“HOW’S THAT?”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17345, 27 September 1924, Page 26

“HOW’S THAT?”

UMPIRES’ DIFFICULTIES. In cricket, as the M C.O. have just had occasion to remind us, the umpire’s decision is final and not. to be challenged by any of the players. But., for all bis authority, few will be found to envy an umpire his job. IT is powers are great, but so a.re his responsibilities, and very delicate points sometimes arise on which it is extremely difficult to give an instant decision. Is a batsman out, for example, if be runs out to a “wide.” touches It. and is caught? Such a case occurred in a match at Clifton. The umpire, when appealed to. merely remarked, ‘‘ J have given my decision. ’* and the batsman continued his innings. The late \V. 0. Grace held that tl.e bat.su.an was rightly given - “ not out.”,, as iff the umpire had not called, a wide

he. would not have attempted to hi the hall. Prohablv the majority o

cricketers Mould hold a contrary view. •‘Hit wicket” may involve some very subtle considerations. A batsman who bits or treads on liis wicket after his stroke is completed is. of course. ‘‘ not out.” The difficulty is to decide when the stroke has been completed. Mr A. G. MacLaren has told us of two occasions— once in a county and once in a Test match—when, after completing his stroke, he slipped and broke his wicket. Jn the first case he was given in. and in the second case he was given out. Actually lie was * not out ” both times. Supposing that, .iust as the batsman is about to play the ball, the wicketkeeper sneezes violently, thereby so startling the batsman that the latter misses the ball and is bowled. The laws forbid tbo wicketkeeper “to incommode the striker by any noise.” I etc. What is tbe umpire’s decision to be, on appeal ?