Yet the pitcher is forbidden to deceive the batsman by a feint of delivering the ball without delivering it.

But on the other hand, on rough grounds much is left to chance and luck; cricket, as played on a billiard-table wicket certainly favours the batsman, but it admits of a brilliancy and finish in the matter of style that are impossible on the old-fashioned wicket.

Now came the question how many runs should be scored, for I had passed my fellow batsman in the race, having completed seven runs to his five.

If only something could be done to curtail the length of matches, and rid us of that awful nuisance the poking, time-wasting batsman, there would be little improvement possible.