Summary of the Sport:
Rule: |
Description: |
The Bat |
A round handle on top with a flat wooden bottom. The rules of the game limit the allowable size for a bat as not more than 38 in (965 mm) long and the blade may not be more than 4.25 in (108 mm) wide. Bats weigh from 1.1 to 2.3 Kg (2.4 to 5lbs). |
Protective Order |
Pads, Helmet and other padding for body parts (only for the batsman). No protective gear is allowed for the fielders except those who stand very close to the batsman (Silly Point, Short Leg etc.) |
The Ball |
A cricket ball is made of cork and string and covered with red leather. the ball must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163.0 g) and measure between 8 13/16 and 9 in (224 and 229 mm) in circumference. |
Distance Between Bowler & Batsman |
22 yards (66 feet) or 20.1 meters (approx. 58 ft or 17.7 m between bowler and batsman at delivery). |
Number of Umpires |
Usually four umpires in major league games; up to six (and as few as one) may officiate depending on the league and the importance of the game. |
Number of Players |
Consists of 10 players. In some leagues, a batting specialist may be designated as a hitter exclusively for the pitcher. Teams may use up to the balance of their rosters as substitutes without restriction during games. |
Number of Balls Allowed per Batsman |
Limited by the number of balls bowled in a match. A batsman who neither strikes out, walks, is hit by a pitch, nor hits a into fair territory may continue to hit until one of these things occurs. |
The Field |
The edge of the field is a boundary (or a boundary rope). The shape of the field is a rectangle. |
Maximum runs scored of a ball |
Eight (Home Run with all bases occupied -- aka Grand Slam). |
Batting Order |
Predetermined |
Delivery of the Ball |
It is delivered overhand. As in cricket the delivery is known as bowling. |
International Safe-Haven Field:
- Playing Field = 330-360’ x 148-295’ (100-110m x 45-90m).
- Wickets = No Wickets.
- Bowler-Batsman Distance (The Pitch) = 66’ x 12’ (20.1m x 3.66m).
- Strike Zone = 122cm x 264cm x 71cm (4’ x 8’8” x 28") & In-between the popping/batting creases.
- Edge of Field = Boundary Line.
- Bases = Either 1) designated rubber bases, 2) bags, or 3) cricket wickets
- The bases can either be 1) baseball bags, welsh baseball poles, or 3) cricket wickets.
- The bat is any cricket bat not more than 38 in (965 mm) long and the blade may not be more than 4.25 in (108 mm) wide; Bats weigh from 1.1 to 2.3 Kg (2.4 to 5lbs).
- The ball is any cricket ball made of cork and string and covered with red leather. the ball must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163.0 g) and measure between 8 13/16 and 9 in (224 and 229 mm) in circumference. The ball can either be red or white.
- Baseball and cricket wicketkeeper gloves are allowed, but not required except for the Catcher.
- Catchers must use plastic shinguards, padded chest protectors, and wire masks molded into a hard plastic shell.
- Batsmen must wear pads, a helmet and other padding for body parts.
- Each team gets 2 innings of 10 overs each.
- An over is 6 consecutive bowls.
- All bowls must stay within the pitch to count as one of the balls in an over.
- Teams may be coed, though they are not required to be.
- 10 players are on the field at any one time; 35 on roster.
- Positions = Bowler (B), Catcher (C), 1st Baseman (1B), 2nd Baseman (2B), 3rd Baseman (3B), 4th Baseman (4B), and Four Outfielders (OF).
- The Bowler may have 1 or 2 Designated Batsman (DB) if he so desires, or he can bat himself.
- Roster Setup = 8 Bowlers, 5 Catchers, 11 Infielders, 8 Outfielders, 3 Designated Batsman.
- All bowlers can only bowl a max of 5 overs per half-inning.
- Unlimited substitutions are allowed throughout the match; If a player is substituted they cannot return unless the substitute or any other player becomes either injured or ill.
- Delivery = overhand (cricket method only).
- Bowlers can have a start-up run before the bowl.
- All bowls must stay within the crease at all times during the bowl:
- Illegal Bowl = ball remains live (called wide if batter didn’t swing).
- All Batters may take at most 2 practice swings before their real attempt to hit the ball.
- If the batsman hits the ball, they must run if the ball is hit into fair territory.
- Starting on the pitch, each offensive player attempts to earn the right to run (counterclockwise) to the next base (corner) of the diamond, then to touch the base at that corner, continuing on to each following base in order, and finally returning to home, whereupon a run (point) is scored.
- Runners can use bats while advancing the bases; it is legal to lead off and steal bases.
- Foul balls, max of 2 bunts per at-bat; Hit by pitch = not awarded 1 run.
- The cricket equivalent of defensive shots is counted as a bunt; If a batsman bunts, they must either attempt to get to first base or take a strike in the B-S count.
- The Strike Zone is the area in which any batsman can hit the ball.
