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OUT-DOOR GAMES

which deal with the weapons and paraphernalia of the game and those that affect the laws.

One form of alteration of the laws which is strongly advocated by many is in respect of the follow-on rule, and declaring the innings at an end. The law up to the end of 1899 provided that the side which goes in second shall follow their innings if they have scored 120 runs less than their opponents in a three days' match, or 80 runs in a two days' match, and may declare the innings at an end any time during the last day of a match, but not before. It is not necessary to say much about the number of runs necessary to compel a follow-on. Some years ago it was 80 runs in a three, and 60 in a one day's match; the run-getting now is so gigantic that 20 and 80 will probably have to be increased, unless some means of checking run-getting is adopted, and in fact there has been a proposal to this effect before the M.C.C. committee. But the principles on which the law of follow-on ought to stand are by no means clear, and have been the subject of acute controversy during the last few years. It is so easy to get runs now that bowlers are over-