See index to Entomology.
well-known game with bats and ball. This favourite English pastime appears to be as old as the thirteenth century. It was not played at that early date in its present form, nor was the game then known under the name it now bears, but traces of its existence are found in various old English works. The game of single-wicket is known from a MS. in the Bodleian Library, to have been played at least as early as 1344; and a kind of cricket called handyn and handoute, is mentioned in the statutes of Edward IV., as unlawful in consequence of the gambling to which it led. The double-wicket game, under the title of "Cat and Dog," was a popular recreation in certain counties of Scotland, at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The name of Cricket, however, which is derived from Creag, the Saxon word for a crooked stick, is not found in any English author till the year 1685, when it occurs in the Mysteries of Love and Eloquence, by Edward Phillips, the nephew of Milton. About the beginning of the eighteenth century, repeated allusions to the game under its present denomination are found in the writings of Tors D'Urfey, Pope, Duncombe, and Soame Jenyns.
The south and south-eastern counties of England appear to have been the cradle of the game of cricket; Surrey, Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire, were the counties in which it was first systematically and successfully practised. Farnham in Surrey was the parish which produced the largest number of good players at the time when the game was slowly establishing itself throughout England as a national pastime towards the close of the last century. At this time the formation of the Hambledon Club contributed greatly to extend the game and elevate the standard of play. New clubs were formed in the centre and west of England, and the spirit of emulation, fostered and encouraged by the trials of skill to which these clubs challenged each other from time to time, gave rise to an astonishingly high standard of excellence. Of late years the propaganda of the metropolitan clubs has diffused throughout the whole of England, and the southern districts of Scotland, a taste for this manly pastime, which, however, has not yet become naturalized in any other country in the world.
There are two games of cricket, double-wicket and single-wicket. In both that side is victorious which obtains the greatest number of runs in two innings.
Double-wicket requires twenty-two players, eleven on each side. The two sides toss up for the first innings; and two players, belonging to the side that wins the toss go in, one at each wicket. The out-party place themselves in various situations on the field to catch or stop the ball when struck by the batsman. One of the bowlers begins bowling a round or "over" of six bowls, his object being to strike down the wicket; if he succeed, the batsman retires from the game, and another of his party takes the bat. If however the ball is struck by the batsman, he and his partner run, exchanging wickets till the ball is thrown up to the bowler. One notch is scored towards their game every time they change wickets. Should their bail be knocked off, however, either by the bowler or the wicket-keeper before they recover their ground, they are "out;" or, if the ball be caught by any of the fielders before it touches the ground, the batsman who struck it is out. After the bowler has bowled four or six times (as may have been agreed upon) the umpire calls out "over," and the fielders reverse their position, crossing over the field so as to assume proper positions for the new bowling which now begins from the other wicket. At the end of every four or six bowls this change in the position of the field takes place; and so on alternately. When all the players on the one side have been put out, their antagonists go in and play till their innings is over. When each side has had two innings, the notches are counted, and that party is victorious which has scored the highest number.
Single-wicket may be played by any number of persons, but four or six players a side is as large a number as can conveniently play. The distance of the wickets, and the object of batsmen and bowlers are the same as in double-wicket.
LAWS OF CRICKET, AS REVISED BY THE MARYLEBONE CLUB IN THE YEAR 1844.
I. The ball must weigh not less than five ounces and a half, nor more than five ounces and three quarters. It must measure not less than nine inches, nor more than nine inches and one quarter in circumference. At the beginning of each innings either party may call for a new ball.
II. The bat must not exceed four inches and one quarter in the widest part; it must not be more than thirty-eight inches in length.
III. The stumps must be three in number, twenty-seven inches out of the ground; the balls eight inches in length, the stumps of equal, and of sufficient thickness to prevent the ball from passing through.
IV. The bowling crease must be in a line with the stumps; six feet eight inches in length; the stamps in the centre, with a return crease at each end towards the bowler at right angles.
V. The popping crease must be four feet from the wicket, and parallel to it; unlimited in length, but not shorter than the bowling crease.
VI. The wickets must be pitched opposite to each other, by the umpire, at the distance of twenty-two yards.
VII. It shall not be lawful for either party during a match, without the consent of the umpire, to alter the ground by rolling, watering, covering, mowing, or beating. This rule is not meant to prevent the striker from beating the ground with his bat, near to the spot where he stands during the innings, nor to prevent the bowler from filling up holes with saw-dust, &c., when the ground shall be wet.
VIII. After rain the wickets may be changed with the consent of both parties.
IX. The bowler shall deliver the ball with one foot on the ground behind the bowling crease, and within the return crease, and shall bowl four balls before he changes wickets, which he shall be permitted to do once only in the same innings.
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1 Biographia Britannica, vol. iv. p. 455. 2 "Ce fut," says Bayle, "l'un des plus extraordinaires prodiges d'esprit qu'on ait jamais vus." (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique, tom. i. p. 941.) This is scarcely exceeded by the panegyric of Imperiali: "Hic est Critonius ille Scotus, transmitt deudem sacculi monstrum, prodigioso nature opificis conatus editione, quo Parnassi specia stupendo et inusitato spectaculo illustraretur. Hic est totius adhuc orbis judicio Phoenix habitus ingemorium, divina mentis igniculis summum potius datoris referens majestatem, quam mortalem ad simulandum lacessens industriae." (Museum Historicum, p. 241.) Cricket.
X. The ball must be bowled; if it be thrown or jerked, or if the hand be above the shoulder in the delivery, the umpire must call "No ball."
XI. If the bowler require the striker at the wicket from which he is bowling to stand on that side of it which he may direct.
