Athletic sports and recreations for boys / by the Rev. J.G. Wood.

  • John George Wood
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Athletic sports and recreations for boys / by the Rev. J.G. Wood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/172 (page 7)
    to rise, and judge whether it is worth while hitting it hard, and so get a run, or whether by blocking it off he may disappoint his opponent, and so make the game his own. When blocking, never allow the tip of the bat to come before the handle, as in that case, the ball will rise into the air, and perhaps enable the bowler to catch it. In striking, keep the bat as nearly perpendicular as possible; by so doing, more of the wicket is covered than when the bat leans either to the right or left. Further directions for the batsman will be found under that head in another part. It will be as well for the batsman to return the ball up to the bowler, after it has passed the wicket, as it is very inconvenient, not having any one behind for that purpose; the bowler, in that case, must not put down the wicket when the batsman is off his ground, unless he runs himself out. The batsman in running must touch the bowling stump either with his bat or person, or else it is no run. When three play, they must toss-up for innings, the last player must pitch the wicket and bowl, and the second after placing the bowling stump, take the part of a fieldsman, and place himself on the left hand of the bowler, about three times his distance from the wicket; the first player is batsman, and marks the popping crease; if the batsman hits the ball nearer the fieldsman than the bowler, or so wide away that the latter would have some distance to run, the former should pick it up or catch it, and return it to the bowler. When the batsman runs, the bowler should instantly run to the wicket, and the fieldsman should throw the ball to him, so that he may catch it. This plan is much better than running to the wicket with it, as the ball can be thrown with greater celerity than a player can run. The batsman must not begin to run after the ball has been thrown in before the bowling stump, but he may until it has. When the first batsman is out, the fieldsman should take his place, the bowler become fieldsman, and so on, until each one has had his innings, bowled, and been out in the field. If four players engage in this game, the first is batsman, the second takes the field, the third stands behind the wicket, and the fourth bowls. When the batsman runs off his ground, if the wicket- keeper has the ball in his hands, he should put down the wicket: he must not, however, touch the ball until it has passed the wicket. The necessary instructions for this player will be found under the head of “Wicket keeper.” The bowler should not run to the wicket when the batsman attempts to run, but most throw7 the ball up to the wicket keeper, and the fieldsman should do the same. When five or even more play, the additional players must take the field. If any person wishes to join the game whilst it is going on, he must take his post in the field, and continue there till the last bats- man is out, when he takes his innings. If no wicket keeper was appointed at the beginning of the game, there must be no stumping out, although a fieldsman may be directed to take that place. If there are less than six players, the batsman cannot run when the ball is struck behind the wicket. Single wicket may be played in two different ways : in the first*