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The Laws of Cricket

The following are the laws which govern the game everywhere. They have been recently revised by the Marylebone Club, usually considered the highest authority in the game. 1. The Ball must weigh not less than 5 1/2 ounces, nor more than 5 3/4 ounces. It must measure not less than 9 inches, nor more than 9 1/4 inches, in circumference. At the beginning of each innings either party may call for a new ball. [It is, however, not customary to have a new ball at the beginning of each innings. One a match is usually considered sufficient.] 2. The Bat must not exceed 4 1/4 inches in the widest part; it must not be more than 38 inches in lengths. 3. The Stumps must be 3 in number, 27 inches out of the ground; the bails 8 inches in length; the stumps of equal and of sufficient thickness to prevent the ball from passing through. 4. The Bowling Crease must be in a line with the stumps; 6 feet 8 inches in length; the stumps in the centre; with a return crease at each end towards the bowler, at right angles. 5. The Popping Crease must be 4 feet from the wicket, and parallel to it, unlimited in length, but not shorter than the bowling crease; unlimited in length, so that the batsman may keep out of the way of the ball when it is thrown in. 6. The wickets must be pitched opposite to each other by the umpires, at the distance of 22 yards. 7. It shall not be lawful for either party during a match, without the consent of the other, to alter the ground by rolling, watering, covering, mowing, or beating, except at the commencement of each innings, when the ground shall be swept and rolled, unless the side next going in object to it. This rule is not meant to prevent the striker from beating the ground with his bat near to the spot where he stands during the innings, nor to prevent the bowler from filling up holes with sawdust, &c. when the ground is wet. 8. After rain the wickets may be changed with the consent of both parties. 9. The Bowler shall deliver the ball with one foot on the ground behind the bowling crease, and within the return crease, and shall bowl four balls before he change wickets, which he shall be permitted to do only twice in the same innings. [In a one day's match six balls are usually allowed as an over.] 10. The ball must be bowled; if thrown or jerked, the umpire shall call "no ball." 11. He may require the striker at the wicket from which he is bowling to stand on that side of it which he may direct. 12. If the bowler shall toss the ball over the striker's head, or bowl it so wide that in the opinion of the umpire it shall not be fairly within the reach of the batsman, he shall adjudge one run to the party receiving the innings, with or without an appeal, which shall be put down to the score of wide balls; such balls shall not be reckoned as one of the four or six balls: but if the batsman shall by any means bring himself within reach of the ball, the run shall not be scored. 13. If the bowler deliver a "no ball" or a "wide ball," the striker shall be allowed as many runs as he can get, and he shall not be put out except by running out. In the event of no run being obtained by any other means, then one run shall be added to the score of "no balls" or "wide balls," as the case may be. All runs obtained for "wide balls" to be scored to "wide balls." If the ball shall first touch any part of the striker's dress or person (except his hands), the umpire shall call "leg bye." [If, however, the batsman runs two byes from a wide or a no ball, they are scored as two wides only. Many young players are in the habit of running a single bye off a wide ball, without ever thinking that they endanger their wicket without the slightest possible chance of advantage to themselves.] 14. At the beginning of each innings the umpire shall call "play;" from that time to the end of each innings no trial ball shall be allowed to any bowler. [This rule is very seldom enforced, as a new bowler is almost invariably allowed a trial ball, though not on the wicket.] 15. The Striker is Out if either of the bails be struck off, or of a stump be bowled out of the ground; 16. Or, if the ball, from a stroke of the bat or hand, but not the wrist, be held before it touches the ground, although it be hugged to the body of the catcher; 17. Or, if in striking, or at any other time while the ball shall be in play, both his feet shall be over the popping-crease, and his wicket put down, except his bat be grounded within it; 18. Or, if in striking at the ball, he hit down his wicket; 19. Or, if under pretence of running or otherwise, either of the strikers prevent a ball from being caught, the striker of the ball is out; 20. Or, if the ball be struck, and he wilfully strike it again; [This does not prevent the batsman from hitting the ball off his wicket when it glides in from not being blocked with sufficient force.] 21. Or, if in running the wicket be struck down by a throw, or by the hand or arm (with ball in hand), before his bat (in hand) or some part of his person be grounded over the popping-crease. But if both the bails be off, a stump must be struck out of the ground; 22. Or, if any part of the striker's dress knock down the wicket; 23. Or, if the striker touch or take up the ball while at play, unless at the request of the opposite party; 24. Or, if with any part of his person he stop the ball, which in the opinion of the umpire at the bowler's wicket shall have been pitched in a straight line from it to the striker's wicket, and would have hit it. [On the 15th of April, 1863, the M. C. C. altered this rule as follows:--"Or, if the ball hit any part of his person which in the opinion of the umpire at the bowler's wicket shall have been placed in a straight line from it to the striker's wicket." But at their next meeting, discovering that their former proceedings were informal, they cancelled their new rule; so that the law remains as before.