- A Ball is a legal bowl that doesn't travel through the strike zone (too high or wide) but still travels inside the pitch
- A Wide is a illegal bowl in which the ball either 1) leaves the pitch after a bad bounce or 2) doesn't travel through the pitch at all.
- No Ball = 1) if the bowler bowls from the wrong place, 2) if they straightens their elbow during the delivery, 3) if the bowling is dangerous, or 4) if the ball bounces more than twice or rolls along the ground before reaching the batsman; A no ball adds one run to the batting team's score in addition to any other runs which are scored off it, and the batsman can't be dismissed off a no ball.
- Team Batting Order = a coin toss decides who will bat first; the away team always gets the pick.
- Individual Batting Order = Each team’s batting order is predetermined, but every player must bat in the half-inning assuming the over limit allows that to happen; Example = 1B, 3B, 4B, OF, OF, C, 2B, OF, DB or B, OF.
- The team batting last reaches the amount of runs needed to win the game.
- The predetermined amount of overs has been bowled (10 per half-inning).
- When all 10 batsmen have been dismissed.
- Dismissal Procedure = automatic.
- Strikeout = 3 missed swings or bunts or any combination of missed swings and bunts that makes a total of 3 strikes.
- Fly-out / Caught = catching the ball before landing.
- Force-out = tagging baserunner or base before baserunner touches base when a baserunner is forced to leave his base when the batsman becomes a baserunner himself.
- Tag-out / Run-out = tagging baserunner or base before baserunner touches base.
- Interference / Obstructing the Field = batsman or baserunner intentionally interfering with the fielding side.
- Handled the ball = batsman or baserunner intentionally touching the ball with hand, arm, or bat to change its course; Double Hit = where the batsman or baserunner intentionally touches the ball twice.
- Timed out = batsman not arriving within 1 minute after previous one being dismissed or advanced to 1st base.
- A player hits a fair ball that isn’t caught by a fielder before it touches the ground.
- A player hits a fair ball that touches the ground and is caught by a fielder whose throw fails to beat the player to a base.
- The umpire calls four pitches out of the strike zone during your at-bat.
- A pitch in the strike zone hits a player without first touching your bat.
- The catcher obstructs a player's swing.
- A player hits a fair ball beyond the playing field (for a home run).
- A player hits a fair, catchable ball, but the fielder drops the ball, throws it away, and so on.
- A third strike skips past the catcher and a player beats the throw to first.
- Right arm outstretched = No-ball. This signal indicates that the bowler’s foot has landed over the front line of the bowling crease and the delivery is deemed a no-ball.
- Both arms outstretched = Wide. This signal shows that the ball was out of reach of the batsman or woman and has been adjudged a wide. One run goes onto the batting team’s extras score, and the ball must be re-bowled.
- Right leg raised and clasped by the right hand = Leg byes. This sign indicates that the ball hit the pads of the batsman, not the bat, and that the runs completed are adjudged to be leg byes. These runs are not credited to the individual player’s score but to the team’s, as extras.
- Right arm raised skywards = Byes. This shows that the ball has been missed by both the batsman or woman and the wicket-keeper. Any runs scored are deemed to be byes. Byes, like leg byes, are counted as extras.
- Right hand and arm swept across the body = Home Run (one run). This signal signifies that the ball has been hit all the way to or over the sidelines, and a minimum of one run has been scored.
- Both arms held above the head and index fingers outstretched = Home Run (four runs). The ball has been hit all the way or over the endline. A minimum of four runs are awarded for this feat.
- Index finger raised towards the batsman = Out. The umpire has given the batsman or woman out and they have to leave the crease and take the long, lonely walk back to the pavilion.
- Right arm held at out horizontally then flexed back to touch the shoulder = Short run. One of the batsmen has failed to touch their bat or body on any of the bases when advancing the bases. This is deemed a short run and the scorer is being told to take that run off the score.
- # of base runs after a hit = # of points.
- Players already on base cannot score by advancing to another base on another player's hit, but can score by either stealing a base or reaching the pitch after reaching all four bases (1pt for either action).
- Home Run = 2pts (sidelines) / 4pts (endlines) + # of baserunners.
- Extras = 1pt each:
a) Base on balls (4 bowls landing the pitch but not in the strike zone per at-bat).
b) Wide (1 bowl not landing on the pitch; batsman continues batting).
c) Bye (missed bowl and batsman reaches a base).
d) No ball (illegal bowl). - Format = Runs/Outs (EX: 50-7 = 50 runs and 7 outs).
- # of Referees: 2 referees
- T-shirt, pants, ball cap, shoes, and sunglasses (optional).
- Similar to rugby, both teams must wear their dark color uniforms during games unless either 1) the teams share similar colors or 2) if someone is colorblind; If that is the case, the designated home team will wear their dark color uniforms and the away team will wear either 1) their lighter color uniforms or 2) an alternative darker color uniform.