Rules & Tactics
This page has basic information about the rules and tactics of indoor cricket for people new to the sport.
Rules
Playing Court:
Indoor cricket is played on a rectangular court within completely enclosed tight netting. The playing surface is artificial grass matting. The pitch is the same dimensions as an outdoor cricket pitch with collapsible stumps at each end. Batters do not have to run the entire length of the pitch and consequently there is an extra crease approximately halfway between the ends of the pitch called the non-striker’s crease.
Players:
Indoor cricket is played between 2 teams of 8 players. The game consists of 1 batting and 1 bowling innings per team. Each innings lasts 16 overs. Players bat in a partnership for 4 overs & each player must bowl 2 overs.
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Officials:
Indoor cricket is officiated by one umpire who is situated outside the playing court at the strike batter's end. The umpire sits or stands on a raised platform that is usually 3 metres above ground level and enables them to see the entire playing area.
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Equipment:
Collapsible plastic stumps are used at each end of the pitch in indoor cricket. They are spring-loaded and are attached to a metal base so that they spring back to the standing position when knocked over. The bails are tied to the stumps with string and thus remain attached to the stumps even when dislodged. The ball used in indoor cricket ball is yellow (so that it can be seen more easily against a variety of backgrounds) and it has a softer centre than a traditional outdoor cricket ball.
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Indoor cricket bats are usually lighter in weight however outdoor cricket bats may also be used. Batters wear either indoor cricket gloves (lightweight cotton gloves with leather palms to aid grip on the bat) or traditional outdoor cricket gloves. Wicketkeepers often only wear 1 glove due to the need for them to throw in indoor cricket however they may choose to wear 0, 1 or 2 gloves.
Scoring:
Scoring in indoor cricket consists of physical runs and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored when batters complete a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net. In order for bonus runs to be scored, at least one physical run must be scored. The bonus runs are then added to the physical runs.
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Bonus runs for particular parts of the nets include:
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Zone A (front net – behind the keeper): 0 runs
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Zone B (side nets between the striker's end and halfway down the pitch): 1 run
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Zone C (side nets between halfway and the bowlers end):
2 runs -
Zone D (back net – behind the bowler): 4 runs (on the bounce) or 6 runs (on the full)
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Zone B or C onto Zone D: 3 runs
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Dismissals:
A batter can be dismissed in the same ways they can be in outdoor cricket – with variations in the case of LBW. When a batter is dismissed, five runs are deducted from their total and they continue to bat. Players bat in pairs for 4 overs at a time, irrespective of whether they are dismissed. A player can also be caught by a ball rebounding off a net, except off a "6", as long as it has not previously touched the ground. This negates any physical or bonus runs that might have been awarded. A batter can only be dismissed LBW if they do not offer a shot and the umpire is satisfied that the ball would then have hit the stumps meaning that it is a rare occurrence in indoor cricket.
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Result:
The team with the most runs at the conclusion of both innings is declared the winner of the match. The second innings continues for the full 16 overs even if the batting side passes the first innings total due to the possibility of a side finishing behind a total even after they have surpassed it (since dismissals result in negative 5 runs).
Tactics
Coming soon...