It is almost impossible for a round-arm bowler, unless he bowl over the wicket, to pitch the ball in a straight line.] 25. If the players have crossed each other, he that runs for the wicket which is put down is out. 26. A ball being caught, no runs shall be reckoned. 27. A striker being run out, that run which he and his partner were attempting shall not be reckoned. 28. If a lost ball be called, the striker shall be allowed six runs; but if more than six shall have been run before "lost ball" shall have been called, then the striker shall have all which have been run. 29. After the ball shall have been finally settled in the wicket-keeper's or bowler's hand, it shall be considered dead; but when the bowler is about to deliver the ball, if the striker at his wicket go outside the popping-crease before such actual delivery, the said bowler may put him out, unless (with reference to the 21st law) his bat in hand, or some part of his person, be within the popping-crease. 30. The striker shall not retire from his wicket and return to it to complete his innings after another has been in, without the consent of the opposite party. 31. No substitute shall in any case be allowed to stand out, or run between wickets for another person, without the consent of the opposite party; and in case any person shall be allowed to run for another, the striker shall be out, if either he or his substitute be off the ground in manner mentioned in laws 17 and 21, while the ball is in play. 32. In all cases where a substitute shall be allowed, the consent of the opposite party shall also be obtained as to the person to act as substitute, and the place in the field which he shall take. 33. If any fieldsman stop the ball with his hat, the ball shall be considered dead, and the opposite party shall add five runs to their score; if any be run, they shall have five in all. 34. The ball having been hit, the striker may guard his wicket with his bat, or with any part of his body except his hands; that the 23rd law may not be infringed. 35. The wicket-keeper shall not take the ball for the purpose of stumping until it has passed the wicket; he shall not move until the ball be out of the bowler's hand; he shall not any noise incommode the striker; and if any part of his person be over or before the wicket, although the ball hit it, the striker shall not be out. 36. The umpires are the sole judges of fair or unfair play; and all disputes shall be determined by them, each at his own wicket; but in case of a catch, which the umpire at the wicket bowled from cannot see sufficiently to decide upon, he may apply to the other umpire, whose opinion shall be conclusive. 37. The umpires in all matches shall pitch fair wickets; and the parties shall toss up for choice of innings. The umpire shall change wickets after each party has had one innings. 38. They shall allow two minutes for each striker to come in, and ten minutes between each innings. When the umpire shall call "play," the party refusing to play shall lose the match. 39. They are not to order a striker out unless appealed to by the adversaries; 40. But if one of the bowler's feet be not on the ground behind the bowling-crease, and within the return-crease, when he shall deliver the ball, the umpire at his wicket, unasked, must call "no ball." 41. If either the strikers run a short run, the umpire must call "one short." [The run is of course not scored.] 42. No umpire shall be allowed to bet. 43. No umpire is to be changed during a match, without the consent of both parties, except in case of violation of the 42nd law; then either party may dismiss the transgressor. 44. After the delivery of four or six balls the umpire must call "over," but not until the ball shall be finally settled in the wicket-keeper's or bowler's hand; the ball shall then be considered dead; nevertheless, if an idea be entertained that either of the strikers is out, a question may be put previously to, but not after, the delivery of the next ball. 45. The umpire must take especial care to call "no ball" instantly upon delivery; "wide ball" as soon as it shall pass the striker. 46. The players who go in second shall follow their innings, if they have obtained eighty runs less than their antagonists, except in all matches limited to only one day's play, when the number shall be limited to sixty instead of eighty. 47. When one of the strikers shall have been put out, the use of the bat shall not be allowed to any person until the next striker shall come in. NOTE.--The Committee of the Marylebone Club think it desirable that, previously to the commencement of a match, one of each side should be declared the manager of it; and that the new laws with respect to substitutes may be carried out in a spirit of fairness and mutual concession, it is their wish that such substitutes be allowed in all reasonable cases, and that the umpire should inquire if it is done with the consent of the manager of the opposite side.

Complaints having been made that it is the practice of some players when at the wicket to make holes in the ground for a footing, the Committee are of opinion that the umpires should be empowered to prevent it.