Page:The Crisis in Cricket and the Leg Before Rule (1928).djvu/22

14 Mr. V. E. Walker wrote what was practically the same opinion. Finally, M r. Ellison gave notice that "At special meeting of the Council to be held in February he would move a resolution to call the attention of the M.C.C. to the unsatisfactory effect of law 24 and to recommend that it should be so altered as to secure that a batsman shall be out if with any part of his person, being in a straight line between wicket and wicket, he stop the ball, which in the opinion of the Umpire would have hit the wicket."

At a special meeting of the County Cricket Council, held on the 8th of February, 1888, Mr. Ellison's resolution was put and carried by eleven votes to three, and the centre of interest was shifted to the M.C.C., who, on the 13th of February, 1888, appointed a sub-committee "to consider and report to the General Committee whether any undue advantage rests with the batsman or with the bowler under the existing Laws of Cricket, and if so, what steps should be taken to remedy this defect." This sub-committee made several proposals but did not recommend any alteration of the l.b.w. law, on the ground that stopping the ball wilfully with the legs was done by a very limited number of cricketers, and before making any change in the law, ample opportunity for discussion should be given, and unanimity as far as possible arrived at. The Committee, however, passed the following resolution: "That the practice of deliberately defending the wicket with the person instead of the bat is contrary to the spirit of the game, and inconsistent with strict fairness, and the M.C.C. will discountenance and prevent this practice by every means in their power." The Committee also recommended that "Instructions be given to