Cricket, and other Grand Ball Games. King Henry. What treasure, uncle? Exeter. * * * And tell the pleasant prince, this mock of his ERHAPS the English may be called the one nation with whom ball-play has become a thoroughly national institution. The French certainly have, and for centuries have had, their tennis-courts, and those of our young readers who study history will remember how the dauphin, the son of Charles VI. of France, is said to have sent a box of tennis-balls to Henry V. of England, in bitter mockery of the claim set up by the English prince to the throne of France; and how, in the times of the great French Revolution, it was to a tennis-court that the angry deputies of the states-general withdrew, in the memorable year 1789, and took a memorable oath, which, from the place where it was taken, was named, and ever afterwards known as the serment du jeu de paume-the tennis-court oath. Ball-play is, indeed, so universal, that even the Red Indians of North America include it among their sports; but where do we find such an institution as our cricket? Where does a game at bat and ball excite such universal sympathy and interest among old and young, as is awakened every summer when Eton and Harrow, for instance, join issue in friendly rivalry at Lord's Cricket Ground, and thousands of spectators, some of them long, very long, past their cricket-playing days, look on breathlessly as the chances of victory waver between the contending sides, Eton and Harrow alternately promising to come off victor, until at last the contest closes in favour of one gallant band of combatants, and both sides march off together the best of friends? Where, in the world, can such a set of champions be found as our "All England Eleven;" men who challenge the world to meet and beat them, and who have gone literally to the other side of the world-to Australia-to show our brethren of the Anglo-Saxon race, ten thousand miles away, how cricket ought to be played, and old English institutions kept up, returning covered with laurels, and having won golden opinions from all who witnessed their astonishing steadiness, energy, and skill? An intelligent Frenchman, lately writing about England, has justly observed, that the cricket-field has contributed greatly to make Englishmen what they are; and there is no doubt of the truth of the remark. Every quality of endurance, firmness, quickness of resource, steadiness of action, and patient working for an end through difficulty and discouragement, is brought into action in this noble game; and, indeed, it is perfectly impossible that any boy should really excel as a cricketer without manifesting these qualities, one and all, in no inconsiderable degree. Indeed, as another writer has justly observed, the popularity of cricket renders it quite unnecessary to offer a single word in its recommendation. It is emphatically the game of Englishmen, and is indulged in by all classes, from the peer to the peasant, more largely than any other sport. It was only the other day that a chosen eleven from the House of Peers met an equal number of competitors from the House of Commons in the friendly rivalry of the cricket-field; and there is not a village-green in England that is not at times the scene of a little match at cricket between a number of rustic lads, or perhaps a score of children of the larger growth. No other game tends so much to bring together the different classes and grades of society, and to make them favourably acquainted with each other, to the great advantage of both, and to the destruction of mutual prejudices. The lord learns to respect the clod-hopper for his quickness of eye, steadiness of hand, and sturdy perseverance; and the clod-hopper learns the useful, and to him not unfrequently novel lesson, that a nobleman is not necessarily a lounger, a weakling, or a milk-sop, but that he can hit as hard, bowl as straight, and catch as unflinchingly and unerringly as if he had never been used to one of the superfluities or luxuries of life. As for our public schools, cricket, and a second game, scarcely less noble, and known as foot-ball, are the great play-ground pursuits, and it is from the great public schools that our best gentlemen cricketers come. Of all gymnastic exercises this is undoubtedly the best, and it develops the mental as well as the bodily faculties, judgment and discretion being quite as much required as mere strength of arm and quickness of eye. That cricket is an adaptation of the old English game of club-ball, there is no doubt; but it is difficult to determine at what date it was first played. It seems, however, to have been known in the time of James I. Like all other games, it is learnt better by practice than theory, by example than by precept. The batsman will learn by experience how to handle his defensive weapon to the best advantage, and his proceedings must vary according to his own strength and the tactics of the bowler who is opposed to him. The bowler again will, in time, form his method of bowling, partly based on his own strength and capabilities, and partly on his estimate of the weak and strong points of his opponents at the wicket, as they step forward in turn to defend their post. Nay, the great professional bowlers even differ among themselves, each being characterised by some peculiarity in his way of handling and delivering the ball; and an hour's ocular demonstration is worth a whole bookfull of theory. The rules and principles of cricket, however, we can undertake to teach, and an attentive reading of these pages will, at least, prevent our young readers from ever making themselves conspicuous in a cricket-field by their ignorance. First of all, we have to speak of The GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE GAME.-Cricket is played either with single or with double wicket. Of double wicket, the true game, we have to speak first, though the principles are the same in both cases. number of players is twenty-two, divided into two sides of eleven each. One: side is in and the other out, until all the players of the in side, except one, have been put out as batsmen, one after the other, by the fall of the wickets they defend, or by being caught out by one of the other side. The bowler is the chief personage of the out side, and the two batsmen are the only ones of the in side employed. The ten other players disperse themselves through the field in certain stations which we shall presently indicate; and here are the names of a side: 1. The bowler. 2. The wicket-keeper. 3. The long stop. 4. The point. 5. The cover point. 