LAWS FOR SINGLE WICKET.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 229, 30 December 1859, Page 4

LAWS FOR SINGLE WICKET.

1. When there shall be less than 5 players on a side, bounds shall be placed 22 yards each in a line from the off and leg stump. 2. 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 aline with his bat, or some part of his person, or go beyond them; returning to the popping crease, as at double wicket, according to the 21st law. '• 3. When the striker shall hit the ball, one of his feet must be on the ground and behind the popping crease, otherwise' the umpire shall call "No Hit." 4. When there shall be less than 5 players on a side, neither byes or overthrows shall be allowed, nor shall the striker be caught out behind the wicket, or stumped out. . 5. The fieldsman must return the ball so that it shall cross the play between the wicket and the bowling stump, or between the bowling stump and the bounds; the striker may run until the ball be so returned. 6. After the striker shall have made one run, if he start again he must touch the bowling stump and turn ibefore the ball shall cross the play to entitle him to another. 7. The striker shall be entitled to 3 runs for lost ball, and the same number for ball stopped with hat; with reference to the 28th and 33rd laws of double wicket. 8. When there shall be more than four players on a side, there shall be no bounds. AH hits, byes, and overthrows shall then be allowed. 9. The bowler is subject to the same laws as at double wicket. 10. Not more than one minute shall be allowed between each ball. RULES FOR BETTING. 1. No bet upon any match is payable unless it is played out or given up. 2. If the runs of one player be betted against those of another, the bet depends upon the first innings, unless otherwise specified. 3. If the bet be made on both innings, and one party beat the other in one innings, the runs of the first innings shall determine it. 4. If the other party go in a second time, then the bet must be determined by the number on the score. REMARKS ON THE LAWS OP CRICKET. " At the beginning of each innings either party may call for a new ball"—lt is not customary to do so now; but before the days of John Small, a ball would: not last a match. " The popping crease is unlimited in length"—ln the famous Nottingham Match in 1817, Bentley, on the All England side, was well in, when he was^given "run out" for having run round his ground. The umpire was changed, but the blunder lost the match. "Pitching the Wickets?— The umpires did not formerly pitch the wickets. David Harris used to think a great deal of pitch- ! ing himself a good wicket, and took much I pains in suiting himself on a match day. ". The bowler shall deliver the ball with one foot on the ground behind the bowling crease." —If the foot is not on or in front of the crea,se there is no doubt of the ball being fair,.as-no man in the full swing of bowling can. deliver the ball without his foot touches thes ground. ■" The ball must be bowled, not thrown or jerked." —lt must be left absolutely to the umpire to say whether this rule is broken or not; also as to height of delivery. As to the latter subject, Pycroft rules that the hand must not be above the shoulder at any period of the act of bowling; others think that the rule is complied with if the lhand is sufficiently low at the moment the ball leaves the hand. In case of "doubt" as to fair bowling the umpire must decide against the bowler, so the hand must be clearly "not above the shoulder, and the ball as ■■clearly "not" thrown or jerked. [In reference to this law an alteration has been notified.] "Wide Balls,"— Some persons think 'there should be a mark, making the same "ball wide to a main of five feet or one of six. ~' It is competent for the players to ■agree upon such a mark, if they please, before the commencement of the game; but if there are really competent umpires, the rule is better as it is. Pycroft says, ■" A * wide' does not depend on whether the ball is pitched straight or not, but on the distance at which it passes the batsman." We differ from him here, and think that if a ball is bowled straight a run ought not to be scored against the bowler. "If in striking at the ball."— '"ln striking," not in ..running, the umpire must say whether the striker shall use the pretence "for the purpose of baulking the catcher ;'Vif so, he. is out. :