"DEAD BALL!"

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 55, 6 March 1935, Page 7

"DEAD BALL!"

AFTER WARNING.

UMPIRES' PROPOSAL.

How to Deal With tKe Bodyline Attack.

PROCEDURE WELL DEFINED

(United P.A.-Electric Telegraph-Copyright)

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

LOXDOX, March 5,

The first-class umpires, at" a meeting, recommended the following procedure regarding the operation of the "direct attack" bowling rule, to which the authorities are expected to agree, says the "Mirror": — "Two 'suspect' deliveries will be passed, but if the bowler transgresses a third time the umpire will call 'dead ball' and notify the captain, who must take off the bowler for the rest of the innings." Having regard to the fact that the M.C.C. had thrown on the umpires the onus of declaring what was a "direct bowling attack" on the batsman, this proposed clean-cut ruling on procedure by the chief body ot umpires is almost certain to be embraced in the rules of cricket, under the instructions to umpires. If so, it should mark the end of the now historical bodyline bowling dispute. It has the advantage of giving the bowler warning under each particular umpire—and umpires vary as much in their views on the subject as do other enthusiasts —that he ie under surveillance, and at the same time it gives umpires generally a definite working rule. If adopted, the proposal will be welcomed by cricketers generally; it guarantees pro-, tection for the batsman against prolonged intimidation, and enables the bowler to get the measure of his umpire on the point in each match.