6. The long slip. 7. The short slip. 8. Middle wicket. The bowler, having dispersed his men through the field, has to bowl at the wicket of one of the batsmen, who, on his side, defends it, and at the same time strives to make "runs.' ." When the ball has been struck from the bat, the batsman, if he sees a chance, must run and change places with his companion at the other wicket before the ball can be thrown up by the fielders. If he gets to the other wicket in safety, this counts as one run. He may sometimes make as many as five runs off a single hit; but this is about the: maximum. Twos and threes are more common. The register of these runs is kept by the umpires, and each man has his runs scored against his name. The side that makes most running in two innings wins. We will now describe the preliminary proceedings at a game of cricket, and explain the different technical terms employed. The laws or rules of the game we shall give literally according to the code laid down by the Marylebone Club, now universally looked upon as the great and chief authority in these matters. We will suppose a party of cricketers turning out for an afternoon's sport. Some carry bats, two have cricket balls, and several others bear the stumps of which the wickets are constructed. They come to the place where the wickets are to be set up, or "pitched." It is a level mead, and the space between the wickets, in particular, is flat as a billiard table. Now the bowlers advance, and under their direction the wickets are set up. The distance between the wickets, for full-grown players, is twenty-two yards; where the players are young, it is advisable somewhat to decrease the distance. The distance between the stumps must be a little less than the diameter of the cricket ball, so that the ball cannot pass between the stumps without touching them, and knocking off the bails or little bits of wood placed across the top of the stumps. The companions of the bowler are now dispersed about the field, in various positions, according to the rules we shall describe. They all labour for the same object, namely, to stop the ball when it is struck by the batsman, to catch it (if possible) before it reaches the ground after being delivered from the bat (in which case the batsman is considered caught out, and his innings is over), and to throw the ball up, when they have stopped it, to the bowler or wicket-keeper as quickly as possible. The bowler's desire is to knock down the batsman's wicket, while the batsman's province is to defend his wicket by striking away the ball as it is bowled towards him. Beyond this, he has to judge what balls it will be safe for him to strike hard at, and what balls he must content himself with blocking, or striking down; for on the number of runs he obtains will depend the share he contributes to the success of his side. And here we must pause for a moment, and give our readers the benefit of one of the best descriptions of a cricket field with which it has ever been our fortune to meet; a description from the pen of Mr. Thomas Miller, himself a cricketer, and a thorough lover of all British national sports. He vividly pourtrays the smooth-shaven green, the sunshine streaming upon it, and glancing upon the canvas tents and white dresses of the cricketers. "Just look," he says, "how the batsman stands. His foot firm, his eye fixed; the ball is delivered; it bounds beautifully, just his favourite height. What a swing he takes with his arms! that blow would fell a bullock. The ball looks no bigger than a bee in the air, with such force it is struck; so high is it sent, far away beyond the long fieldsman. 'Run, run, run!' cries every voice. Not a cross, not a slip; notch after notch is added, and the whole air rings again with the voices of the by-standers. But hush! a fresh bowler has taken up the ball; their favourite batsman looks a little thoughtful, for he well knows that peculiar turn of the wrist which so much baffles the ablest striker. Cautious and watchful are they both. 'Play!' It comes quick as a shot, and is driven back with tenfold rapidity; and another shout rises high for the favourite batsman, though the ball was caught by one of the fieldsmen who faced it, with so sure an aim and so true a spring, that you would scarcely be astonished to see him stop and catch a ball fired from a cannon. A slower ball is next delivered by the bowler, who deceived all eyes but the batsman's, from whom there is no disguising his play, so well is he able to measure the speed of the ball from the very tick of time that it is first delivered. And yet these are but every-day players, and beyond the limits of their own village not the name of one of them is known as a cricket player. Ah! I have seen this game played many a time as it ought to be in Nottingham Forest; for who has not heard of the Nottingham cricket players, whose exploits have rung through all England? Such batters and bowlers as I never expect to look upon again. Well did the fieldsmen know their distance, when a first-rate batsman went in; and ample range they gave him; for they knew that the ball, once struck by such a powerful arm, would fly off like a cannon shot. What stumping-out and bowling-out I have seen in that forest. Oh, it is a noble game; and as for exercise, none better can be found. But I need not here enter fully into the particulars of the game. * Few, I imagine, can see this game played without feeling pleasure whilst looking on. The eager interest of the contending parties, the watchful eye and ever-ready hand, the foot planted to an inch, the distance run in such quick-measured strides, give life and animation to the scene. The white dresses of the cricketers, too, form a pleasing contrast to the green landscape; and the deep hum of so many voices speaks the great interest which they take in their game. What grace there * is in their motions; what symmetry displayed in their limbs, as they run, bowl, or strike, unencumbered by any superfluous drapery. It is well worthy of its appellation, and is deservedly called the noble game of cricket." Return Crease. POPPING, BOWLING, AND RETURN CREASES.-To return, after this long digression, to the descriptive part of our subject. Popping Crease. Wicket. -O O O Bowling Crease. Crease. Each wicket is set up on a line, six feet eight inches in length, drawn on the ground. This line is called the bowling crease. At each end of the bowling crease two lines are carried forward at right angles to the bowling crease. These are the return creases; and in front of the wicket, parallel to the bowling crease, at a distance of four feet, runs another line, called the popping crease. Within this popping crease the batsman, who runs from one wicket to another after the ball has been struck, must ground his bat; for until he does so, he is not home, and can be put out. The batsman must remain within this popping crease until the ball has been delivered by the bowler. The bowler must have one foot within the bounds of the bowling and return creases when he delivers the ball. STATIONING THE MEN.-It is the bowler's business to place the men in their different stations, which is usually done according to a certain established plan. It rests with the bowler, however, to alter or modify the position of the men, and to increase or decrease the distance at which they stand from the wickets, according to the peculiarities of the play of the batsmen at the wickets. With extraordinarily hard hitters it becomes advisable to increase the distance, that the ball may not be sent skimming far away over the heads of the industrious players who are "fagging out." Where the batsman has a knack of striking the ball up high into the air, it is often well to post some player of quick eye and nimble fingers where he may have a chance of a good catch; and other changes will be made which the bowler's experience will naturally suggest. The accompanying figure will best explain the positions of the men on the field. When six balls have been bowled at one wicket, over is cried, and all the players change their places to corresponding positions on the opposite |