How to Play Indoor Cricket

Indoor cricket is a smaller, simpler version of the traditional cricket game played outdoors. It shares many of its rules and characteristics but has some added benefits, such as the option of using fewer players in a smaller field. Despite its name, indoor cricket is not always played indoors. Instead, many fields are simply contained surfaces surrounded by string netting.

Instructions

    • 1

      Put together the teams. You will need eight fielders per team, plus a bowler and two batsmen. As in baseball, the batsmen are the ones who score runs, while the bowler is the one who throws (or "bowls") the ball. Smaller teams, consisting of six fielders, are also possible, as long as the length of the game and the number of innings is also reduced: instead of 16 overs (innings), the number is reduced to 12.

    • 2

      Gather the essential equipment, including collapsible stumps (which replace the ground ones used outdoors), soft cricket ball and a few bats (although traditional ones can be used, lighter weight bats are also available for indoor cricket).

    • 3

      Find the right field. Indoor cricket arenas are covered by netting, which runs on the sides of the field and all the way to the back ends of the pitch. The right indoor cricket field will have marked points to show the half-way pitch, which the batsmen must reach in order to score a run or point.

    • 4

      Assign somebody to keep score. Once the bowler throws the ball, the batsman can start a run in hopes of scoring a physical run, which is worth 1 point if it reaches Zone B (the half-way pitch), 2 points if it reaches Zone C (the striker's end) and 4 points if it reaches Zone D (the back net). Bonus points are awarded for runs that come after the original, basic full run.

    • 5

      Make sure you have officials to keep track of the runs and to decide over difficult or non-standard runs or bounced balls. Traditional games have a single umpire to do this, who sits at the end of the court on a raised platform. Secondary officials are common in official tournaments. The winner of a match is the team with the highest score, including runs and bonus points.