Chapter XV: Appendix: II

LAWS OF THE GAME.

The reader is strongly recommended to buy the (Threepenny) Laws of Cricket, with Interpretations, etc., published by the Marylebone Cricket Club.

THE LAWS OF CRICKET.

AS REVISED BY THE MARYLEBONE CLUB, 1884, 1889, 1894, 1899, 1900,
AND 1902.

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 the case provided for in Law 53. The choice
of innings shall be decided by tossing.

2. The score shall be reckoned by runs. A run is scored:--

1st. So often as the batsmen after a hit, or at any time while the
ball is in play, shall have crossed, and made good their ground,
from end to end.

2nd. For penalties under Laws 16, 34, 41, and allowances under 44.

Any run or runs so scored shall be duly recorded by scorers appointed for the purpose. The side which scores the greatest number of runs wins the match. No match is won unless played out or given up, except in the case provided in Law 45.

3. Before the commencement of the match two Umpires shall be appointed; one for each end.

4. The Ball shall weigh not less than five ounces and a half, nor more than five ounces and three-quarters. It shall measure not less than nine inches, nor more than nine inches and one-quarter in circumference. At the beginning of each innings, either side may demand a new ball.

5. The Bat shall not exceed four inches and one-quarter in the widest part; it shall not be more than thirty-eight inches in length.

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 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 when in position, on the 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 between them become unfit for play, and then only by consent of both sides.

7. The Bowling 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.

8. The Popping Crease shall be marked four feet from the wicket, parallel to it, and be deemed unlimited in length.

9. The Ground shall not be rolled, watered, covered, mown, or beaten during a match, except before the commencement of each innings and of each day’s play, when, unless the in-side object, the ground shall be swept and rolled for not more than ten minutes. This shall not prevent the batsman from beating the ground with his bat, nor the batsmen nor bowler from using sawdust in order to obtain a proper foothold.

10. The ball must be bowled; if thrown or jerked either 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 “No ball.”

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 “Wide ball.”

13. The ball shall be bowled in overs of six balls from each wicket alternately. When six 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 “wide ball” shall be reckoned as one of the “over.”

14. The bowler shall be allowed to change ends as often as he pleases, provided only that he does not bowl two overs consecutively in one innings.

15. The bowler may require the batsman at the wicket from which he is bowling to stand on that side of it which he may direct.

16. The striker may hit a “no ball,” and whatever runs result shall be added to his score: but he shall not be out from a “no ball” unless he be run out or break Laws 26, 27, 29, 30. All runs made from a “no ball” otherwise than from the bat, shall be scored “no balls,” and if no run be made one run shall be added to that score. From a “wide ball” as many runs as are run shall be added to the score as “wide balls,” and if no run be otherwise obtained one run shall be so added.

17. If the ball, not having been called “wide” or “no ball,” pass the striker without touching his bat or person, and any runs be obtained, the umpire shall call “Bye”; but if the ball touch any part of the striker’s person (hand excepted) and any run be obtained, the umpire shall call “Leg-bye,” such runs to be scored “byes” and “leg-byes” respectively.

18. At the beginning of the match, and of each innings, the umpire at the bowler’s wicket shall call “Play”; from that time no trial ball shall be allowed to any bowler on the ground between the wickets, and when one of the batsmen is out, the use of the bat shall not be allowed to any person until the next batsman shall come in.

19. A batsman shall be held to be “out of his ground,” unless his bat in hand or some part of his person be grounded within the line of the popping crease.

20. The wicket shall be held to be “down” when either of the bails is struck off, or if both bails be off, when a stump is struck out of the ground.

The STRIKER is out--

21. If the wicket be bowled down, even if the ball first touch the striker’s bat or person:--“Bowled.”

22. Or, if the ball from a stroke of the bat or hand, but not the wrist, be held before it touch the ground, although it be hugged to the body of the catcher:--“Caught.”

23. Or, if in playing at the ball, provided it be not touched by the bat or hand, the striker be out of his ground, and the wicket be put down by the wicket-keeper with the ball or with hand or arm, with ball in hand:--“Stumped.”

24. Or, if with any part of his person he stops the ball, which in the opinion of the umpire at the bowler’s wicket, shall have been pitched in a straight line from it to the striker’s wicket and would have hit it:--“Leg before wicket.”

25. Or, if in playing at the ball he hit down his wicket with his bat or any part of his person or dress:--“Hit wicket.”

26. Or, if under pretence of running, or otherwise, either of the batsmen wilfully prevent a ball from being caught:--“Obstructing the field.”

