The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-10 00:00:00

CRICKET.

IMPORTANT ALTERATION IN THE LAWS.
The Select Committee which had been appointed to
consider the expediency of " wide balls," assembled a
few days since in the pavilion at Lord's, upon which oc-
casion there was present Sir John Bayley, Bart., Presi-
dent of the Marylebone Club; Sir F. Bathurst, Bart.,
the Hon. F. Ponsonhy, W. Ward, Esq., C. Harenc, E,q.,
C. Taylor, Esq., and R. Kynaston, Esq., the Honorary
Secretary of the Club.
Sir J. BAYLEY said he had been induced to request
the appointment of a Select Committee upon this im-
portant question—the consideration of the propriety of
making an alteration in the laws of cricket with

respect to " wide balls," in consequence of the very
great extent which that score during the past season had
presented. On a reference to Mr. Denison's " Cricketer's
Companion for 1843," he found that, out of seventy-three
matches which his book contained, there were fourteen
wherein there was no separation made between byes
and wide balls. In the remaining fifty-nine matches,
however, it appeared, that whilst there were 90
"no balls," there was a score of 1,240 "wide
balls." The evil of these " wide balls," it
would seem, had of late years been on the increase,
until at last it had arrived at such an extent as
was altogether derogatory to the character of the game.
The vast number of " wide balls " which had lately been
scored had, in his opinion, greatly altered the main fea-
tures of cricket, and had gone to such an extent as to
make it incumbent on the Committee to adopt some
step, by an alteration of the rules, with a view to the
abolition of the evil. The evil was the reckless and
wild system of bowling which had sprung up—a style of
bowling, of which the object would appear to be an at-
tempt at violence of pace without any endeavour to bowl
at the wicket. From this fact accrued the immense
number of " wide balls." Now, it appeared to him that
a remedy might be most easily provided for this evil, if the
rule applicable to " wide balls,' and that governing " no
ball," were to be assimilated. If that were done, then
the batsman would be able to score to " wide balls" as
many runs as he could obtain. If the Committee were
to agree to this proposition, he was satisfied in his own
mind that a very different state of things would ensue.
The complaint had no reference to the bowlers attached
to Lord's, but to the now almost numberless clubs which
were to be met with in all parts of the kingdom. The
object in view was to regulate the bowling ; and if that
were done, much would be accomplished towards effect-
ing an improvement in the game.
The Honourable F. PONSONBT thought it would
be advisable to ask the opinion of the umpires on the
subject.

Sir J. BAYLEY said there could, of course, not be any
objection to do so ; but ho apprehended that the oppor-
tunities their umpires had of forming an opinion in the
matter must necessarily be limited, from the fact of their
standing usually in the first class matches only, and at
Lord's, s here the reckless and wild bowling was seldom
to be seen. He considered that Mr. Denison, who was
not only present at all the matches at Lord's, but played
in and visited a large number of other matches in all
parts of the country, would be in a condition to supply
the Committee with probably the best information on
the point. _ _ _

Mr. DENISON then entered into a detail of the results
of his experience, and went on to say that whilst the
evil did not exist with any of the bowlers at Lord's, or
with those who generally bowled in the first-class
matches, yet that in various parts, he might indeed say
in all, and also in most of the clubs in the vicinity of the
metropolis, the bowling tbr pace rather than for steadi-
ness of delivery and a:. the wicket, had become unfortu-
nately very general. Hence the immense number of
" wide balls." The only means he at present saw of cor-
recting this system of wild bowling was by visiting the
same penalty upon a " wide ball" as was awarded to a
"no ball." He was quite satsfied that as soon as it
were made known that such a consequence would follow
a " wide ball," the bowling would become more steady,
and that the reckless delivery would be gradually aban-
dened.

Mr.. 7. II DARK, the proprietor of Lord's ground, was
then called in, when, in reply to the qa, stions of the
Committee, he said that, in his opinion, there was no
alteration in the rules required. His experience, of late
years, had been chiefly confined to the matches on his
own ground, and to the " returns" of the great matches.
He thought it would be too severe a penalty on the
bowler to allow the hitter to run for a " wide ball," be-
cause there were many reasons, sometimes, why the
"wide ball" could not be avoided. It 'might be wet
weather, or the preceding bowler might have worked a
large hole near the crease, either of which causes might
make him give a "wide ball," without any intention to
do wrong. In his opinion, the present law inflicted its
own and a sufficient punishment on the bowler. Some
years ago Mr. Mynn was in the habit of bowling very
wide, but he was now as straight as any bowler of the
day. Any alteration which should have the effect of
causing the bowling to be more generally straight,
would, without doubt, render the duties of the long stop
much easier. Mr. Dark having retired,
After some further conversation, _ _

Sir J. BAYLEY moved a resolution, to the effect that
the Committee, upon the statements they had heard that
clay, considered it necessary that an alteration should be
made in the rules, by assimilating the rule fur " wide
balls" with that for " no balls."
The Hon. F. PoNSONBY seconded the resolution.
The 14th law was then altered, so as to place the " no
balls" and the " wide balls" on the same footing ; and,
on being put to the Committee, was carried unani-
mously.
The 13th law was then expunged.
Sir J. BAYLEY then said that the alterations which
the Committee had made in the laws of the game were of
such importance, that they ought to be in the possession
of every club throughout the kingdom. It was, therefore,
highly desirable that the laws, as amended, should be
reprinted. He would, consequently, move a resolution,
to the effect that the laws, as altered and revised, be
printed by Mr. Denison, in the second edition of his
" Cricketer's Companion," by the authority of the Mary-
lebone Club.

Mr. KYNASTON seconded the proposition, which was
thereupon unanimously carried.
The Committee separated, after a discussion and
consideration of the question of nearly three hours' du-
ration.

THE REVIEW IN WINDSOR PARK.—Very much
surprise was expressed by all who are in the habit of
attending reviews, that the Horse, or Flying, Artillery
formed no conspicuous part, as they are wont to do,
of the military spectacle on Wednesday last. Their
brilliant accoutrements, the excellence of their horses,
and the wonderful skill and celerity with which their
evolutions are accomplished, have always made the
Horse Artillery rather a " show" corps for foreign dig-
nitaries, and their presence was sadly missed when an op-
portunity of display was offered before so competent and
critical ajudge as the Emperor Nicholas. The following
story has been sent us by a correspondent to
account for their absence :—" The Horse Ar-
tillery were to hare fired a salute immediately
on her Majesty taking up her position on
the ground, but a malapropos alacrity induced them to ,
commence disposing of their powder while the horses of
the Royal carriages were still attached, and before her
Majesty was well clear of the line. The noise of the
firing frightened the horses of the Royal carriage as
well as other horses, and some little confusion occurred,
which was calculated at least to annoy, if it could not
alarm her Majesty. The Duke of Wellington, chagrined,
sent off in his summary way an aide-de-camp to the
over-loyal but delinquent creators of the mischief. The '
result of his message was only to be gathered from the
fact, that these Horse Artillery were no more heard of
during the review—they beceme literally flyingartillery,
and continued eo."--Evenino paper.