good, the better will be the spot for pitching the wickets. These preliminaries being arranged, the
UMPIRES
for the two parties must be chosen, to whom all questions in dispute must be referred, and whose decree must be final. These should be men of known competence to judge all points of the game, also of good repute for honesty of mind—free from prejudice and partiality.
The umpires take their post, one at each wicket: he where the striker is should be partially behind it, so as not to interfere with the fieldsmen; and the umpire at the bowler's wicket should place himself directly in a line behind it, in order that he may perceive whether the ball be stopped by the striker's leg; for if such accident should happen, and the ball have been delivered straight to the wicket, and the batter not have touched it with his bat, any of the adverse party may require the umpire to pronounce whether he should be out or not. If the ball have not been delivered straight to the wicket, and strike the batter, he is not out. The 'Laws of Cricket' will describe the other duties of the umpire.
PITCHING THE WICKETS
will be the next point of consideration. When two matches are played to decide the question of superiority, the party leaving home are allowed the privilege of pitching the first wickets, also the choice of going in first or not. The wickets must be pitched within thirty yards of a centre that has been previously selected by the opposing party: but if one match only, or even two matches, be contested upon the same ground, then it devolves upon the umpires to pitch the wickets. It is the duty of these to
