Date-stamped : 11 Nov93 - 07:02 The Game at Cricket, as settled by the several Cricket-Clubs, particularly that of the Star and Garter, In Pall-Mall. The Pitching of the first wicket is to be determined by the toss of a Piece of Money. When the first Wicket is pitch'd, and the Popping- Crease cut, which must be exactly three Feet Ten Inches from the Wicket, the other Wicket is to be pitch'd directly oppo- site, at Twenty-two Yards Distance, and the other Popping Crease cut Three feet and Ten Inches before it. The Bowling-Creases must be cut in direct line from each stump. The stumps must be Twenty-two Inches long, and the Bail Six Inches. The Ball must weigh between Five and Six Ounces. When the wickets are both pitch'd and all the Creases cut, the Party that wins the Toss-up, may order which Side shall go in first, at his Option. Laws for the Bowlers-Four Balls and Over. The Bowler must deliver the Ball, with one Foot behind the Crease, even with the Wicket; and when he has bowl'd one Ball, or more, shall bowl to the Number of Four before he changes Wickets, and he shall change but once in the same innings. He may order the Player that is in at his wicket, to stand on which side of it he pleases, at a reasonable distance. If he delivered the Ball, with his hinder Foot over the Bowling- Crease, the Umpire shall call no Ball, tho' it should be struck, or the Player be bowl'd out; which he shall do without being asked, and no Person shall have any right to question him. Laws for the Strikers-or Those that are Inn If the Wicket is bowl'd down, it's out. If he strikes, or treads down, or falls himself upon his Wicket in striking (but not in over-running) it's out. A Stroke, or Nip, over or under his Bat, or upon his Hands (But not arms) if the Ball be held before it touches the Ground, though it be hugg'd to the Body, it's out. If in striking, both his feet are over the Popping-Crease, and his Wicket put down, except his Bat is down within, it's out. If he runs out of his Ground to hinder a Catch, it's out. If a Ball is nipp'd up, and he strikes it again wilfully, before it came to the Wicket, it's out. If the Players have cross'd each other, he that runs for the Wicket is put down, is out: If they are not cross'd, he that re- turns is out. If in running a Notch, the Wicket is struck down by a throw, be- fore his Foot, Hand, or Bat is over the Popping Crease, or a stump hit by the Ball, though the Bail was down, it's out. But if the Bail is down before, he that catches the ball must strike a Stump out of the Ground, Ball in Hand, or else it's not out. Bat, Foot, or Hand over the Crease. When the Ball has been in Hand by one of the Keepers, or Stoppers, and the player has been at Home, he may go where he pleases till the next Ball is bowl'd. If either of the Strikers is cross'd in his running Ground, designedly, the same must be determined by the Umpires. N.B. The Umpires may order that Notch to be scored. When the ball is hit up, either of the Strikers may hinder the Catch in his running Ground; or if it is hit directly across the Wickets, the other Player may place his Body anywhere within the Swing of the Bat, so as to hinder the Bowler from catching it; but he must neither strike at it, nor touch it with his Hands. If a Striker nips a ball up just before him, he may fall before his wicket, or pop down his Bat, before it comes to the Wicket, to save it. The bail hanging on one Stump, though the Ball hit the Wicket, is not out. Laws for the Wicket-Keepers The Wicket-Keepers shall stand at a reasonable Distance behind the Wicket, and shall not move till the Ball is out of the Bowler's Hand, and shall, not by any Noise, incommode the Strik- er; and if his Hands, Knees, Foot, or Head be over, or before the Wicket, though the Ball hit it, it shall not be out. Laws for the Umpires. To allow Two Minutes for each Man to come inn when one is out, and Ten Minutes between each Hand. To mark the ball that it not be changed. They are the sole Judges of all Outs and Inns; of all fair and unfair Play; of all frivulous delays; of all Hurts, whether real or pretended, and are discretionally to allow what Time they think proper before the Game goes on again. In Case of a real Hurt to a Striker, they are to allow another to come inn, and the Person hurt to come inn again; but are not to allow a fresh Man to play, on either side, on any Account. They are sole Judges of all Hindrances; crossing the Players in running and standing unfair to strike, and in Case of Hindrance may order a Notch to be scored. They are not to order any Man out, unless appealed to by one of the Players. These Laws are to the Umpires jointly. Each Umpire is the sole Judge of all Nips and Catches; Inns and Outs; good and bad runs, at his own Wicket, and his Determina- tions shall be absolute; and he shall not be changed for another Umpire, without the Consent of both sides. When the four Balls are bowl'd he is to call Over. These laws are separately. When the Umpires call Play three times, 'tis at the Peril of giv- ing the Game from them that refuse to play. Contributed