How to play cricket. A manual for American cricketers

Contents

PAGE

Preface 3

A Plea for the Average System, by George M. Newhall 31

Preface

The little work whose title ^ives a name to this book is intended, mainly, to be educational, and was written because there was no such thing in print. It does not pretend to teach those to play who have learned cricket by tradition, but it may be found of use, possibly, not alone where cricket has never been played. The aim is, however, not only that expressed in the title, but to furnish a reliable reference for the decision of questions that may arise during play, &c., and which are not answered in the accepted laws of cricket.

Now that we have a " Cricketers' Association of the United States," some action should be taken looking to an improvement of the laws of cricket; or, if not that, to an authoritative interpretation of those at present accepted.

We learn in the play of cricket, and from written treatises — always English in their source— that the revision of the laws of cricket made in 1870 by the Marylebone Club of London, although an improvement on that previously made, is not what it should be, and that the laws as they now stand are very defective. Our brethren of the cricket field on the other side of the Atlantic seem to be nothing if not conservative, so that although the defectiveness of the present code is fully admitted, the leading clnh stands fast by its love of 1870, and no revision has to this time been made.

Our transatlantic relatives say that we are radicals of a pronounced type about other matters. Why should we not be radical in the matter of la^vs in cricket, and have the Cricketers' Association place its approval on a code that shall apply to the cricket of to-day, and as far as possible without omissions ? There are cricketers of unquestionable ability who would be glad to render this service to the cause of cricket in America, and it is to be hoped that the good work may be soon taken in hand.

The chapters on '^The Average Syste^i," and that on "The Umpire," were w^ritten at the earnest request of the editor by two representative American cricketers, to whom his thanks are specially due, and it is his sincere hope that these useful commentaries may not be simply read and admired, but that the suggestions made therein may be productive of practical good to cricket. If ^'the average systemJ^ was regularly in use for one day matches, there is hardly room to doubt that the result would be a greater popularity for the game, and if the suggestions for ^^the umpire'^ were carefully practiced how much they w^ould add to the pleasure of all players !

In conclusion, the editor may say that all the work done herein was for the love of it, and without hope of any other reward than the improvement and perpetuation of the noble game of cricket on American soil.

W. Philadelphia, 23d Sept., 1881,

HOW CRICKET IS PLAYED.

For the purposes of this little treatise, it is assumed (1st) that the reader has not seen a game of cricket; (2d) that he has access to the rules adopted by the Marylebone Cricket Club of London, which are recognized as being authoritative in the cricket world ; and (3d) that as to bats, balls, stumps, and other implements for play, he can readily communicate with dealers in such articles, from whose catalogues, &c., their very evident uses will appear. It may here be explained that the various forms of guards and gloves are simply to protect the persons of the players from injury by the ball, which is very hard ; but it is not unusual to meet with batsmen who '' never use guards " or gloves, even when playing the fastest bowling.

THE CRICKET GROUND.

As hard hits are frequently made, and most ardently desired, it is well to have as large a field as the circumstances of the club will permit, one of from two to four acres being generally sufficient. The more nearly it is naturally level the smaller will be the expense in preparing it for use. It is frequently the case that the outfield^ ^. e, the portions of the ground lying nearest to its boundaries, is quite rough, and allowed to be overgrown with weeds, &c., which of course should not be permitted ; but above all things it is necessary that the central portion of the field^ often called the platform of the ground, should receive the most careful attention, and be made as smooth and level as possible. As to its preparation much could be said, but assuming that the ground has been accu-

HOW CRICKET IS PLAYED.

rately levelled, and that the turf is good and strong, a heavy roller should be used early in the spring and at regular short intervals through the playing season. The grass should be cut frequently to spread its roots well, and in dry, hot weather it must be copiouslj^ watered. After a few seasons it will be found that the pleasure of playing on the perfect surface of such a ground more than repays all of its care and cost. When a match is to be played, the ground should be well rolled and watered the night before, and rolled again (but not watered) in the early morning. On a perfect crease (i. e, the twenty-two yards between the wickets) there will not be the trace of a lump, or knotty piece of turf, its surface seemingly being as true as that of a billiard table.

SETTING UP THE ^V^ICKET.

