The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1859-10-05

SHvRTAL correspondents want 10 know some
thing of the game Of cricket. II would occupy
too much space to give the game in detail; but
we will cndeayor to outline thJ points Of IL, so
that the reader can understand, AT least, little
OF tho merits of the play. Three stumps are in
serted in the ground, about three iuches apart,
connected together at the top by two pieces OF
wood called balls which lie loosely on the top,
ready TO fall from the least touch Of the bali.
At the distance Of twenty-five yards, three
other stumps are similarly placed, and in front
Of the stumps, or wickets as they are termed
q line distant four feet from the wicket, is drawn,
marking the boundary Of the bstsmsns ground,
outside Of which he Is liable at all times to be
put out The object Of the bowler is to knock
down the stumps or hit the balls OF with
the bsll-thc aim Of the batsman bcing to pro-
vent him, and at the same time to hit the ball
q sufficient distance to admit Of his running from
wicket to wicket before the stumps are knocked
down with the ball. For every such run he
scores one. Twenty two players are engaged
In a regular contest-eleven on n side. Eleven 20
into the field, taking various .positions-such "a
those Of .''bowlers of which there are two
'wicket keeper" "long stop" "point," 'slips,"
''cover- point" "mid-wicket, of and on"-that
is, to the right or left Of the batsman who first
receives the ball l-'long- ;" 'shor-leg," &C.;
these positions being chiefly those in the field
where the ball is most frequently hit bv tho
batsman.
Behind the stump tho ''wicket. keeper stands,
NulN htup tnt Wncfl tHeN PASS
the batsman. Behind him again is tho 'long-
stop" who stops all balls that passes the
wicket keeper" The great activity aud nerve
requisite IN the oncrous duty Of "wicket- keeper"
renders 1t one that few are found to fill, even
oreditably, much less with marked ability
When a run is obtained without the ball
being hit Is termed bye, and when touching
the person Of the batsman, leg bye-byes bo-
ing generally obtained from balls that pass the
long stop. The ball must be bowled, not
thrown or jerkod, and the batsman is put out
when the ball passes his bat and knocks tho
air and 1t is caught before touching the ground,
or If the balls are knocked oil while he is out of
his ground.
according as agreed upon, the game is either
played "Four Over" or Eight Over" which
means that Four or Eight Balls are bowled from
one end--ihe game keeper calls "Over"--tho
players revere their pOsi,ions-nnd another
Bowler plays his ball from the opposite wickets.
All balls rolled out of reach " the Batter arc
clnimed and added on to his Clubs score; they
| are termed "wides."
II batter has his leg before his wicket when
u q ball IL played he is ruled out Of the "In-
nings." The letters 81. b. W." signify leg before
wicket.
An "Innin,,s' consists in all the players on one
side either being caught or run out.
When batter strikes the ball he runs from
wicket TO wicket; the other party 10 at tho same
time does likewise. AS many "runs" As are made
by the "Siiiker" are added on 20 his score.
The ball mast weigh not less than live ounces
and half nor more than five ounces aud three
quarters.
Tho bat must not exceed L. IL ches in tn,
widss, part, il must not DC more than ~ inche
| In length.
The stumps (or wickets) must DO three
in number twenty seven inches out OF tn
ground.
| In International Match games the od,ls ar
decidedly against the English, for the simpl'
fact that they have 10 "fiedcrs" to contend with
exclusive Of "Short Stops (or wicket keeper,
| and 'tLong Stops