XII. If the bowler tosses the ball over the striker's head, or bowl it so wide that it shall be out of distance to be played at, the umpire (even although he attempt to hit it) shall adjudge one run to the parties receiving the innings, either with or without an appeal from them; which shall be put down to the score of wide balls; and such ball shall not be reckoned as any of the four balls.
XIII. If the bowler deliver a "no ball" or a "wide ball," the striker shall be allowed as many runs as he can get, and he shall not be out except by running out. In the event of no run being obtained by any other means, then one shall be added to the score of "no balls" or "wide balls," as the case may be. All runs obtained by "wide balls" to be recorded as "wide balls." The names of all bowlers who bowl "wide balls" or "no ball" in future to be placed on the score, to show the parties by whom either score is made.
XIV. At the beginning of each innings the umpire shall call "Play." From that time to the end of each innings no trial ball shall be allowed to any bowler.
XV. The striker is out if either of the balls be bowled off, or if a stump be bowled out of the ground.
XVI. 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 the catcher.
XVII. Or if, in striking, or at any other time while the ball shall be in play, both his feet shall be over the popping crease, and his wicket-keeper shall exceed his bat be grounded within it.
XVIII. Or if, in striking at the ball, he hits down his wicket.
XIX. Or if, under pretence of running or otherwise, either of the strikers prevent a ball from being caught, the striker of the ball is out.
XX. Or if the ball be struck, and he wilfully strike it again.
XXI. 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 the balls be off, a stump must be struck out of the ground.
XXII. Or if any part of the striker's dress knock down the wicket.
XXIII. Or if the striker touch or take up the ball while in play, unless at the request of the opposite party.
XXIV. Or if with any part of his person he stop the ball, which, in the opinion of the umpire or the bowler's wicket, shall have been pitched in a straight line from it to the striker's wicket, and would have hit it.
XXV. If the players have crossed each other, he that runs for the wicket which is put down is out.
XXVI. A ball being caught, no run shall be reckoned.
XXVII. A striker being run out, that run which he and his partner were attempting shall not be reckoned.
XXVIII. If a "lost ball" be called, the striker shall be allowed six runs; but if more than six shall have been run before "lost ball" shall have been called, then the striker shall have all which have been run.
XXIX. After the ball shall have been finally settled in the wicket-keeper's or bowler's hand, 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 reference to Law XXI.) his bat in hand, or some part of his person, be within the popping crease.
XXX. If the striker be hurt, he may retire from his wicket, and return to it any time during that innings.
XXXI. If the striker be hurt, some other person may stand out for him, but not go in.
XXXII. No substitute in the field shall be allowed to bowl, keep wicket, stand at the point, cover the point, or stop behind in any case.
XXXIII. If any fieldman 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.
XXXIV. 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 Law XXXIII. may not be disobeyed.
XXXV. The wicket-keeper shall not take the ball for the purpose of stumping until it have 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 if any part of his person be over or before the wicket, although the ball hit it, the striker shall not be out.
XXXVI. 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 catch, which the umpire at the wicket bowled from cannot see sufficiently to decide upon, he may apply to the other umpire whose opinion shall be conclusive.
XXXVII. The umpires in all matches shall pitch fair wickets, and the parties shall toss up for the choice of innings.
XXXVIII. 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.
XXXIX. They are not to order a striker out unless appealed to by the adversaries.
XL. 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 of the wicket unasked shall call "No ball."
XLI. If either of the strikers run a short run, the umpire must call out short.
XLII. No umpire shall be allowed to bet.
XLIII. No umpire is to change during a match, unless with the consent of both parties, except in case of violation of Law XLIII.; then either party may dismiss the transgressor.
XLIV. After the delivery of four balls, the umpire must call "Over;" but not until the ball be finally settled in the wicket-keeper's or bowler's hand; the ball shall then be considered dead; nevertheless, if an 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.
XLV. The umpire must take special care to call "No ball" instantly upon delivery; "Wide ball" as soon as ever it shall pass the striker.
XLVI. The players who go in second shall follow their innings, if they have obtained one hundred less runs than their antagonists.
XLVII. When one of the strikers shall have been put out, the use of the bat shall not be allowed to any person until the next striker shall come in.
LAWS FOR SINGLE-WICKET.
I. When there shall be less than five players on a side, bounds shall be placed twenty-two yards each in a line from the off and leg stump.
II. 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 a line with his bat, or some part of his person, or go beyond them, returning to the popping crease as at double-wicket, according to Law XXI.
III. 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."
IV. When there shall be less than five players on a side, neither byes nor overthrows shall be allowed, nor shall the striker be caught out behind the wicket, or stamped out.
V. The fieldman 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 till the ball be so returned.
VI. After the striker shall have made one run, if he start again he must touch the bowling stump, and turn, before the ball shall cross the play, to entitle him to another.
VII. The striker shall be entitled to three runs for lost ball, and the same number for ball stopped with hat; with reference to Laws XXVIII. and XXXIII. of double-wicket.
VIII. When there shall be more than four players on a side, there shall be no bounds. All byes, byes, and overthrows, shall then be allowed.
IX. The bowler is subject to the same laws as at double-wicket.
X. Not more than one minute shall be allowed between each ball.
ADDENDA.
XI. The ball must be bowled, not thrown or jerked, and the hand must not be above the shoulder in delivery; and whenever the bowler shall so closely infringe on this rule, in either of the above particulars, as to make it difficult for the umpire at the bowler's wicket to judge whether the ball has been delivered within the true intent and meaning of this rule, or not, the umpire shall call "No ball."
XII. 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 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.
XIII. The umpires in all matches shall 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.