The wicket is the combination of three, pieces of wood, called stumps (see Law III.), with the two smaller pieces, called bails, laid lightly on top after the stumps have been driven in the ground : i, e. it takes three stumps and two bails to make one wicket. Two of these are used in play (see Law VL). The law says the wickets must he pitched by the umpires; but the actual proceeding usually is for the wickets to be pitched (or placed properly) by the ground-man, or by some of the active members of the club when a man is not employed, the umpires merely approving the selection of the site ; even this much of the umpire's duty, as a rule, being done tacitly. To set up the wicket is to select the ground, drive in the stumps, and mark the lines of the bowling and popping creases.

In the selection of the ground, view must be had not only to the twenty-two yards between the wickets, but good, level turf should be had for the same distance back of each of them, in order to give the long stop (of whom, later on) a fair chance to stop fast balls that may pass the wicket.

The site for the wickets having been determined, one stump is driven into the ground and a tape line or chain run out twenty-two yards ; at which distance another stump is driven in. A whitewash line [whiting is better as it does not burn out the grass so badly), is marked at right angles to the line of the two wickets (see Law IV.), six feet eight inches long, being three feet four inches on each side of the single stump standing in the ground; at the end of this line, which is called the boAvler's crease, is made a little line at rio'ht ano-les to the bowler's crease backward from the wicket, some four to five inches long ; this is the return crease referred to in Law IV. Next, four feet are measured off in front of the stump (i, e. toward the one standing opposite), and a white line is made parallel to the one at the stump, generally about seven feet long, which is called the popping crease, (see Law v.). The remaining stumps are then driven into the ground, and the bails placed upon them, precisely in accordance with Law III., and after this entire operation has been repeated at the opposite end of the twenty-two yards selected, the ground plan will be like that on the following page :

HOW CRICKET IS PLAYED.

Return Crease.

Return Crease.

6 feet 8 inches.

A

V

! Bowler's Crease.

Popping Crease.

Popping Crease.

I 6 feet 8 inchesl 1 Bowler's Crease.

y^ A

Return Crease.

Return

Crease.

now CRICKET IS PLAYED,

The elevation of one wicket like this

Popping Crease.

Bowling Crease.

Dealers in cricket supplies generally have ''marking frames" of these dimensions to mark the creases, and much time is saved by using them, an advantage being gained also in point of accuracy. They are common frames, such as a carpenter can readily put together, and made of any light wood.

The space between the wicket and the popping crease — unlimited in length, {vide Law V.) — is colloquially styled the batsman's ground^ and he is said to be out of it when he is anywhere- else between (but not behind) the wickets.

THE OPPOSINQ SIDES.

The side using the bat to defend the wicket, is said to be in ; while that occupying the field a,nd endeavoring to dispose of the batsmen, is said to be out ; the two batsmen who defend the wickets being for the time of their innings^ the sole representatives of the in side against the entire opposite side.

The usual number to a side is eleven, and in clubs it is generally provided that the committee or the captain selects eleven of the best players, for the first eleven ; the next best, for the second eleven and so on ; matches of more than eleven to a side are, however, not infrequent; and in matches of the first importance, twelve are often played to each side.

The favorite mode of giving odds is for the stronger side to play a greater number of the weaker ; matches between a powerful eleven, and fifteens, eighteens, or twenty-twos, being of common occurrence.

When captains for the elevens of a club are not elected (or appointed by committee) annually, choice of one of the players is made before the beginning of a match, and the entire management of the game for each side is left to its captain. At the hour appointed to begin (alas, Avhat a sarcasm !) a coin is usually tossed for choice, and the Avinner announces at that time whether his side will take the bat or the field. It is also well at this time, if the matter has not been settled by previous agreement, to select the umpires ; of Avhom there are two, one for each side ; to agree on ''boundaries," and to name the scorers, of whom there are also two. (See Laws XXXVI. to XLVIL).

POSITIONS OF THE FIELDSMEN.

The places to which men are assigned, e, g. in the diagrams, see pp. 59-62, are not by any means/o^^cZ; the greater number may be moved during a game, according to the play of the batsmen and the aims of the bowler. Such positions as the wicket-keeper and point, are almost as unchangeable as that of the bowler, who can only change so far as he may move within the limits of the return creases at his wicket, but the covers^ long fields, mid-wickets, &c., are shifted in almost every good game. The diagrams give the names, and the places generally used when the play of the opposing batsmen is not known, but it is rarely that the field can be placed well by such a plan, and a good captain watches oirt for the weak or strong points of the batsmen, placing his men for catches or to stop favorite hits.

