CRICKET

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11827, 7 January 1933, Page 6

CRICKET

THE WICKETKEEPER-

(Spccnlly . Written for the “Gisborne . Times” by D. McKenzie, of - Wellington.)

R.r.’e .42 reads: “The wicketkeeper shall, stand behind the wicket. If any part of liis person ho over or before tho. wicket the striker shall not bo out, excepting under Laws .26 (obstructing the field), 27 (hit the ball twice), 28 (run out). 29 (lmndling the ball) and 30 (obstructing the field). This -means that ii the wicket.keeper offends - as stated the - striker could not be given out bowled, caught, stumped, leg-before wicket or hit wicket, A WRONG HABIT. From experience I have found that. some wicketkeepers have a habit-of putting parts of their hands in front of the wickets, on either rude or ot leaning over the. tops of the w.ckets with their head and face. This is a statement which cannot he successfully challenged. Such an act is a breach of the rule, but bow is the umpire at the bowler’s end to know this? The man standing at squareleg can decide op the matters of stumping and hit wicket- with this interpretation of the rule in his mind, but that does not help the man at the'other end. Tt seems to me to be a useless sort of rule and one that cannot be given full effect fo. A “stumping” incident comes to mind. A wicketkeeper, operating with a slow bowler at the other end. get impatient and swept the ball into the wickets from in front of them. Satisfied that be was well out of his ground the batsman was making for tho pavilion when he heard my decision ‘‘not out. The wicketkeeper then milled a stump out of the ground, but mv decision wont against liim. as, having taken the ball in front of the wicket, lie bad broken the law, and the ball was “dead” until it was ogain brought l.n life liv the bowler commencing bis run-up to deliver the next ball. BALL MUST BE IN HAND.

A point to lie stressed about the wicketkeeper is that in Jill cases ol stumping and run-out. the ball must be in the hand that breaks the wicket and lifts flic ball.

Again, it is possible for a batsman to be stumnod without the wicketkeeper handling the ball. If iho ball rebounds off the wicketkeeper's pads into the wickets, without having been played bv the striker, while the batsman is out of his ground, he is “out —stumped !” This is a fair thing to remember, as the wicket should he credited to the bowler, and it would not bo if the decision was “run-out,” An incident comes to mind of a happening in a senior match at Wellington who was substituting as a wicketkeeper. AVith the batsman well out, of Ills ground he lifted iho bails off with one hand and the had in the other. Then lie pulled a slump out ‘* the ground, and I shook my head to his appeal. The batsman, discovering somelbing was wrong, then hurried hack to his <-iva si -, Seeking an explanation after the match, the viekei keeper was mid that he had the hall in the wrong hand. He learnt a lesson he has not forgotten through iho years.

The popping crease —the line marked on iho ground four feet in front of the wickets —is not safe eon airy ini- the hnisman. If liis hat is on the lino he is out, of his ground: the I>nt must he grounded or sonic part of liis person lie on the ground, beside' the popping crease for him to be in his home quarters. Similar!), when, a run is being made it the hat: is placed on the popping crease as the batsman, turns lor the next run it is a short run. WKTvETK EEPE R B—TH ECI I IFF WORRY. The wicketkeepers are the chief worry of an umpire on the field. The man behind the stumps is the only one who. can reasonably say whether an appeal for "1.b.w.” is a fair one. The bowler cannot: simply because he is generally on one side or the other of a straight line between wicket and wicket when ho finishes his delivery.

'File umpire's position, however, is a considerably bettor one than the wicketkeeper’s: lie has a. lull view of the ball all the time, whilst ill© wicketkeeper the the batsman’s body between him and the ball. Catches at the wickets are the hardest things of the lot to decide. You hear a. click, the fieldsmen appeal, and up goes your hand. And many times the batsman is “not out. '' And, reversely: Many ' a time the batsman gets the decision in his favour after the ball, has touched his hand or hat. An old friend of mine —nn artist in his way—hoard an appeal for a catch at the wickets ojf his stroke. Quick as thought he grabbed bis leg and rubbed it hard, and when the umpire shook his bead lie. put bis t.nger to bis mouth and sucked it. There was no doubt about where the ball hit him, but the rubbing of the leg made the umpire doubt; and lie gave the benefit o| the doubt to the batsman. A case in this connection happened to me a. few seasons ago. 1 heard the click, the ball seemed to me to hit the bat as it rose, and T had no doubts on the matter. Afterwards it was told to me that the batsman had hit the toe of his hoot when making his stroke, and this was the click I heard. The wicketkeeper apologised to the batsman foi up pealing hut did not give mo the opportunity of reversing my decision.'

AN AMUSING INCIDENT. One of the most amusing incidents of wicketkeeping 1 have seen was when Australia were playing New Zealand on the Basin Reserve. "Wellington.-, on one occasion. Clem Hill was batting and Charlie Bexshall was behind the sticks. Hill swung at the ball and missed it. but continued Ids stroke until tho hat reached the' ground. As it did so he glanced at

Boxshall, who was lifting the bails off as the Australian looked up at him. This Ihe South Australian did three times in one over, and it was as humorous ns it could possibly bo. THE IDEAL CAPTAIN. The wicketkeeper is' the keenest player on the field. He knows all tho moves of' the game, and is the ideal man, provided he has the qualifications, to captain a- team. Tie has a, fair idea of tho flight of the ball, for the simple reason that, up to the time lie straightens up •to take the hall, lie is in such a position that lie knows.,.almost to a certainty the height at which the ball is travelling. Tic also knows whether ihe ball is pitched on the wicket, whether it is coming down on the off or the leg-side, whether it is a break ball, a. swervor, or a perfectly straight one, and a good man in the position of wicketkeoping often 'controls the delivery of the howlers. He picks out sometimes quicker than the bowlers tho weaknesses of tho batsmen, and influences the bowlers in that direction. With these thoughts in mind it will readily be agreed that when a wicketkeeper makes an appeal be has had a good view of what has happened, and his appeal cannot be lightly turned aside. T never object to the wicketkeeper appealing. (To be Continued.) OFFER TO GRTMMETT ENGLISH CLUB’S PROPOSAL “WE MEAN BUSINESS" (U.P.A. bv Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Jan. 6, 7 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6. The Ramshottom Club has offered Grim met fc attractive terms, to secure him for next season. The chairman of the club says that he- cabled Giimrnett the biggest offer tho club had ever made. “We mean business this time,” he. added.