James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1888

L A W SO F C R I C K E T . 2 0 1 T H EB A L L . 4. Theball shall weigh not less than five ounces and a half , nor more than five ounces andthree-quarters. It shall measurenot less thannine inches, norm o r e than nine inches and one-quarter in circumference . At the beginning of each innings either side m a yd e m a n da n e wball . 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. Thewickets shall be pitched opposite and parallel to each other at a distance of twenty-two yards . Each wicket shall be eight inches in width, and consist 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. The bails shall be each four inches in length , and whenin posi- tion onthe top of the stumps, shall not project more than half-an-inch above them. The wickets shall not be changed during a match unless the ground betweenthembecome unfit for play, andthen only by consent of both sides . T H EB O W L I N G C 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. Thepopping crease shall be markedfour feet from the wicket , parallel to it, andbedeemedunlimited in length . T H EG R O U N D . 9. Theground shall not be rolled , watered , covered , m o w n, 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 not morethan ten minutes . This shall not prevent the batsman from beating the ground with his bat, nor the batsman nor bowler from using sawdust in order to obtain a proper foothold . T H EB O W L E R . N OB A L L. 10. Theball mustbe bowled ; if thrown or jerked , the umpire shall call " no ball." 11. The bowler shall deliver the ball with one foot on the ground behind the bowling crease , and within the return crease , otherwise the umpire shall call n oball." 6 6 W I D EB A L L. 12. If the bowler shall bowl the ball so high over or so wide of the wicket that , in the opinion of the umpire, it is not within reach of the striker , the umpire shall call " w i d eball. " T H EO V E R. 13. Theball shall be bowled in overs of four balls fromeach wicket alternately . W h e nfour balls have been bowled, and the ball is finally settled in the bowler's or wicket -keeper's hands, the umpire shall call " over. " Neither a "no ball " nor a " wideball" shall be reckonedas oneof the " over." 14. Thebowler maynot change ends more than twice in the same innings , n o rb o w lm o r et h a nt w ooversin succession.