notice that the law reads 'behind the bowling crease ; hence it follows that if the bowler's foot touch any part of the line , it is a no-ball . B y ' changing wickets twice ,' it is understood that the bowler, after changing ends, mayreturn to his original end only.] X. Theball must be bowled. If thrown or jerked the Umpireshall call 'N oBall.' [Adistinct action of the elbow distinguishes a throw, and a jerk would clearly be shownby the armstriking the bowler's side before delivery of the ball .] X I. H emayrequire the Striker at the wicket from which he is bowling to stand on that side of it which he maydirect . [So as to give himampleroomfor 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 he 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 downto the score of WideBall ;' such ball shall not be reckoned as one of the four balls ; but if thebatsmenshall b yanymeansbring himself withinreach of the ball, the run shall not be adjudged . [' Either with or without appeal .' This shows that it is lawful to inquire of theUmpireif a ball which hehas 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 shouldnotbe withinthe reach of the batsman.' Hencea wideto a short batsman(Jupp) might not be so to a tall one (W .G. Grace).] X I I I. If the Bowlershall deliver a ' N oBall' or a ' W i d eBall,' the Striker shall be allowed as manyruns as he can get, and he shall not be put out except b yrunning out. In the event of no run being obtained by any other means, thenone run shall be added to score of ' N o Balls ,' or ' Wide Balls .' as the case m a ybe. All runs obtained for Wide Balls ' to be scored to ' Wide Balls . ' T h enames of the bowlers who bowl WideBalls ,' or ' N o Balls ,' in future to beplaced on the score , to showthe parties byw h o meither score is made. If the ball shall first touch any part of the Striker's dress or person (except his hands) the Umpireshall call LegBye.' [The only runs, of course , that can be obtained from a ' wide ' are from the long-stop missing the ball , and should , it follows , be scored to 'wides ,' and not to byes.' If the batsman get to the ball it is no longer wide , and any runs made byhimfrom it must be credited to him in the ordinary way. Although the last sentence of the law is worded carelessly , custom says that a run mustbe made before the Umpirecalls 'leg-bye; and, moreover, that whenhe has called one it should be counted on the score -sheet for as manyruns as are obtained from it. Singularly enough, the rule altogether omits to state this .] X I V. At the beginning of each innings the Umpire shall call ' Play.' Fromthat time to the end of each innings notrial ball shall be allowed to any bowler. [That is no trial ball on the wicket . Abowler is generally allowed to 'open his shoulders ,' by sending one downat the side or elsewhere ; but, of course , this concession mustnot be allowed to impede the game.] X V. The STRIKER IS OUTif either of the bails be bowled off , or if a stump bebowledout of the ground .