The whole cricket field is divided technically into two sides, viz: the on (or leg) and the off. The former being that part of it, to the left hand side^ and the hack of a right handed batsman when playing at the wicket; the off being all to the face and right side; the line of division being the middle stumps of the two wickets. That part of the ground to the off side back of the batsman's wicket is often spoken of as ''the slips"; catches from slips and tips being frequently made in that part of the field. In the case of a left handed batsman all of this is precisely reversed a6

(as to the terms on, off, and slips), and the fieldsmen are always changed across to positions corresponding with those as noted for a right hand batsman. It is to be observed that the fieldsmen receive their names from the position of the batsman who is the striker (see No./, p. 15); hence when over is called by the umpire (of which see p. 24) these names are reversed and the leg and off sides of the one batsman, become respectively the off and leg sides of the other ; but it is with regard to the batsman who is the striker that these terms are always used.

PRELIMINARIES.

At the hour appointed, the captain of the side that takes the field, being assured of the readiness of the other side, calls his men together and assigns them to their respective positions, having in view the adaptability of each man to the place that he is given to occupy. The in side having selected two of its men to represent it at the bat, he who is to be the first striker (and whom we will call No. 1,) takes his place at the wicket opposite to that at which the opposing bowler waits for him, his companion (No. 2,) taking a place within the popping crease at the bowler's wicket and on either side of it; as he may be directed by the bowler (see Law XI.). The umpires for the game by this time are in their respective places, fixed by custom (see diagrams A and B), and he who does duty for the side in the field takes his place by the wicket from which the first over is bowled. At this stage of the proceedings, and afterwards when a batsman is beginning his innings at either end, occurs the performance of what is called '' taking guard."

When the batsman puts his bat on the ground in front of the wicket he may know very nearly what portion of it the bat protects as to the line of the opposite wicket, or the bowler's hand ; but he cannot know exactly until he is informed by some one at the bowler's end. The usual guard taken is '' mi(hile stump"; i, e., so that the middle of the bat is precisely in the line between the middle stumps of the two wickets ; but other guards are often taken, notably that in which the bat is heki so that its surface covers equally the middle and leg stumps (the leg stump is that one nearest to the batsman's leg ; the one furthest from him away, the off),

When the batsman has ascertained the line that he wishes to have his bat cover, he pounds a little hole, or makes a mark on the ground that he will be able to recognize, and if he does it properly, he will not trouble the umpire and take up the time of play by calling again and again for ''guard." Much valuable time is often wasted over this matter of taking guard, the necessity for such accuracy as is at times insisted upon, being quite doubtful to some of the best batsmen.

All matters being in readiness ; the fieldsmen and the umpires in their places, and the batsman ready to receive the ball, the umpire at the bowler's wicket calls play^ (this he does only once, see Law XIV.), and the bowler proceeds to hoivl the ball {i, ^., he tosses, or pitches it) at the wicket defended by batsman No. 1 of the opposite side. Here may occur any one of the many events incident to the play of cricket, a description of the possibilities to one ball from the bowler, being really the description of the game ; these will therefore be considered in detail, in the order as set forth in the laws of cricket. As the game is initiated by the bowler, first then, as to the part that he may have had to do with one ball supposed to have been bowled.

THE BOW^LER.

(a.) The first part of Rule IX. is, " The bowler shall deliver the ball with one foot behind the bowling ^crease, and within the return crease"; hence it is plain that the bowler may have one foot over or beyond the line of the bowler's crease ; a privilege that most bowler's avail themselves of. As to the other foot the law is construed to mean the whole foot, so that if, at the time the bowler delivers the ball from his hand, any part of his hinder foot be over or on the bowler's crease or the return crease, the umpire instantly calls no ball according to Law XL.

(6.) The proceeding is similar by the umpire, if Law X. seems to be infringed by the bowler. This law is one of the difficult things that an umpire has to decide, some bowler's styles being undoubtedly open to serious question as to their fairness ; the writer has never seen in a good game of cricket, a throw^ pure and simple, — the sudden straightening of the forearm and wrist — permitted ; nor either, the jerk^ as it is called; in which the ball receives its impetus by reason of the contact of forearm or wrist with the hip.

