James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1885

T H EL A W SO FC R I C K E T . 2 0 7 C H A P T E R V . L A W SO F C R I C K E T , A sRevised b y the Committee of the Marylebone Cricket C l u bin 1 8 8 4. T H EG A M E. 1. A match is played between two sides of eleven players each , unless otherwise agreed to ; each side has two innings , taken alternately , except in thecase provided for in L a w53. The choice of innings shall be decided by tossing. R U N S . 2. T h escore shall be reckonedb y runs. A run is scored :- 1 s t. So often as the batsman after a hit, or at anytime while the ball is in play, shall have crossed and madegood their ground o m end to end. 2nd. For penalties underL a w s16, 34, 41 and allowances under44. A n yrun or runs so scored shall be duly recorded by scorers appointed for the purpose . The side which scores the greatest numberof runs wins the match. N omatchis w o nunless played out or given up, except in the case provided in L a w45. A P P O I N T M E N T O F U M P I R E S . 3. Before the commencementof the match two umpires shall be appointed o n efor eache n d. T H EB A L L. 4. T h eball shall weighnot less thanfive ounces and a half, nor morethan five ounces and three-quarters. It shall measurenotless than nine inches, nor morethan nine inches and one-quarter in circumference . Atthe beginning of each innings either side maydemanda newball . T H EB A T. 5. Thebat shall not exceed four inches and one quarter in the widest part ; it shall not be more than thirty -eight inches in length . T H EW I C K E T S . 6. The wickets shall be pitched opposite and parallel to each other at a distance of twenty-two yards . Each wicket shall be eight inches in width, andconsist of three stumps, with two bails upon the top. The stumps shall be of equal and sufficient size to prevent the ball from passing through , twenty- seven inches out of the ground. Thebails shall be each four inches in length , andwhenin position on the top of the stumps, shall not project morethan half -an-inch above them. The wickets shall not be changed during a match unless the ground between them become unfit for play, and then only by consentof b o t hsides. T H EB O W L I N GC R E A S E . 7. Thebowling crease shall be in a line with the stumps ; six feet eight inches in length ; the stumps in the centre ; with a return crease at each end, at right angles behind the wicket . T H EP O P P I N G C R E A S E . 8. The popping crease shall be marked four feet from the wicket , parallel to it, andbe deemedunlimited in length . T H EG R O U N D . 9. The ground shall not be rolled , watered , covered , mown, or beaten during amatchexcept before the commencementof each innings and of each day's play, when, unless the in-side object , the ground shall be swept and rolled for