27. Or, if the ball be struck, or be stopped by any part of his person, and he wilfully strike it again, except it be done for the purpose of guarding his wicket, which he may do with his bat, or any part of his person, except his hands:--“Hit the ball twice.”

Either BATSMAN is out--

28. If in running, or at any other time, when the ball is in play, he be out of his ground, and his wicket be struck down by the ball after touching any fieldsman, or by the hand or arm, with ball in hand, of any fieldsman:--“Run out.”

29. Or, if he touch with his hands or take up the ball while in play, unless at the request of the opposite side:--“Handled the ball.”

30. Or, if he wilfully obstruct any fieldsman:--“Obstructing the field.”

31. If the batsmen have crossed each other, he that runs for the wicket which is put down is out; if they have not crossed, he that has left the wicket which is put down is out.

32. The striker being caught no runs shall be scored. A batsman being run out, that run which was being attempted shall not be scored.

33A. A batsman being out from any cause, the ball shall be “Dead.”

33B. If the ball, whether struck with the bat or not, lodges in a batsman’s clothing, the ball shall become “Dead.”

34. If a ball in play cannot be found or recovered, any fieldsman may call “Lost ball,” when the ball shall be “Dead”; six runs shall be added to the score; but if more than six runs have been run before “Lost ball” has been called, as many runs as have been run shall be scored.

35. After the ball shall have been finally settled in the wicket-keeper’s or bowler’s hand, it shall be “Dead”; but when the bowler is about to deliver the ball, if the batsman at his wicket be out of his ground before actual delivery, the said bowler may run him out; but if the bowler throw at that wicket and any run result, it shall be scored “No ball.”

36. A batsman shall not retire from his wicket and return to it to complete his innings after another has been in, without the consent of the opposite side.

37. A substitute shall be allowed to field or run between wickets for any player who may, during the match, be incapacitated from illness or injury, but for no other reason, except with the consent of the opposite side.

38. In all cases where a substitute shall be allowed, the consent of the opposite side shall be obtained as to the person to act as substitute, and the place in the field which he shall take.

39. In case any substitute shall be allowed to run between wickets, the striker may be run out if either he or his substitute be out of his ground. If the striker be out of his ground while the ball is in play, that wicket which he has left may be put down and the striker given out, although the other batsman may have made good the ground at that end, and the striker and his substitute at the other end.

40. A batsman is liable to be out for any infringement of the Laws by his substitute.

41. The fieldsman may stop the ball with any part of his person, but if he wilfully stop it otherwise, the ball shall be “Dead,” and five runs added to the score; whatever runs may have been made, five only shall be added.

42. The wicket-keeper shall stand behind the wicket. If he shall take the ball for the purpose of stumping before it has passed the wicket, or, if he shall incommode the striker by any noise, or motion, or if any part of his person be over or before the wicket, the striker shall not be out, excepting under Laws 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30.

43. The Umpires are the sole judges of fair or unfair play, of the fitness of the ground, the weather, and the light for play; all disputes shall be determined by them, and if they disagree the actual state of things shall continue.

44. They shall pitch fair wickets, arrange boundaries where necessary, and the allowances to be made for them, and change ends after each side has had one innings.

45. They shall allow two minutes for each striker to come in, and ten minutes between each innings. When they shall call “Play,” the side refusing to play shall lose the match.

46. They shall not order a batsman out unless appealed to by the other side.

N.B.--An appeal, “How’s that,” covers all ways of being out (within the jurisdiction of the umpire appealed to), unless a specific way of getting out is stated by the person asking.

47. The umpire at the bowler’s wicket shall be appealed to before
the other umpire in all cases, except in those of stumping, hit
wicket, run out at the striker’s wicket, or arising out of Law 42,
but in any case in which an umpire is unable to give a decision, he
shall appeal to the other umpire, whose decision shall be final.

48. If either umpire be not satisfied of the absolute fairness of
the delivery of any ball, he shall call “No ball.”

48A. The umpire shall take especial care to call “No ball”
instantly upon delivery: “Wide ball” as soon as it shall have
passed the striker.

49. If either batsman run a short run, the umpire shall call “One
short,” and the run shall not be scored.

50. After the umpire has called “Over,” the ball is “Dead,” but an
appeal may be made as to whether either batsman is out; such
appeal, however, shall not be made after the delivery of the next
ball, nor after any cessation of play.