((?.) Law XII. is, ''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 party receiving the innings, either with or without an appeal, which shall be put down to the score of wide balls ; such ball shall not be reckoned as one of the four balls ; but if the batsman shall by any means, bring himself within reach of the ball, the run shall not be adjudged." Thus if the ball is bowled so as to come within the provisions of this law, the umpire calls wide^ or signals to the scorers by raising his hand, so soon as the ball passes the striker's wicket. See Law XL v., as to the points referred to in a., b, and e.

now CRICKET IS PLAYED. 15

(d,) If the ball bowled does not come within the restrictions as noted in a., h. and c, it is then a fair ball and counts as one ball in the bowler's over: (See Law XLIV., and concerning which see farther under overs). All the balls that can be bowled may be classified as either fair ^ wide^ or no-halls.

{e.) It is necessary at this place to make reference to the point noted in the second part of Law XXIX. as affecting the bowler when he is about to deliver the ball: ''When the bowler is about to deliver the ball, if the batsman at his wicket, go outside the popping crease before such actual delivery, the said bowler may put him out" by knocking off one of the bails of the wncket or a stump out of the ground as referred to in Law XXL (see under u p. 20.) A good bowser is always on the watch for an infringement of this rule, and it is a way of getting out, for which, perhaps, the batsman has the least excuse, if he is made the victim of a wary bowler.

THE BATSMAN.

(/.) The batsman defending the wicket from the bowler's attack (called in the laws the striker^ to distinguish him from the batsman at the bowler's wicket, who cannot be a striker at the same ball), has for his object to hit away the ball into the field, beyond the fieldsmen if possible, so far as is consistent, with a sure defense of his wicket. The batsman's aim constantly is to make runs (see running) for the credit of his side and himself; the further away he can hit the ball, the more quickly and safely may the runs be obtained.

{g.) If the ball bowled is a no-hall (see a.) the batsman will quickly endeavor to hit it, he having in such case a special advantage in that he may be put out in but one w^ay, viz : run out (see p p. 18), in accordance with the first sentence of Law XIIL, ''If the bowder deliver a ' no-ball ' * * * >h ^j^^ striker shall be allowed as many runs as he can get, and he shall not be put out except by running out."

(A.) If the ball is called ^'wide" by the umpire, the batsman simply waits till the ball has been returned by the fieldsmen to the bowler, unless it is possible to run what is called a bye ; for a description of which see p. 21. The batsman has also the privilege of appeal to the umpire if he thinks the ball bowled wide, but which has not been called such by the umpire, (see Law XII.). If a hit is made on a ball called wide^ plainly enough the umpire has made a mistake, but custom has ruled that runs made from wides count in the score of wides (not to the striker), and that if a man is caught from a hit on a wide, he is out ; the umpire's judgment and decision being accepted without recourse and as being final in all parts of the game, in accordance with Law XXXVI.

(y.) If the ball is a fair one, the striker must endeavor to "play it; z. ^., strike it with his bat, in such a way as to prevent his being put out in accordance with the various laws, as follows :

Law XV. '' The striker is out if either of the bails be bowled off, or if a stump be bowled out of the ground." This law seems to be very clear, but it may be worth while to record that the application of the law is not affected in any manner by the fact of the ball having struck the bat or the legs of the striker, or any part of his person before hitting the wicket ; and on the other hand, Law XXXV. is vigorously enforced by a good umpire in every case. '^ The wicket-keeper shall not take the ball for the purpose of stumping until it has passed the wicket ; he shall not move until the ball be out of the bowler's hand; he shall not by any noise incommode the striker ; and if any part of his person be over or before the wicket,

HOW CRICKET IS TLAYED. 17

although the ball hit it, tlie striker shall not be out." It is the concluding sentence of the law that justifies its introduction in this place. (See also L)

{k.) Law XVI. The striker is out ''if the ball from the stroke of the bat, or hand, but not the wrist, be held before it touches the ground, although it be hugged to the body by the catcher." The only exception to this law as to the catch on the Jli/ as it is called, is Law XXXIII. '' If any fieldsman stop the ball with his hat, the ball shall be considered dead" (z. e, neither of the batsman can be put out on that ball), ''and the opposite party shall add five runs to the score; if any be run they shall have five in all." This law has been so vigorously enforced as to prevent a fieldsman from throwing his hat on the ground. to lighten his burthen on a hot day. The striker cannot be caught out on a hit no-ball, (See Law XIII.)

