“Bat (in hand);” that is, not thrown.
XXIII. “If the striker touch.” This applies to the Nottingham case
better than Law XX.; but neither of these laws contemplated the exact
offence. A ball once ran up a man’s bat, and spun into the pocket of
his jacket; and as he “touched” the ball to get it out of his pocket,
he was given out. The reply of Mr. Bell on the subject was, the player
was out for _touching_ the ball--he might have shaken it out of his
pocket. This we mention for the curiosity of the occurrence.