51. No umpire shall be allowed to bet.

52. No umpire shall be changed during a match, unless with the
consent of both sides, except in case of violation of Law 51; then
either side may dismiss him.

53. The side which bats first and leads by 150 runs in a three
days’ match, or by 100 runs in a two days’ match, shall have the
option of requiring the other side to follow their innings.

54. The In-side may declare their innings at an end in a three
days’ match at or after the luncheon interval on the second day; in
a two days’ match on the second day, at any time; in a one day
match at any time.

ONE DAY MATCHES.

1. The side which bats first and leads by 75 runs shall have the
option of requiring the other side to follow their innings.

2. The match, unless played out, shall be decided by the first
innings. Prior to the commencement of a match it may be agreed that
the over consist of 5 or 6 balls.

N.B.--A Tie is included in the words “Played out.”

SINGLE WICKET.

_The Laws are, where they apply, the same as the above, with the
following alterations and additions._

1. One wicket shall be pitched, as in Law 6, with a bowling stump
opposite to it at a distance of twenty-two yards. The bowling
crease shall be in a line with the bowling stump, and drawn
according to Law 7.

2. When there shall be less than five players on a side, bounds
shall be placed twenty-two yards each in a line from the off and
leg stump.

3. The ball must be hit before the bounds to entitle the striker to
a run, which run cannot be obtained unless he touch the bowling
stump or crease in a line with his bat, or some part of his person,
or go beyond them, and return to the popping crease.

4. When the striker shall hit the ball, one of his feet must be on
the ground behind the popping crease, otherwise the umpire shall
call “No hit,” and no run shall be scored.

5. When there shall be less than five players on a side, neither
byes, leg-byes, nor overthrows shall be allowed, nor shall the
striker be caught out behind the wicket, nor stumped.

6. The fieldsman must return the ball so that it shall cross the
ground between the wicket and the bowling stump, or between the
bowling stump and the bounds, the striker may run till the ball be
so returned.

7. After the striker shall have made one run, if he start again he
must touch the bowling stump or crease, and turn before the ball
cross the ground to entitle him to another.

8. The striker shall be entitled to three runs for lost ball, and
the same number for ball wilfully stopped by a fieldsman otherwise
than with any part of his person.

9. When there shall be more than four players on a side there shall
be no bounds. All hits, byes, leg-byes, and overthrows shall then
be allowed.

10. There shall be no restriction as to the ball being bowled in
overs, but no more than one minute shall be allowed between each
ball.

INSTRUCTIONS TO UMPIRES.

These instructions, drawn up in 1892 by the Committee of the M.C.C., are intended as an appendix to the Laws of the Game. Some little alteration had to be made in 1901, the decision as to the fitness of the ground and light being now in the hands of the captains.

FITNESS OF GROUND.

LAW 43.--At the commencement of a match, the umpires may be
appealed to by either side as to the fitness of the ground for
play.

Should they not agree, play will not commence until they are
agreed.

In case of interruption from rain, as soon as the rain has ceased,
the umpires shall, immediately, without further instruction,
inspect the wicket, unaccompanied by any of the players, and decide
upon its fitness. Should it prove unfit, they shall continue to
inspect at intervals, until they decide that it is fit for play,
when they shall call upon the players to resume the game.

The ground is unfit for play--when water stands on the surface, or
when it is so wet, muddy, or slippery as to deprive the bowlers of
a reasonable foothold, or the fieldsmen of the power of free
movement.

The umpires are not to be biassed by the opinions of either side,
still less are they to allow themselves to be influenced by the
impatience of the spectators for a resumption of the game, and are
not to be induced, by the public interest in a particular match, to
declare the ground fit for play, unless they would consider that
ground fit under any circumstances.

FITNESS OF LIGHT FOR PLAY.

The umpires may decide, on appeal, that there is not sufficient
light for play. Should the light improve before the time for
drawing stumps, they shall, without waiting for instructions, call
upon the players to resume the game.

In the event of the captains agreeing as to the condition of the
ground or light, the umpires will, so far, be relieved of their
responsibility.

LAW 47.--An umpire is only justified in appealing to the other
umpire when he is unable to decide, owing to his having been
prevented from seeing the occurrence on which the appeal is based.
He is not to appeal to the other umpire in cases on which he could
give a decision, merely because he is unwilling to give that
decision. If he be in any doubt, the principle laid down in Law 43,
“That the existing state of things shall continue,” shall be
followed, and, in consequence, the decision should be in favour of
the batsman.

