CHANGES in the GAME of CRICKET.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1140, 6 September 1882, Page 2

CHANGES in the GAME of CRICKET.

In the course of an excellent article on the game of cricket as it now stands, and the pressing need for some change, which will put bowlers more on a level with batsmen, the “ London Posts ” says :—“ It is noticeable that since the invention of cricket, four changes have been made in order to check the growing superiority of the batsmen. Three times the size of the wicket has been increased, and on the fourth occasion the restriction which originally prohibited the bowler from raising liis hand above his shoulder in delivering tne ball was repealed iu the year 1864. We think that the time has now come when the Marylebone Club, as the Cricket Legislature, should consider whether another step should not be taken in the same direction. Advantage might perhaps also be taken of the opportunity to reduce the laws of cricket tu a less slipshod form than at present, to do for them, in fact, v. hut Mosibib Baldwin and Clay find the Portlaml

Club did for the laws of whist. They have now to a great extent to be construed, not according to their letter, but according to tradition, and enough will have been said to illustrate their deficiencies if we mention that “ byes ” are not even alluded to in them ; that they do not specify whether a match is to consist of one, two, or five innings a side ; and that it might be inferred from them that it is not necessary for the wicket-keeper to have the ball in his hand in order to stump the batsman. It is true that tradition supplies these defects, but then tradition often assumes a very queer shape, especially when viliage umpires are its exponents.”