THE LAWS OF CRICKET.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 229, 30 December 1859, Page 3

THE LAWS OF CRICKET.

AS REVISED (WITH THE LATEST ALTERATIONS) BY THE MABYLEBONE CLUB, LONDON. 1. The ball must not weigh less than 5£ .ounces, nor more than 5f ounces. It must not measure less than 9, or more than 9£ inches, in circumference. At the beginning of each innings either party may call for a new ball. 2. The bat must not exceed 4| inches in the widest part; it must not be more than 38 inches in length. 3. The stumps must be three in number, 27 inches out of the ground, and bails 8 inches in length; the stumps of equal and sufficient thickness to prevent the ball from passing through. 4. the bowling crease must be in a line with the stumps; 6 feet 8 inches in length, the stumps in the centre, with a return crease at each end towards the bowler at right angles. 5. The popping crease must be 4 feet from the wicket, and parallel to it; unlimited in length, but not shorter than the bowling crease. 6. The wickets must be pitched opposite to each other, at a distance of 22 yards. 7. Neither party during, a match, without consent of the other, shall alter the ground by rolling, watering, covering, mowing, or beating, except at commencement of each innings, when the ground may be swept-and rolled, at the request of either party made to one of the umpires, within one minute after the former innings. This rule not to prevent the striker from, beating the ground with his bat near the spot were he stands during the innings, nor the bowler from filling up holes with sawdust, &c, when the ground is wet. 8. After rain the wickets may be changed by consent. .

9. The bowler shall deliver the ball with one foot on the ground behind the bowling crease, and within the return crease, and shall bowl 4 balls before he change wickets; which he may do once only in the same innings.

10. The ball must be bowled; if thrown or jerked, or if the bowler in the actual delivery of the ball, or in the action immediately preceding the delivery, shall raise his hand or arm above his shoulder, the umpire shall call " No ball." 11. He may require the striker at the wicket from which he is bowling to stand on that side of it he may direct.

12. If the bowler, shall toss the ball over the striker's head, or bowl it so wide that in the opinion of the umpire it shall not be fairly within the reach of the batsman, he shall adjudge one run to the parties receiving.the innings, either with or with--out an appeal, which shall be put down to the score of wide balls; such ball shall not. , be reckoned as one of the four balk; but if the batsman shall by any means bring himself within the reach of! the ball, therun shall not be adjudged,. 13. If the bowler deliver % " No ball," or a " Wide ball," the striker shall be allowed as many runs asr'he can get, and he: shall not be put^Qut except by running ' out. In the eyxxA of no, iun being obtained ; . by dtKei; means, then one run shall be added to the score of " No balls" or " Wide ; balls" as the case may be. All runs obtained for "Wide balls" to be scored to " Wide balls." The names of the bowlers who bowl ."Wide balls" or "No balls," in future to be placed on the score, to show the parties by whom either score is made. If the ball shall first touch any part of the ■ striker's clress or person (except his hands), the umpire shall "call " Leg Bye." 14. At the beginning of each innings the umpire shall call " Play." From that ; time to the end of each innings no tria* ball shall be allowed to any bowler. 15. The striker is out if either t>F the bails be bowled off, or if a stump V je bowled out of the ground ; 16. Or, if the ball from the .'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 tb; e catcher; 17- Or, if striking, or at any other time while the ball sha.W be in play, both his feet shall be over the popping crease, and his , wicket put down, except, his bat be grounded within it; 18. Or, if in striking stt the ball, he hit down his wicket; 19. Or, if under pretence of running, or otherwise, either of the sitrikets prevent a ball frop^ being caught, the striker of the l)all is out;. 20. Or, if the ball be struck^ and he wil- \ fully strike it again j