LAW 48.--The special attention of umpires is called to this law,
which directs them to call “no ball,” unless absolutely satisfied
of the fairness of the delivery.

Umpires should not allow themselves to be unduly influenced by
appeals from such of the field who were not in a position to form a
judgment on the point appealed upon, or by tricks--such as throwing
up the ball, on appealing for a catch at the wicket, without
waiting for the decision. Umpires, being the sole judges of fair or
unfair play, should remember that such devices are obviously
unfair, and are not in accordance with the spirit in which cricket
should be played.

By order of the Committee of the M.C.C.

June 20th, 1892.

In the course of the season of 1899 the following additions to the
Instructions to Umpires were approved by the M.C.C. Committee:--

LAW 54.--“Declaring.”--

(A) If a side declare its innings during the luncheon interval, it
must do so within fifteen minutes after the commencement of such
interval, otherwise an extra ten minutes will be allowed for
rolling.

(B) If a side declare its innings closed in the morning before play
commences, it must do so in sufficient time to enable the other
side to choose the roller it prefers, otherwise an extra ten
minutes will be allowed for rolling.

CODE OF SIGNALLING.

Boundaries shall be signalled by waving the hand from side to side.

Byes shall be signalled by raising the open hand above the head.

Leg-byes shall be signalled by raising the leg and touching it with
the hand.

Wides shall be signalled by extending both arms horizontally.

No-balls shall be signalled by extending one arm horizontally.

The decision Out shall be signalled by raising the index finger
above the head.

Umpires should wait until a signal has been answered by the scorer
before allowing the game to proceed.

Besides signalling, the umpire should “call” distinctly for the
information of the players.

On giving a decision the umpire should make sure that the batsman
understands what the decision is.

_Passed by M.C.C. Committee, June 16th, 1902._

(A) Umpires are not justified in deciding the ground unfit for
play, merely because the grass is wet and the ball would, in
consequence, be slippery.

(B) In order to facilitate play at the earliest possible moment in
wet weather, the Umpires shall see that the foot-holes made by the
bowlers and batsmen are cleaned out, dried, and filled up with
sawdust at any time during the match, although the game is not
actually in progress.

RULES OF COUNTY CRICKET.

At a meeting of County representatives, held at Lord’s on Monday, December 5th, 1898, the question of amending the rules of County Cricket was left in the hands of the Marylebone Club, who had offered to form a committee to deal with the matter. The committee which, in accordance with a resolution passed by the County representatives included a representative from Kent, Yorkshire, Surrey, Lancashire, and two Minor Counties, was duly formed, and after long deliberation, the following scheme was agreed to. The M.C.C. committee approved of the alterations, and in the spring of 1899 the rules as given below were made public. Practically the only point in dispute had been the residential qualification, it being strongly felt in many quarters that Rule 3 in the old code had been interpreted in a way quite foreign to the intentions of those who framed it in 1873. Hence the far more strict definition of “residence” now put forward. In order, no doubt, to avoid interference with existing qualifications, it was agreed that except as regards Rule 5, the new rules should not come into operation until the 1st of January, 1900.

1. A cricketer born in one county and residing in another may not play for more than one county during the same season.

2. QUALIFICATION BY BIRTH.--A cricketer is always eligible to play for the county of his birth.

3. QUALIFICATION BY RESIDENCE.--A cricketer is qualified to play for any county in which he has resided for the previous 24 months and is residing, but--

(A) The mere acquirement or hiring of a tenement, unless used as a
_bonâ fide_ home, does not constitute “residence.”

(B) The occupation of a tenement during the cricket season only
does not constitute “residence.”

4. Where a cricketer uses as residences in the course of the year, tenements in more than one county, or where he leaves the country for the winter months, and in all other cases where his qualification is in any doubt, it is obligatory on the county for which he wishes to play to prove his qualification to the satisfaction of the M.C.C.

5. A cricketer who has played for a county for five successive years is qualified to play for that county for the rest of his cricket career, or until he plays for some other county.

6. A cricketer may play for his old county during the two years that he is qualifying for another.

7. TRANSFERS.--A cricketer, already qualified for a county but wishing to qualify by residence for another county, must give notice in writing to the Cricket Club Committee of the former county before he commences such residence; and a County Cricket Club wishing to engage, under a residential qualification, a cricketer who is already qualified for another County Club, must inform the committee of the latter before commencing negotiations with the cricketer.

8. APPEAL.--Should any question arise under these rules it shall be left to the decision of the committee of the Marylebone Club, which shall be final.

