The Ladies' Guide to Cricket

Jack Leather, the. crack Parago n bow ler, is about to commence L* 1___ ) I I . _*11 1. _ I Ir .. U.II f!_ i !___ !.. _. ... • . lie will bowl Ibo bull llvo limes in succession Each ‘ ball’ bis ’ over. while the 1 inpire, standing near him keeps count, is returned by the lioblsmon (or scouts, as they are sometimes called) to the wicket keeper (be with the big gauntlets), who then sends it gent ly back to the bowler. After the fifth ball is finally settled in the wicket keeper’s bands, the Umpire calls ‘ over,' and then the fieldsificn will again change places, as you observed just now. There ! you sec the wicket keeper is tossing the ball to Tom Trundlcr the bowler at the other end, who, as over has been called, is about to take his turn with the ball, while the Umpire at his end counts.” Miss L iston : “ Still I do not sec why all the fieldsmen or scouts, should change their positions each ‘ over.’ Please en­ lighten me!” S tanley : “ The reason is a very simple one. It is because the ball is much oftener hit towards the ‘ off-side’ then the ‘ on-side,’ and more fieldsmen are therefore required on that side.” “ Miss L iston : “ Then the off-side is that side of the wickets where there arc most fieldsmen?” S tanley : “ That is it exactly, and to understand the effect of the change after ‘ over’ lias been called, you have only to think of the ‘ near’ (left), and off (right) sides of a horse. Let us imagine the batsman now facing the bowler, to be a horse. On his left hand lies the ‘ on’ or side ; on his right, the off-side. But if you turn a horse round, what was the side of the road becomes the off-side, and wliat was the off-side becomes the near” s . Miss L iston : “ W e ll! not being horsey I have learned two tilings from your last disquisition. That the near side of a horse is the left side, and the off-side is the right.” S tanley : “ Live and learn Miss Liston ! but over lias been called, and the striker at the other end has now become the horse, and his left hand side is the or on side ; his right hand, the off-side. I wras nearly forgetting to mention that some players bat left-handed. Hence, when a lcft-lmnded and a right-handed batsman become partners, the fieldsmen have to change positions whenever an odd number of runs is s -ored. This is a great nuisance, but one which it is impossible to remedy. Have you understood that long explanation, Miss Marion, and will on-side and off-side ever puzzlo you again ?” Miss L iston : “ In any case 1 shall not blnmo you, but I should like to know why the number of bulls in an over was ixei at ive? Don’ t think that 1 am imitating your bad example, and trying to be funny when 1 say that it is an odd number to choose.” 8 tanlev : “ I am glad you ask,.us thereby, bangs a tale, Tiie number of bulls in an over is arranged by the Captains