SOME CURIOSITIKS OF CRICKET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1451, 8 January 1887, Page 3

SOME CURIOSITIKS OF CRICKET.

A writer m the Daily News calls atten tion to the position of umpires m cricket matches. Putting aside the county, M 0.0., and oth'r important matches In whish the umpire commands the respect tine to " a conscientious individual with a thorough knowledte of a very frtricaip game," the umpire is ofien tr» a very peculiar and delicate si! nation. Hin auh rity fa m;t always unqtu sMoned, aid other considerations than th«i of unhesitatingly r?oing bis du"y have sometimes to bo reokfi»cd «rith.

<v Tbuß, m 1879, m a match at Potrey between a local club and one frrm St. John&'-wocd, the umpire for the Jatter olub hart creation »o rppeatedly ' no-b»ll ' one of the Putney bowsers for po'us over the erf see. At lust the Putneyitc— a powerful y< ung fellow, big enongh to make two of the umpire— addressing ihe tatter, said, • How dare you nr-ball mo ? Don't you know I pbyed In the Snirey colts?' 'Can't help ih:»t,' waa the reply, 'if you will go over I shall call 'em ' ' Well,' rejoined the Iwte bowler, if yon call no-hall again, I'll punch your head.' The umpire did rail no ' cob)ll' again, and tho Patneyite did punch his he^d "

The writer aivea instancoH of umpires not daring to bo impartial. The following alory i& told a out a match played at Weybridge m 1876 or 18 7 : — " r i he opuoning teams represented Weybridge and a London club, and ono of the prominent members of t'»at year's Oxford Eleven played for the former. Ho wns caught at the wicket first ball and without waiting to hear the umpire's (their own) decision, started to walk away from the wicket. To the intenso surprise of overy man m tho field, and to none moro bo than tho fitiiker, the umpire cal'ed ' Not out ' The fortunate batsman scored 45 after that, and Weybrid c won by 14 runs Over a confidential glass after the match the Wey* ridge nm ire naid ho ' couldn't nohow have afforded to have given he out afore lie scored ' "

tr. certain ciroumatancps an nmpire may riak hin livelihood by doing his duty, as tho following wil' b'iow : - " Laefc Eummur a olub cms'sting of the ft 3l pi oo ca of a laruo city firm were playinii niio'her f»rtn ftt Nunhead. The Oap^in of the first, to; m was a^s>> Bon of • ' o mana^i g partner ; 'he umpire was an old professional cricketer, employed by 'the firm as timo keeper. He (?ave the captain out -m l'-iw, and was discharged from hie employment ( n the following •Sattirdrty. " It is popstt'le to be oit m moro waya than one a* onc>