The following were established as the laws of county qualification, at a meeting held in the Surrey County Pavilion, Kennington Oval, on June 9th, 1873, and remained in force until January 1st, 1900, when they were superseded by the new rules set forth above. Representatives were present in 1873 from Surrey, Middlesex, Sussex, Kent, Gloucestershire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire.

I. That no cricketer, whether amateur or professional, shall play for more than one county during the same season.

II. Every cricketer born in one county and residing in another shall be free to choose at the commencement of each season for which of those counties he will play, and shall, during that season, play for that county only.

III. A cricketer shall be qualified to play for any county in which he is residing and has resided for the previous two years; or a cricketer may elect to play for the county in which his family home is, so long as it remains open to him as an occasional residence.

IV. That, should any question arise as to the residential qualification, the same should be left to the decision of the committee of the Marylebone Club.

V. That a copy of these rules be sent to the Marylebone Club, with a request that they be adopted by the club.

The county qualification was discussed at a meeting of the County Cricket Council, held in the Pavilion at Lord’s, on December 10th, 1888. Representatives were present from the following nineteen counties:--Surrey, Kent, Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Middlesex, Sussex, Derbyshire, Essex, Leicestershire, Cheshire, Hampshire, Norfolk, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Hertfordshire, and Staffordshire. It was carried unanimously that--

“For purposes of county cricket, county boundaries are not affected
by the Local Government Act, 1888.”

And on the motion of Sussex, seconded by Gloucestershire, it was decided by ten votes to five that--

“During the two years a cricketer may be qualifying to play for
another county under the residential qualification, he shall be
allowed to play for the county for which he has previously been
playing under that rule.”

In consequence of the passing of this latter resolution, the rules of county cricket were modified by the addition of the words: “That a man can play for his old county during the two years that he is qualifying for another.”

COUNTY CLASSIFICATION.

A special meeting of county secretaries, called together by Yorkshire to discuss the subject of county classification, was held in the Pavilion at Lord’s on Tuesday, the 1st of May, 1894. Mr. H. Perkins occupied the chair, and there were present--Mr. M. J. Ellison and Lord Hawke (Yorkshire), Messrs. W. E. Denison and C. W. Wright (Notts), Mr. A. J. Webbe (Middlesex), Mr. F. Marchant and Mr. A. J. Lancaster (Kent), Mr. C. W. Alcock (Surrey), Messrs. W. Newham and W. L. Murdoch (Sussex), Messrs. H. Murray-Anderdon and S. M. J. Woods (Somerset), Messrs. H. W. Bainbridge and W. E. Ansell (Warwickshire), Mr. W. Barclay-Delacombe (Derbyshire), Messrs. T. Burdett and G. W. Hillyard (Leicestershire), Dr. Russell Bencraft (Hampshire), and Messrs. C. E. Green and O. R. Borradaile (Essex). The meeting was a private one, but the following details were officially communicated to the Press:--

The original proposition by Mr. Ellison, on behalf of Yorkshire, “That for the purpose of classification there should be no distinction drawn between counties who play out and home three-day matches with not less than six other counties,” was seconded by Mr. Hillyard, and then withdrawn in favour of the following amendment:--Proposed by Mr. Denison and seconded by Mr. Murray-Anderdon, “That the M.C.C. be requested to consider and advise upon the whole question of classification of counties.” This was carried unanimously.

It was also made known that, as the result of a meeting of the various captains of the first-class counties, Lord Hawke had sent in the following resolution signed by himself and Messrs. J. Shuter (Surrey), S. M. J. Woods (Somerset), J. A. Dixon (Notts), F. Marchant (Kent), W. L. Murdoch (Sussex), A. J. Webbe (Middlesex), A. N. Hornby (Lancashire), and W. G. Grace (Gloucestershire):--“That the matches played by the following four counties, Derbyshire, Essex, Leicestershire, and Warwickshire, against the counties at present styled first-class, and also against one another and against the M.C.C., should be regarded as first-class matches, and the records of the players engaged in these matches shall be included in the list of first-class averages.” Lord Hawke’s resolution was afterwards formally ratified by the committee of the Marylebone Club.

On the 20th of October the Committee of the M.C.C., to whom, as stated above, the whole question of the classification of counties had been referred, made public the following scheme:--

Lord’s Ground, N.W., October, 1894.

The Committee of M.C.C. having, at the request of the leading counties, prepared a scheme for regulating the county championship, and that scheme having met with the approval of counties concerned, the contest for the championship will in future be regulated by it. The scheme as finally approved is as follows:--

CLASSIFICATION OF COUNTIES.

