Backyard Cricket
1. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME
Cricket is played between 2 teams, each consisting of 8 players. Whichever team scores the most runs wins the game. In order to score one run, the batting team must both complete a full run between the marked lines (creases). Your team can only score runs when it is your team’s turn to bat. Each team has a chance to bat and to field (An innings).
2. DURATION OF THE GAME
a. Games will be 1.5 hours in length. Game time is per the posted league schedule.
b. Teams are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to game time to allow for check in and warm up. Teams wills be asked to grant their opponents a 10-minute grace period if needed. If the required number of players arrive within the grace period, the game will be played and recorded as an official game.
c. Games played as one innings each, with 14 overs per innings
3. EQUIPMENT AND FIELD
a. The field will marked out by cones as an oval boundary around the wicket
b. Game balls will be provided and are softer than regulation cricket balls
c. Urban Rec will provide 2 bats for the use of the night
d. Urban Rec will provide wicket keeper gloves, all other protective equipment should be brought if desired.
4. THE TEAM
a. Only eight (8) players allowed on the field at any one time.
b. There must be a minimum of two (2) Males, and Females on the field always.
c. This league requires your team to have a minimum of five (5) players, including one (1) Male or Female to start the game
d. Please consider our Default, Forfeit, and Substitute Policy
5. STARTING PLAY
Team Captains should meet at the beginning of the game for a coin toss. The winner of the toss shall choose if they want to bat, or bowl first.
6. SCORING
In cricket the team who scored the most runs in their innings, wins.
7. CRICKET TERMINOLOGY
• Over: This is when a bowler bowls 6 balls, there are 14 overs per team.
• Change of Innings: This is when players change from batting to bowling
• Stumps: (AKA wickets) Are the three posts sitting at either end of the wicket and must be hit by a bowler or fielder to get a batsman out.
• Hit Wicket: This is when a batsman knocks over the stumps while playing a shot and results in them being given an out.
BOWLING AND FIELDING TEAM
8. FIELDING POSITIONS
When your team is not batting they are fielding. This means that your team is out in the field trying to get the batters out. You should allocate one player to bowl, and one to wicket keep. The others will be in the field. When it is your team’s turn to field, the most important thing to do is not be afraid of the ball and try to catch it. This is your chance to get the batsman out.
9. GETTING A BATSMAN OUT
a. If the ball is hit up into the air and a fielder catches it before it hits the ground then that batter is out.
b. One hand, one bounce – if the ball is hit up into the air and the fielder catches it with one hand, after it has bounced only once, then that batter is out.
c. If you gain possession of the ball and hit one of the wickets before the batter reaches the corresponding crease, then the batsman is out.
d. If you bowl and the ball makes it past the batter and into the stumps, they are out.
10. BOWLING
When bowling players can bowl overarm or underarm. Bowlers should be conscious of the skill level of the batsman they are bowling against. Balls can bounce twice on the wicket. Bowlers can only bowl one over at a time. There are a min of 5 bowlers in each innings.
BATTING
11. BATTING
The batter tries to score runs by hitting the ball when it is bowled to him or her. The batter stands in front of the wicket line. Once the batter hits the ball and starts running he or she becomes a runner. The batter must make it to the other wicket before the fielding team can get them out. Other ways a batsman can get runs is by making big hits;
a. A SIX: If the batman hits a ball beyond the marked line on the full, it’s an automatic 6 runs awarded to the batting team.
b. A FOUR: If the batsman hits the ball and it rolls to the outside of the field markings without touching a fielding player, its an automatic 4 runs awarded to the batting team.
12. BATTING RESTRICTIONS
a. The batting order alternates between men and women – at the VERY MOST there can be 2 males in between each female batter if the team does not have enough females to accommodate a 1 female, 1 male batting pattern.
b. The batting order must remain consistent for the duration of the game. The lone exception is if a player leaves the game. You can add players after the game has begun. They will bat at the bottom of the order relative to their gender.
c. RETIRING AT 30: To keep the game fair, and interesting a batsman must retire once they have made 30 runs, without getting out.
OTHER
13. WINNING THE GAME
The team with the most runs at the end of the final innings will win the game. Tie games are allowed. Extra innings may be added, but not if conditions warrants stoppage of play (safety, sundown). A draw will be awarded if both teams have an equal amount of runs. The winning team receives 3 points, 1 point each for drawn game and no points for a loss. Your Fun Points will affect your position on the standings. If two teams are matched on competition points, the team with the higher fun points rating will be favoured up the ladder.
14. FAIRPLAY SYSTEM
Each league night you will have an Event Host onsite, but these guys are not official referees. Urban Rec is a recreational league which practices a fair-play and fun-first policy, meaning you should be making your own calls on the game. The Event Host will be there to make the calls not made by individuals, keep time, and help guide the games within the game play rules. The Urban Rec Event Host has the final say on any issue that cannot be self-resolved.
15. SPORTSMANSHIP
All Urban Rec participants have read and agreed to the Urban Rec Code of Conduct. We also exercise a strict Disciplinary Policy. If you are seen to be rude in any way or not playing within the respect of the rules and Code of Conduct, you will be asked by the Urban Rec Staff to sub out of the game. If after returning to the game your attitude does not improve you will be asked to leave the venue, and an assessment will be made if you can play again. We do not tolerate idiots. Play fair.