(Z.) Law XA^'IL The striker is out "if in strike ing, or at any other time while the ball shall be in play, both his feet shall be over the popping crease, and his wicket be put down, except his bat be grounded within it." This law applies to what is called "stumping," and a player thus put out is said to be "stumped out"; it happens in this way: The striker, for a better chance to hit the ball, or for surer defense, decides ta go in to the ball at its pitch or short rise from the ground ; he steps forward one or two paces from his popping crease, misses his play at the ball and generally turns back quickly enough in the attempt to regain his gi^ound^ to see the wicket keeper stump him out. It is to this matter the greater part of Law XXXV. applies, and the umpire at the batsman's end must be wide awake if the striker is to receive his full measure of justice when the wicket keeper is quick and has learned the art of stumping with his toe^ instead of with the ball "in hand." (See under y.)

(m.) Law XVIII. The striker is out '^ if in striking at the ball he hit down his wicket." , This law is plain, but is applied strictly according to the letter, custom having ruled that the striker is not out if he hit his wicket at any other time, and the same remark may be made with regard to Law XXII.

(n.) Law XIX. ^'If under pretense of running, or otherwise, either of the strikers prevent a ball from being caught, the striker of the ball is out." This law may be liberally interpreted to apply not only to a ball hit into the air, but also to one thrown into the wicket by a fieldsman.

(o.) Law XX. The striker is out " if the ball be struck, and he wilfully strike it again." This law is intended to prevent a striker from stopping a ball and then deliberately hitting it again with the intention of attempting runs from the second stroke; he may protect his wicket from a recoil of the ball after he has played it (z. e, has touched it with his bat) in any manner he chooses, except with his hands (see Law XXXIV.), but he can not hit the ball to attempt runs.

(p,) Law XXI. Either of the batsmen is out ''if in the 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 by some part of his person be grounded over the popping crease; but, if both the bails be oif, a stump must be struck out of the ground." This law applies to what is called " running out," and a player thus put out is said to be " run out." Run out may occur in the attempt to score from any hit, or in the attempt to run bi/es, leg-hyes^ or wides (see RUNNING, p. 20), and it is quite similar to the ''stumped out," except that the ball may be taken by any fieldsman after the ball has touched the bat. The manner of run out is generally this : a hit is made from which a run is attempted, but before one of the batsmen has reached his ground the wicket is knocked down, either by the throw of a fieldsman directly to the wicket, or a throw to the wicket-keeper or bowler who puts down the wicket with the ball. In this connection see Laws XXVI. and XXVII.

(q.) Law XXII. The striker is out " if any part of the striker's dress knock down the wicket." See remarks under m, which apply precisely to this law.

(r.) Law XXIII. He is out " if the striker touch or take up the ball while in play, unless at the request of the opposite party." The ball is in play during the entire innings of the one side, except when ''over" is called by the umpire (see overs, p. 24), and in the interval after a batsman has been put out till the next one takes his place at the vacant wicket.

(s.) Law XXIV. The striker is out ''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." When a batsman is given out for any of the reasons noted in this law it is called leg before ivicket. It certainly is a troublesome one to the impartial umpire, and its enforcement often gives rise to heart burnings on the part of the batsman. It should be the aim of batsmen to so perfect their style of play that both feetand body shall always be entirely clear of the wicket. Many good batsmen do, however, play so closely to the wicket that it may be worth while here to state briefly just what constitutes "leg before wicket." In the first place, the law is enforced literally, so that although the breadth of the wicket is somewhat wider than lines are usually, for the matter in hand the whole breadth of the wickets is the line in which the ball must pitch (touch the ground). Next, straight from the bowler's hand will not put a man out, and, lastly.

the ball must be one that would have hit the wicket, hence there are three things of which the umpire must be sure before he decides a batsman out on an appeal as to ""leg before,'' First, Did the batsman stop the ball with some part of his body (not with his bat) ? Second. Would the ball have hit the wicket if it had not been stopped by some part of the batsman's person? Third, Did the ball pitch on the broad line between the wickets ? If the indictment fails in either of these counts the batsman is not out. It is as to the last two questions that mistakes ar,e most frequently made, and umpires very often give a batsman out when a ball has hit his leg directly in front of the wicket, without stopping to consider whether it was pitched on, the line between the two wickets, or in the case of a ball rising rapidly from the ground and which hits the batsman just below the middle, without any consideration of the probability that it might have gone over the wicket and not '' have hit it."