Family friendly backyard cricket rules!

It's backyard cricket season! The rules are often a bit sketchy and change from family to family, so whether you're playing with family, friends or neighbours, here are a few popular rules to get you started and save a few arguments! 

December 7, 2023

Set-up

Assign an official umpire (Mum is a favourite choice – and whatever she decides, goes! No arguments!) 

  • All players can bat and bowl, but a player can’t be dismissed from batting and then immediately bowl.

  • A green wheelie bin, a deck chair or an esky shall be used as wickets at opposite ends of the chosen ‘pitch’.

  • The ‘official’ backyard cricket ball is a tennis ball – nothing else will do! Tampering with the ball is at the discretion and consensus of all players.

Wheelie bin wickets

Wheelie bins are an easy substitute for wickets – everyone has one. But remember if the bowler hits anywhere on that bin – you’re gone (the wheelie bin never misses a catch!).

Bowling and fielding

  • Kids may bowl to their full ability to any older players (unless it’s to grandma) but use slow-medium pace to anyone younger. 

  • The bowling crease is to be taken by a crack in the driveway, or by an identifiable patch in the grass.

  • "One hand, one bounce" is out. Catching a ball with one hand off the first bounce is given out, whether it’s off the ground, a wall, a car, or any other obstacle.

Tree fielders 

  • Trees are a great asset when there aren’t enough players for a solid fielding team.

  • The bowler gets to choose a certain number of trees or shrubs and if the ball hits any, the batsman is out.

Batting

  • You can’t be ‘out’ from the first ball. This is to minimise the chance of tears and tantrums (mainly from the grown-ups!).   

  • If the ball touches the bat, you must run.

  • Smashing the ball over the fence or into the pool will get you 6 runs, but you’re automatically out – and then the batsman has to go and retrieve the ball.

Extra rules

  • Any ball caught by the dog falls under the ‘six and out’ rule.

  • If the ball is lost – a new one will be found – so have plenty of tennis balls just in case. And the batsman who lost the ball will be out. 

  • Automatic runs - pick certain spots in the backyard (like the side of a shed or a fence) and award a certain number of automatic runs to anyone who can hit them.

  • The rules can be changed at the whim of the organiser!

Source: Livelighter.com.au
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