Cricketing counties shall be considered as belonging to first-class or not. There is no necessity for further sub-division.

First-class counties are those whose matches, with one another, with M.C.C. and Ground, with the Universities, with the Australians, and such other elevens as shall be adjudged “first-class matches” by the M.C.C. Committee, are used in compilation of first-class batting and bowling averages.

There shall be no limit to the number of first-class counties. The M.C.C. Committee may bring new counties into the list, may remove existing ones from it, or may do both.

The list for 1895 is as follows:--

Derbyshire
Essex
Gloucestershire
Hampshire
Kent
Lancashire
Leicestershire
Middlesex
Nottingham
Somerset
Surrey
Sussex
Warwickshire
Yorkshire

THE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP.

After the close of each cricket season, the Committee of the M.C.C. shall decide the county championship.

It shall be competed for by first-class counties. No county shall be eligible unless it shall have played at least eight out and home matches with other counties, provided that if no play can take place owing to weather or other unavoidable cause such match shall be reckoned as unfinished.[14]

One point shall be reckoned for each win; one deducted for each loss; unfinished games shall not be reckoned.

The county which during the season shall have, in finished matches, obtained the greatest proportionate number of points shall be reckoned champion county.

At the meeting of County Secretaries on December 6th, 1898, it was moved and carried as a recommendation to the M.C.C. that the number of out and home matches qualifying for the championship should in 1899, in view of the Australian visit, be again reduced to six. This was subsequently agreed to by the M.C.C., Worcestershire having at the Secretaries’ meeting secured six out and home matches with leading counties, made formal application to the M.C.C. to be promoted to a place among the first-class counties, and on December 12th their request was granted, subject to the usual regulations being complied with.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Mr. C. B. Fry, after studying the foundation-positions and foundation-movements which I have found most useful for Racquets and Tennis, was struck with their great similarity to those which he himself had found most important for Cricket.

[2] “Keep your eye on the bowler; watch how he holds the ball and runs up to the wicket before delivering it, and you may be able to detect any alteration in length and pace. And never get flurried whatever his action may be; for if you take your eyes off his arm or lose your head for a second, he has you at a disadvantage.”

[3] Compare also Dr. W. G. Grace, who says: “Timing the ball is the secret of all good play; and timing, as far as I can make out, means the harmonious working of eye, wrist, arms, legs, and shoulders, which can only be acquired by constant practice.”

[4] Murdoch’s words will serve as a good example. “To cut well, you must be able to time the ball well, for the effectiveness of your stroke is entirely due to your proper timing and your wrist work, for you need to use your wrists more in making this stroke than in any other.”

[5] “There is a right and a wrong way of holding the ball. Good bowlers grip the ball as much as possible with their fingers--that is to say, they use the fingers and not the palm of the hand to work the ball.”

[6] The Macdonald Smith system is most appropriate for Cricket.

[7] Invented and taught by Macdonald Smith, of Steinway Hall.

[8] The following quotation from a high authority is typical:--

“The left foot precedes the advance of the bat, it being one of the first maxims of forward play that the bat must never be in front of the left foot. This rule is absolute. A neglect of it means that there is nothing to prevent the base of the bat being as near, or nearer, to the bowler than is the handle--no certainty, that is, against the ball being spooned into the air.”

[9] “If the batsman cuts up the action of the stroke into separate parts, something must be sacrificed: either the weight is not brought to bear on the ball, or balance is lost. The result is an emasculated stroke.”

[10] Most authorities are agreed here, as these typical quotations will show:--

“It ought to be the aim of all advice in batting to help a young player to get runs, quocunque modo runs, otherwise he will not learn the game.”

“Many a devotee has been lured into less noble pursuits simply because he cannot score.”

[11] “Any reform of cricket law has for its object a levelling up of attack and defence--in other words, of batting and bowling.”--Haddon Hall Library.

[12] Mr. W. J. Ford is against this. He says:--

“The grace and the skill of batting is so attractive to the eye and so delightful to the batsman himself that, _pace_ various wise authorities, batting must be regarded as the chief factor in the game. Cramp batting, and the game will be spoiled.”

[13] Quaife and Jessop are the best modern types of alert anticipation.

[14] In 1896 the number of out and home matches qualifying for the Championship was reduced to six, owing to the Australians’ tour, and for 1897 the number was fixed at seven. In 1898, however, all the counties played at least eight out and home matches, thus complying with the rule as originally laid down.