Cricket Decisions

North Canterbury Gazette, Volume 7, Issue 59, 26 November 1937, Page 4

Cricket Decisions

(To the Editor of The Gazette) Sir, —The decisions asked for last w r eek should not trouble many. A no ball is any delivery which, in the opinion of tho umpire, is unfair. A bowler must have one foot down behind the bowling crease and must not deliver a ball further away than the four feet allowed on the lino of the wicket. He must not throw the ball or by speech intimidate the striker. As no balls and wides do not count in an over, there is no limit to the number that may be bowler. The ball comes into play again immediately the bowler commences his run to the wicket. * Any runs scored through the bowler as he is making his delivery endeavouring to run out the batsman are scored no balls. Awido that goes to the fence is four wides. The wicket keeper can hardly bo expected to field such balls. A bowler can change from over to round or vice versa, but he must notify the striker, who might require a fresh guard. If a bowler accidentally dislodges a bail while in the act of bowling there is nothing to call, only replace the bail after the ball has become dead. Now for that bone of contention, the lbw rule: As the off-side lbw is not in force in North Canterbury we will not consider it. Now the first and foremost thing about an lbw ball is that it must be pitched on or in line with the wickets, so that there are only eight inches for the ball to land on. Any ball outside that eight inches is out of the question. Noav, supposing it is pitched on, tho second question is, does it continue on in a course that would take the leg or the off stump, or is it rising too high for the bails? Taking all tho “ifs” into consideration, it is no wonder that only one appeal out of ten in junior cricket is likely to be in favour of the bowler. Some batsmen complain about the height they were struck above the knee when given out, but don’t forget the short pitched ball which is dropping near the crease, and also remember it is possible to be given out lbw to a full toss which has hit you on the head. I will close this series of letters next week with a few “don’ts” for umpires.—-Yours etc., sqturb im. ;