by Matthew (IEKP898@*.TJU.EDU) ====> And here's a slightly different version... Here are the earliest published rules for the game of cricket. They date back to 1744: Ye pitching of ye first Wicket is to be determined by ye cast of a piece of Money. When ye first Wicket is pitched and ye popping Crease cut, which must be exactly 3 Foot 10 Inches from ye Wicket ye other Wicket is to be pitched, directly opposite, at 22 yards distance, and ye other popping Crease cut 3 Foot 10 Inches before it. Ye bowling Creases must be cut, in a direct line, from each Stump. Ye Stumps must be 22 Inches, and ye Bail 6 inches. Ye Ball must weigh between 5 and 6 ounces. When ye Wickets are both pitched and ye Creases cut, ye Party that wins the toss up may order which side shall go in first at his option. Laws for Ye Bowlers 4 Balls and Over: YE Bowler must deliver ye Ball with one foot behind ye Crease even with ye Wicket, and when he has bowled one ball or more shall bowl to number 4 before he changes Wickets, and he shall change but once in ye same Innings. He may order ye Player that is in at his Wicket to stand on which side of it he pleases at a reasonable distance. If he delivers ye Ball with his hinder foot over ye Crease, ye Umpire shall call No Ball, though she be struck, or ye Player is bowled out, which he shall do without being asked, and no Person shall have any right to ask him. Laws for ye Strikers, or those that are in: If ye Wicket is Bowled down, it`s Out. If he strikes, or treads down, or falls himself upon ye Wicket ins striking, but not in over running, it`s Out. A stroke or nip over or under his Batt, or upon his hands, but not arms, if ye Ball be held before she touches ye ground, though she be hug`d to the body, it`s Out. If in striking both his feet are over YE popping Crease and his Wicket put down, except his bat is down within, it`s Out. If a ball is nipp`d up an he strikes her again, wilfully, be- fore she come to ye Wicket, it`s Out. If ye Players have cross`d each other, he that runs for ye Wicket that is put down is Out. If they are not cross`d he that returns is Out. Batt, Foot or Hand over ye Crease: If in running a notch ye Wicket is struck down by a throw, be- fore his foot hand or Batt is over ye popping Crease, or a stump hit by ye Ball though ye Bail was down it`s Out. But if ye Bail is down before, ht that catches ye Ball must strike a stump out of ye ground, Ball in hand, then it`s Out. If ye Striker touches or takes up ye Ball before she is lain quite still unless asked by ye Bowler or Wicket-keeper, then it`s Out. When ye Ball has been in hand by one of ye Keepers or Stoppers, and ye Player has been at home, He may go where he pleases till ye next ball is bowled. If either of ye Strikers is cross`d in his running ground designedly, which design must be determined by the Umpires, N.B. The Umpire(s) may order that the Notch be scored. When ye Ball is hit up, either of ye Strikers may hinder ye catch in his running ground, or if she`s hit directly across ye wickets, ye other Player may place his body anywhere within ye swing of his Batt, so as to hinder ye Bowler from catching her, but he must neither strike at her nor touch her with his hands. If a Striker nips a ball up just before him, he may fall be- fore his Wicket, or pop down his Batt before she comes to it, to save it. Ye Bail hanging on one Stump, though ye Ball hit ye Wicket, it`s Not Out. Laws for Wicket Keepers: Ye Wicket Keepers shall stand at a reasonable distance behind ye Wicket, and shall not move till ye Ball is out of ye Bowler`s hand, and shall not by any noise incommode ye Striker, and if his hands knees foot or head be over or before ye Wicket, though ye Ball hit it, he shall not be Out. Laws for ye Umpires: To allow 2 minutes for each Man to come in when one is out, and 10 minutes between each Hand. To mark Ye Ball that it may not be changed. They are the sole judges of all Outs and Ins, of all fair and unfair play, of frivolous delays, of all hurts, wether real or pretended, and are discretionally to allow what time they think proper before ye Game goes on again. In a case of real hurt to a Striker, they are to allow another to come in and ye Person hurt to come in again, but are not to al- low a fresh Man to play, on either Side, on any Account. They are sole judges of all hindrances, crossing ye Players in running, and standing unfair to strike, and in case of hindrance may allow a notch to be scored. They are not to order any Man out unless appealed to by any one of ye Players. (These Laws are to ye Umpires Jointly.) Each Umpire is sole judge of all Nips and Catches, Ins and Outs, good or bad Runs at his own Wicket, and his determination shall be absolute, and he shall not be changed for another Umpire without ye consent of both sides. When 4 Balls are bowled, he is to call Over. (These laws are Separately.) When both Umpires shall call Play, 3 times, `tis at ye peril of giving ye Game from them that refuse to Play. N.B! A "notch: is a run, and a "hand" an innings. Contributed by Bob.Dubery (dauphin@aztec.co.za)