An interesting point in the B.C.C. rules was raised in the course of a match played between Elphick and Sparrow in London. Elphick had given two consecutive misses when not entitled to do so, and was, of course, penalized, the balls being spotted for Sparrow. The latter missed the white loser, but curiously enough the balls rolled into a dead safe position. "What happens if I give another miss?" enquired Elphick of the referee, who declined to answer on the ground that the rules decreed that "the referee shall not give advice nor express opinion on points affecting play."
Elphick ultimately gave another miss, his third consecutively without a score or double baulk having intervened.
Sparrow thereupon claimed a foul, but the referee ruled in favour of Elphick. The referee took the view that as Elphick's second miss had already been penalized the Whole incident of that particular foul stroke was closed, and that the striker was relatively in the same position as if no previous misses had been given at all.
The rule reads "a player may not make two misses in successive innings unless he or the opponent scores after the first miss, or a double baulk intervenes."