Careful and clever that batsmen must be
Who wishes to tot up a century.
Ten different dangers to hedge him about
By any of which he may be put out,
First "bowled", second "caught", and third "leg before",
A fate that most batsmen dislike and deplore.
The fourth is "run out", deemed very bad cricket;
The fifth, if he clumsily "hit his own wicket".
"Stumped" is the sixth, the seventh we'll call
Foolishly touching or handling the ball.
Eighth, if the striker "should hit the ball twice"
With malice prepense - a pestilent vice.
Ninth, if he purposely spoils a fair catch
While running - and tenth, the last of the batch,
When jacket or hat, propelled by a gale,
Touches the wicket displacing a bail!
William Outhwaite (c1883)
Who wishes to tot up a century.
Ten different dangers to hedge him about
By any of which he may be put out,
First "bowled", second "caught", and third "leg before",
A fate that most batsmen dislike and deplore.
The fourth is "run out", deemed very bad cricket;
The fifth, if he clumsily "hit his own wicket".
"Stumped" is the sixth, the seventh we'll call
Foolishly touching or handling the ball.
Eighth, if the striker "should hit the ball twice"
With malice prepense - a pestilent vice.
Ninth, if he purposely spoils a fair catch
While running - and tenth, the last of the batch,
When jacket or hat, propelled by a gale,
Touches the wicket displacing a bail!
William Outhwaite (c1883)
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