The following rules will be used for Pair Cricket unless otherwise stated by the organiser.
1. Aim
1.1 The enjoyment for, and fair play by, all players. All players playing the game are 100% active the duration of the game. No sub required and no one waiting for their turn.
2. Pitch
2.1 Two sets of wickets, 16-22 yards apart.
2.2 Boundaries – maximum of 35 metres apart but can be reduced to accommodate more matches.
3. Teams
3.1 Each team comprises of 2 players.
3.3 In the event of injury to a player, no substitute will be allowed.
Should such an injury prevent the player batting, a substitute will be allowed to bat & bowl only with the permission of the opposing member of staff. However, there is unlikely to be any substitute available unless there is an eligible player in the crowd supporting the game.
4. The Start
4.1 The two teams toss a coin to decide which team has the choice of either batting or fielding first.
5. The Game
5.1 There will be 2 matches and 4 innings in one game. There will be 4 pairs (i.e. 4 teams, one pair being one team) in one game. One match will be between 2 pairs and the other match with the other 2 pairs. In the first match Pair A & Pair B will bat and bowl which Pair C and Pair D will field as requested by bowling team. In the other match, Pair C & Pair D will bat and bowl, which Pair A & Pair B will field as requested by bowling team.
5.3 Each game will be 90 minutes long.
5.4 Each inning will not be more than 20 minutes long.
6. Batting & Scoring
6.1 The batting side shall be divided into pairs, each pair batting for 8 overs.
6.2 Each team will get allowed dismissals with no additional penalty. After every dismissal, the other batter will face the next ball even if was the last ball of previous over. After 6 dismissals, the batting team can either declare OR continue to play for the remaining allotted overs, although from each additional dismissal 10 runs will be deducted from the total.
6.3 A batter may be out bowled, caught, run out, stumped, hit wicket.
6.4 There is no LBW law unless the batter deliberately blocks the ball with a leg or foot.
6.5 Runs will be scored in the normal way, as will byes.
6.6 2 runs will be awarded to the batting team for each wide ball and no-ball bowled, but no extra ball will be bowled, except in the final over of each innings when, in addition to the 2 runs, an extra ball will be bowled. See glossary overleaf for details.
6.7 The second team then bats for its 8 overs.
7. Bowling and Fielding
7.1. Both players in the bowling team must bowl 4 overs each.
7.2 Bowling may take place from one end only, depending on the place where game is played.
7.3 Bowling should be over arm only. Underarm bowling is not acceptable and the ‘double bounce’ rule should be applied i.e. if the ball bounces more than ONCE, or rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease.
7.4 The no-balls and wides will NOT be re-bowled. The batting will get 2 runs for no-ball or a wide. If there are other runs scored on these balls, they will be added too.
7.5 Players on the fielding side DO NOT need to rotate fielding positions.
7.6 With the exception of the wicketkeeper no fielder may field within 10 yards of the wicket, measured from the middle stump except behind the wicket on the off-side.
7.7 The fielding team will get points for catches and run-outs. Every Catch and Run-outs including assists, will be 1 point each.
A fielder may move into the restricted area to field a ball provided he/she was outside the area when the stroke was made.
Pair Cricket Rules
8. The Result
8.1 The team with the higher score wins. In the event of a tie the team taking more wickets will be the winner. If it is still equal, each player bowls 1 ball at the wickets (no batter), with the team scoring the higher number of strikes the winner.
9. Eligibility
9.1 Please note that the tournament is only open to adults and pupils over the age of 11.
GLOSSARY
10. An Over
10.1 An over consists of 6 balls.
11. LBW
11.1 In the very simple terms, a batter can be given out if the umpire feels that a ball, which hits the batter’s leg, would have hit the stumps. This law will not be used unless a batter deliberately blocks or kicks the ball away with the leg or foot.
12. Byes
12.1 If a batter misses the ball, or if it hits their body, they may still run and score byes.
13. Wide ball
13.1 A ball that is too far from the batter to strike will be called a wide. A ball will not be called a wide, no matter how wayward it may be, if the batter manages to hit it.
14. No ball
14.1 If a ball bounces more than once before reaching the batsman, of if it reaches the batsman above shoulder height without bouncing, it will be called a no ball.
14.2
EQUIPMENT
At all levels of the Tournament the use of appropriate Cricket equipment is mandatory. Players should wear gloves and pads – including wicket keeping. The type of ball used throughout all stages of the tournament must be an orange indoor Cricket ball.
RULES FOR PAIR CRICKET INDOOR COMPETITIONS
Normal Rules will apply except:
1. No bowlers may bowl more than 4 overs.
2. Bowling will be from one end only.
3. Ball striking the side walls/behind wall first will gain 1 bonus to be added to the score.
4. Ball Striking back wall (boundary wall) first after having bounced will gain 4 runs to be added to the score and will be counted as a boundary.
5. Ball striking back wall (boundary wall) first without striking the floor will gain 6 bonus runs to be added to the score and be counted as a boundary.
6. Should batters complete a single by running; this will count as 2 runs to be added on to any bonus run. As in normal cricket, runs cannot be added to boundaries.
Dismissals
As in normal cricket, but with the following additions:
A. A batter may be caught out one or two handed off a side wall, the wall behind the wicket keeper or the roof, provided that the ball has not already bounced or struck the boundary wall. Any bonus runs from striking the wall shall not count.
B. Hitting the roof or hitting over a 10 feet line on the side and back wall will be OUT.
