the blade will conceal two stumps from the view of the umpire. This spot is carefully dented in the turf by the bat. Taking guard is optional with batters.
Innings.—In single wicket, the whole number of both sides having gone to the bat and been decided out by the umpire. In double wicket, eleven men having gone in and ten having been given out on each side.
On.—If a line is extended from boundary to boundary, passing through the middle of the centre stump of each wicket, all that portion of the field to the left of the line for a right-hand batter, is the "leg," or "on" side of the wicket.
Off.— While all that portion of the field to the right of the line while a right-handed batter is performing, is the "off" side of the wicket. The reverse obtains for left-handers. These terms are relative to the batter. They may change with the batsman every "over," or with every ball.
Popping Crease.—A line marked four feet in front of the wicket and parallel to it, extending from boundary to boundary. Only about six feet of this line is whitened with lime to guide the umpire and to define the runs.
Shooter.—A ball which from any cause does not rise from the ground.
Tice.—A ball bowled to tempt a batter to strike.
Wicket.—The wicket seems to have developed from a hole in the ground into which the fielders placed the ball to "put out" the batsman. A single stick eighteen inches high displaced the hole. Two upright sticks each a foot high placed two feet apart with a bail two feet long succeeded the single stick in the year 1700. The years 1781, 1814, and 1817 are all memorable for changes in
