The Absolute Rubbish that was the First Instance of Handled the Ball and an Accusation to the Long Deceased
The LAWS of the game are rather fluid, shifting and changing over time, but sometimes there is just no excuse for the stupidity in the letter of the law which allows certain things to happen. For this story, we go back to 1872. Sussex had just built their new home ground, aptly named “New County Ground”, upon an old barely field at Hove. This is still the ground they use today, simply called “County Cricket Ground” as it is evidently no longer new.
The match was a three-dayer between Kent and Sussex which was a part of the County Championship, each over was four balls in length and the umpire was one John Lillywhite (incidentally, John Lillywhite partook in the incident in 1862 which led to modern over-arm bowling being legalized. The incident involved Edgar Willsher who was playing in Kent in this game). The first innings saw Kent dismissed for 105, featuring a 7fer for James Southerton of Petworth. Sussex responded with 210/10, as John Mare of Paddington scored 97 before falling to the bowling of George “Farmer” Bennett, a bricklayer, who we will come back to in a moment.
Kent began their second innings, trailing by 105, as they began to promptly fall apart. The scorecard read like a phonebook (2, 3, 5, 3, 2) until Edward Tootell and Frank Crawford dug in and scored 20 odd a piece before a runout disrupted the partnership. Out strolled the aforementioned George “Farmer” (not a farmer) Bennett. He faced up and received a delivery on a good length which someway got entangled in this padding or clothing. He reached down with his arm to free ball so play could continue, and was promptly dismissed handled the ball by John Lillywhite. This marked Bennett as the first batsman to ever be dismissed in this fashion. I am sure we can agree it was stupid but there is a valid argument to be made that “the letter of the law at the time stated he was dismissed.” Which is fair, but what is strange is that it took 20 years for law 33(b) to be introduced which rules the ball dead in this scenario.
As per the 1799 rules “The striker is out if... the Striker touches or takes up the ball while in play, unless at the request of the other party.” The 1799 rules also speak of umpiring, stating that “They are not to order a player out, unless appealed to by the adversaries.” Which is generally the rule that we have today, which allows us to identify our culprit.
Captain Charles Smith of Albourne. You sir, were not behaving in the Spirit of the GameTM
The LAWS of the game are rather fluid, shifting and changing over time, but sometimes there is just no excuse for the stupidity in the letter of the law which allows certain things to happen. For this story, we go back to 1872. Sussex had just built their new home ground, aptly named “New County Ground”, upon an old barely field at Hove. This is still the ground they use today, simply called “County Cricket Ground” as it is evidently no longer new.
The match was a three-dayer between Kent and Sussex which was a part of the County Championship, each over was four balls in length and the umpire was one John Lillywhite (incidentally, John Lillywhite partook in the incident in 1862 which led to modern over-arm bowling being legalized. The incident involved Edgar Willsher who was playing in Kent in this game). The first innings saw Kent dismissed for 105, featuring a 7fer for James Southerton of Petworth. Sussex responded with 210/10, as John Mare of Paddington scored 97 before falling to the bowling of George “Farmer” Bennett, a bricklayer, who we will come back to in a moment.
Kent began their second innings, trailing by 105, as they began to promptly fall apart. The scorecard read like a phonebook (2, 3, 5, 3, 2) until Edward Tootell and Frank Crawford dug in and scored 20 odd a piece before a runout disrupted the partnership. Out strolled the aforementioned George “Farmer” (not a farmer) Bennett. He faced up and received a delivery on a good length which someway got entangled in this padding or clothing. He reached down with his arm to free ball so play could continue, and was promptly dismissed handled the ball by John Lillywhite. This marked Bennett as the first batsman to ever be dismissed in this fashion. I am sure we can agree it was stupid but there is a valid argument to be made that “the letter of the law at the time stated he was dismissed.” Which is fair, but what is strange is that it took 20 years for law 33(b) to be introduced which rules the ball dead in this scenario.
As per the 1799 rules “The striker is out if... the Striker touches or takes up the ball while in play, unless at the request of the other party.” The 1799 rules also speak of umpiring, stating that “They are not to order a player out, unless appealed to by the adversaries.” Which is generally the rule that we have today, which allows us to identify our culprit.
Captain Charles Smith of Albourne. You sir, were not behaving in the Spirit of the GameTM