THE LAWS OF CRICKET

Chronicle (Levin), 21 November 1946, Page 6

THE LAWS OF CRICKET

What Is A "No Ball"? Bricfly, a ' ' no-ball ' ' is a liall which has been thrown, jerlced, or delivered witliout the bowler's foot being grounded beliiml the bowling crease, and witliin the return crease, but an astoni.shing iiuin ber of bowlers still retaiu a hazy sort of idea that, as long as tlieir back foot is not OVER the bowling crease or return crease, thev are quite alright, says Mr. Nornian E. Hassell, secretary to the local Cnipires ' Association, iu discussing the laws of cricket this week. This is eutirelv wrong, lie continucs, for the rule distinctly states tliat the foot niust be grouiulecT" BEHINiy the bowling crease, ancl WJTHIN the return crease. lf part of the foot is ON either of those lines the foot cannot possibly be within the allotteil space, and the' delivery would be unlawful. The orthodox up-aiul-downer, who puts tlie toe of his back foot on the bowling crease, will bowl a no-ball on evory occasion, for it is a physical inipossibilitv for hiiu to deliver the ball witliout raising his heel off tlie ground and, the mouient the heel is raised, the foot ceases to be GBOUNDED behind the bowling crease. To tlie bowler who conies in at an,1 angle and delivcrs the ball witli his heel' on the. return crease, the reverse, of course, would apply. If he raises his heel tlie delivery would be allowed as fair, but if he bowls flat-footed luwould be no-balled. Broadly speaking, tlie bowler who encroaches on the bowling crease, or return crease, is atteinpting a mild forni of cheatiug froni whicli he liopes to gam an uufair advantage, and he usually receives scant consideration froni the umpire. He has approximately four feet between the wiclcet and the return crease in which to manoeuvre in perfect fairness, and the bowler who cannot confine his efforts to this syiace is a very poor bowler indeed. A batsnian cannot be bowled, stumped, or caught oit a no-ball. He can junip out aml have a ' ' lasli ' ; in perfect safety, for, if he misses the ball eomplelely, he cannot be stumped, and, if lie connects, he is entitled to whatever runs are niade froni the stroke, even though the ball be caught. Ilowever, it he fuis"hits the ball and it is taken by the wicketkee.jier or Jieldsman wiiv AID TO COACHING Fil'toen lnindred feet of film depicti ing leadiug New Zealand ericketers iti j aetion, bolli slow niotion and ordiiiary I timo, has been presented to the Now! j Zealand Cricket Council by the foui j niajor associat ions for educut ional pur | poses. The lilm is dedicated to Ihe j uiemory of "Koniiy" Alaloney and Bill Carson and of all othcr New Zealand ! ericketers who lost tlieir lives in the 1 war, and sliould prove to be of very eonsideralile educational value to the j young erieketer in aequiring sound defence and co'rrect method of stroke pla.v. It is for sale at £11 aiul has already been in considerable deniand by associations and scliools tliroughout Ihe eouiitry. PAVILION TACTICS IN TEST Aiosl ericketers are aware thut as iiuieh laetieal and strategic study pre eedes an Englaml-Australia cricket tent" series as goes into an attack by FicldMarshal .vlontgoniery 's arniies. The old story is well known of the Australians playing Dipper*(Gloucestershire) into an Englisli test side because they wero quite sure they had his measure. it is known, tqo, that on a pre-war English tour Grinnnett was sent to strengthen a Wost Australian teaiu against the Al.C.C. which was thus given an early opportunity to get Ihe slow bowler's nieasure. As a result Grimmett was rarely elfective later in the tour.

Even froni this distance oue can see glimpses of the plot aml counter-plot going on behind the scenes in Australia. Wright, the Kentish spin bowler, is general ly believed to be the key to tlie English attack. llannnond played liini against Western Australia, but stood Wright dowu wlien Barnes, tlie test batsnian, was playing in the combined teaiur Against . Bradniaxx-Jsp. teaui, at Adehiide . Wright . iwas inhfjthe pavilion. Wright played against Victoria, where his perforniances are aireadv cricket history. The Yictorian teani eoulained two certain test batsmen iu .Miller and Hassett, as well as young Meuleiuan. But Aliller and Hassett had both played against Wright before — in tlie 11)45 "Victory" tests. Haiiiinond agaiu omitted Wright froni the Australian XL which played the Al.C.C. at -Melbourne. But llamniond, who cannot hide the Alan of Kent indetinitely, niav be oliliged to play V right. either against New South Wales or t^ueensland. Probably l^ueenslaiul will be liis choice as the ganie "would give Wright au nitroduction to the wiclcet 011 which the first test will be played tlie following week. The choice of another opener to acconipany Brown is still very much in the air, but it is sai'e to say that Brown (Uueensland), Bradinan (.Soiith Australia), Barnes (N.S.W.), Aliller and Hassett (Victoria) will form the backbone of the Australian batting. if Hamniond ' perseveres witli this plan, Bradinan and either Brown or Barnes will never have facod Wright wlien the lirst test is play.d. COST OF GEAR By compariaon witli niany othcr sports, cricket is an expcusivo game to pJay, pnrlieularly if highest. gradc oiaterials aro used. PJayers will be pleased to know tliat the matter camc tip for serious discussion at. the recent New Zealand Cricket Council conference and annual lneeting. Ai'ter con sideration it was de.cided to approaeh Ihe Govomment to investigato tlie possibilitv of a reduction dt' duties imposcd on imported crickct gear from overseas,' and Ihe abolition of saies tax on all cricket inatorial.