21. Or, if in running, the wicket be struck down by a throw, or by the hand or arm (with ball in hand) before his. bat (in hand) or some part of his person be grounded over the popping crease. ; But if both bails be off, a stump must be; struck out of the ground; 22. Or, if any part of the striker's dress •-.. • knock down the wicket; ... 23. Or, if the striker touch, or take up ... the ball while in play, unless at the request, ■-■ of the opposite party; 24. Or, if with any part of his person he stop 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. 25. If the players have crossed each other, he that runs for the wicket which is put down is out. . 26. A ball being caught, no., run shall be reckoned. . . . 27. A striker being run out, that run which he and his partner were attempting shall not be reckoned. . 28. If a lost ball be called, the striker shall be allowed six runs; but if more than six shall have been run before the ball shall have been called, then the striker, shall have all which have been run. 29. Ai'ter the ball shall have be ; e"n finally settled in the wicket-keeper's or bowler's hand, or shall have passed through the hands of the wicket-keeper for. the bowler to resume bowling, it shall be considered dead; but when the bowler is about to deliver the ball, if the striker at his wicket go outside the popping crease before such actual delivery, the said bowler may put him out, unless (with refernce to the 21st law) his bat in hand, or some part of his j person, be within the popping crease, 30. The striker shall not retire from his wicket and return to it to complete his in- l nings, after another has been in, without the consent of the opposite party. 31. No substitute shall, in any case, be allowed to stand out or run between wickets for another person, without the ; consent of the opposite party; and in case any'person shall be allowed to run for another, the striker shall be out if either he or his substitute be off the ground in manner mentioned in laws 17 and 21, while the ball is in play. 32. In all cases, where a substitute shall be allowed, the consent of the opposite party shall also be obtain-ed as to the person to act as substitute, and the place in the field which he shall take. 33. If any fieldsman stop the ball with his hat the ball shall be considered dead, and the opposite party shall add five runs to their score; if any be run they shall have five in all. 34. The ball having been hit, the striker may guard his wicket with his bat, or with any part of his body except his hands; that the 23rd law may not be disobeyed. 35- The wicket-keeper shall not take the ball for the purpose of stumping, until it has passed the wicket; he shall not move till the ball be out of the bowler's hand; he shall not by , any noise incommode the striker; and it any part of his person be over or above the wicket, although the ball hit it, the striker shall not be but. 36. The umpires are sole judges of fair or unfair play, and all disputes shall be determined by them, each at his own wicket; but, in case of a catch which the umpire of the wicket bowled from cannot see sufficiently to decide iipon, he may apply to the other umpire, whose opinion shall be conclusive. 37. They shall, in all matches, pitch fair wickets, and the parties shall toss up for the choice of innings. The umpires shall change wickets after each party has had one innings. 38. They shall allow two minutes for each striker to come in, and ten minutes between each innings. When the umpires shall call "Play," the party refusing.to play shall lose the match. 39. The are not to order a striker out unless appealed to by the adversaries. 40. But if one of the bowler's feet be not on the ground behind the bowling crease, and within the return crease when he shall deliver the ball, the umpire at his wicket unasked must call " No Ball." 41. If either of the strikers run a short the umpire must call " One Short." 42. No umpire shall be allowed to -43. No umpire is to be changed during match, unless with the consent of both except in case of a violation of the then either party may dismiss transgressor. 44. After the., delivery of four balls, the must call "Over," but not until the ball shall be finally settled in the W wicket-keeper's or bowler's hand; the ball f shall then be considered dead ; nevertheless, if any idea be entertained that either of the strikers is out, a question may be put previously to, but not after the delivery of the next ball. 45. The umpire must take especial care to call "No Ball" instantly upon delivery. *' Wide Ball" as soon as ever it shall pass the striker. . • ' 46. The players who go in second shall follow their innings, if they have obtained eighty runs less than their antagonists, except in all matches limited to only one day's play, when the number shall be limited to sixty instead of eighty. 47. When one of the strikers shall have been put out, the use of the bat shall not he allowed to any person until the next striker shall come in. . v'>. .' . Note.—The committee oi the Marylebone Club think it desirable that previously to; the commencement of a match, one,; of each side should be appointed captain; and, that the hew laws with respect to substitutes may. be carried out in a spirit,of fairness arid mutual concession, it is their wish that such substitutes shall be allowed an all reasonable1 cases, and tliat the'iimpire should inquire if it is doite With the consent 9?ft? ravage,* of the, op^Qsjite »<& ;''

Complaints haying been made Mt it is the practice of-some players, when at tKe wicket, to make holes in thei ground for a footing, the committee are of opinion jhat the umpires should be empowered to prevent it. ■'•"■' ■■ ■. i'■ :. '..' :-:-: '. ' ■■;' - v