esult of good
play by the ins. Thus, should the bowler bowl a ball which, in the
opinion of the umpire, is outside the batsman's reach, it is called a
"wide," and counts one (without running) to the batsman's side; should
the bowler in delivering a ball step beyond the bowling-crease, or if he
jerks it or throws it, it is a "no ball," and counts one (without
running) to the batsman's side; but if the batsman hits a no ball he
cannot be put out otherwise than by being "run out." If he makes one or
more runs on such a hit, the no ball is condoned, and the runs so made
are credited as hits to him and his side. The umpire must take especial
care to call "no ball" instantly upon delivery--"wide ball" as soon as
it shall have passed the batsman, and not, as a confused umpire once
called, "No ball--wide--out." Again, should a ball which the batsman has
not touched pass the fielders behind the wicket, the batsmen may make a
run or runs, which count to their side as "byes:" should the ball,
however, missing his bat, glance from the batsman's leg or other part of
his body, and then pass the fielders, the batsmen may make a run or
runs, which count to their side as "leg-byes."

The game thus proceeds until each batsman of the _in_ side is in turn
put out, except the eleventh or last, who, having no partner to assume
the other wicket, "carries out his bat," and the innings for the side is
closed. The other side now has its innings, and, _mutatis mutandis_, the
game proceeds as before. Usually two innings on each side are played,
unless one side makes more runs in one innings than the other makes in
both, or unless it is agreed in advance to play a "one-innings match."

So much for the matter-of-fact details of the game of cricket. To enter
into the more interesting but less tangible combination of science,
chance and skill to which cricket owes not a little of its fascination,
would extend this article far beyond its assigned limits. The science of
"length-balls" and "twisting lobs," the skill in "forward play" or "back
play," the chances of "shooters" and "bailers," are balanced in a happy
proportion, and to a cricketer form a tempting theme. But we must
content ourselves by referring those disposed to pursue the subject to
such books as _The Cricket Field_, _The Theory and Practice of Cricket_,
_Felix on the Bat_, _Cricket Songs and Poems_, and to other similar English
publications on the game, which are so numerous that if colle