DEFINITIONS.
=Bowler’s Crease.=--A lime line, one inch to one and one-half inches
wide, six feet eight inches long, the centre stump being taken as the
centre of the measurement, parallel with the popping crease.
=Call.=--It is the duty of the colleague batsman to watch the
opportunity for scoring for two reasons. First his attention is
not otherwise occupied. Second, a slight loss of time occurs if
the batsman after striking a ball turns his head to look whether
an opportunity for a run has arrived. Captains too often do not give
rigid instructions upon this most important duty (supposing that
cricketers know their business), and also from a desire not to offend
a batter. The unnecessary “run out” being the result. The two men in
together should have an understanding, and when the “call” is given
there should be such perfect confidence in the “caller” that the run
is attempted without misgiving or hesitation.
=Crease.=--The portion of the field set apart and prepared by rolling,
upon which to erect the wickets.
Illustration: No. 13--THE SQUARE CUT.
A good fielder makes an effort to stop every ball which comes
his way not always expecting or even hoping to reach it but to
keep up his own spirits as well as that of his companions.
=Guard or Block.=--The position of defense selected by the batter to
place the point of his bat. Most batters request the umpire to stand
upon the spot from which the bowler will deliver. If the batter holds
his bat erect the blade will conceal two stumps from the view of the
umpire. This spot is carefully dented in the turf by the bat. Taking
guard is optional with batters.
=Innings.=--In single wicket, the whole number of both sides having
gone to the bat and been decided out by the umpire. In double wicket,
eleven men having gone in and ten having been given out on each side.
=On.=--If a line is extended from boundary to boundary, passing
through the middle of the centre stump of each wicket, all that
portion of the field to the left of the line for a right-hand batter,
is the “leg,” or “on” side of the wicket.
=Off.=--While all that portion of the field to the right of the
line while a right-handed batter is performing, is the “off” side
of the wicket. The reverse obtains for left-handers. These terms
are RELATIVE to the batter. They may change with the batsman every
“over,” or with every ball.
=Popping Crease.=--A line marked four feet in front of the wicket
and parallel to it, extending from boundary to boundary. Only about
six feet of this line is whitened with lime to guide the umpire and
to define the runs.
=Shooter.=--A ball which from any cause does not rise from the ground.
=Tice.=--A ball bowled to tempt a batter to strike.
=Wicket.=--The wicket seems to have developed from a hole in the
ground into which the fielders placed the ball to “put out” the
batsman. A single stick eighteen inches high displaced the hole. Two
upright sticks each a foot high placed two feet apart with a bail
two feet long succeeded the single stick in the year 1700. The years
1781, 1814, and 1817 are all memorable for changes in the wicket,
which since the latter year has remained the same. Single wicket
cricket only was played until 1710, when the Scotch developed double
wicket under the name of “cat and dog.” The game has been and is a
progressive one, each generation revealing improvements. The diagram
shows the various sizes and shapes of the wicket:
Illustration
=Wicket.=--Three stumps twenty-seven inches high, so erected that
they shall be eight inches from outside to outside, with bails laid
in grooves upon the top. The stumps composing the wicket must be of
such thickness that the ball cannot pass between them.
=Wicket.=--A batter given “out” by the umpire for any cause.
=Wicket.=--The “crease” as a whole with special reference to the
surfacing.
Illustration: No. 14--THE LATE OR BACK CUT.
Science has demonstrated that the atmosphere is not dense
enough to account for the air curve of the ball; but the batter
who is thereby “out” derives no consolation from the scientists’
conclusion.