Rules

 This page contains the rules for each division of Junior Cricket up to and including Intermediate level.

 The following principles apply to all levels of cricket and must be adhered to at all times.

Umpires should:

  • Be trained in the game’s rules and applying them fairly and consistently
  • Encourage fair play
  • Always be firm but friendly
  • Help players to understand the rules
  • Enforce disciplinary action appropriate to the level of misconduct.

Players should:

  • Understand the rules before starting the game
  • Play fair and within the game’s rules
  • Respect the umpires/referee’s call by not challenging their decision
  • Respect their opponents.

Coaches should:

  • Emphasise the guidelines of fair play to all players
  • Make sure all players know the rules
  • Accept all calls by the umpires and not try to influence them
  • Speak out against violence, poor behaviour and cheating
  • Respect the officials and their decisions.

Parents/supporters should:

  • Respect the umpires/ and their decisions
  • Encourage the players to play fair
  • Support their team positively.

 Good sport is about positive attitude   

Intermediate Premier & Reserve Grade

GENERAL RULES

  • If not directly specified, the normal rules of cricket apply
  • Teams to be of 8 Players (9 may play by agreement of the coaches – the 9th man may bat and bowl but only 8 players may field at any time.) If a team has insufficient numbers to field 8, by mutual consent, batting team may lend players for fielding. Should team have spare players please try to arrange for spare players to play in the other team if they are short.
  • Hours of play 8.30am – 12.00pm: Players to be at grounds by 8.15 so games can start at 8.30am sharp.
  • Games to comprise a maximum of 30 overs each innings or the number completed at 10.10am
  • The 2nd innings is to start at 10.20am. A minimum of 25 overs to be bowled. Teams can bowl 35 overs if this is within time restraint of finishing time. 
  • The match must be completed by 12.00 noon. All players are to be discouraged from time wasting.
  • A drinks break must be taken after 15 overs in each innings. (Drinks should be held on the field – to save time)
  • A two piece 142gm leather ball ie Platypus Gem, Esteem or Kookaburra Red King must be used and agreed between Coaches before play starts, A new ball should last 3-4 games if looked after adequately.
  • The “Averill Rule” is recommended whereby the Coaches agree that one team is considerably stronger. The stronger team can bat first, if agreed by the Coaches, to ensure a “miss-match” doesn’t 

BATTING

  • Batsmen must wear protective gear i.e. pads, gloves, box (compulsory) and helmet (strongly recommended).
  • Batsmen to retire at 30 runs
  • Batsmen to retire at end of over that they get 30 runs.
  • Retired batsmen have the right to return to bat again after all wickets have fallen.
  • The retired batsmen must return in ascending order of score, i.e. a player who retired on 11 must come back in before a player who retired on 21. If the last batsmen at the crease have lower scores than all other retired batsmen, the last batsmen cannot be retired.

 

BOWLING

  • A bowler can bowl a maximum of three over spells each, and cannot return until three overs have been bowled from the same end.
  • A maximum of 6 overs per bowler per innings.
  • Teams must attempt to bowl 20 overs per hour (slow over rates may require overs to be reduced)
  • All overs to be six balls ie no extra balls for wides and no balls except for:
  • Last over of each innings must have 6 legitimate deliveries to a maximum of 8 deliveries

NO BALLS (1 Run is added to score)

  • The ball bounces more than twice before reaching the batsman’s crease.
  • The ball bounces over batsman’s shoulder in a normal standing position.
  • The ball is a full toss above the batsman waist.
  • No Balls shall not be rebowled.
  • Batsman may run on no balls and the extra runs are added to the score.
  • If ball lands off pitch and deflects significantly back onto the pitch it will be deemed a dead ball – the ball will have to re bowled

WIDES (1 Run are added to score)

  • The ball is wide if it passes outside the lines agreed by the umpires at the beginning of the game. As a guide, these should be the Return crease line on the off side and 50% of the Return crease on the leg side.
  • If the batsman manages to hit a wide delivery or if it hits the batsman NO wide is to be called.
  • Batsman may run on wides and the extra runs are added to the score.

LBW’s

  • The ball must pitch in line with the stumps and be hitting the stumps and hitting the pad behind the creaseline.
  • If ball deflected off glove or bat its NOT OUT
  • No warnings given.

 FIELDING

  • No player to field closer than 10 metres to the batsman facing except wicket keeper or slips.
  • Captain and Vice Captain to assist and place fielders during the game.
  • Minimal field changes during the over and smartly change positions between overs.

 

Primary Division One

GENERAL RULES

  • If not directly specified, the normal rules of cricket apply
  • Approximate age group: Blue – school yrs 5 (& yr 6 who are less skilled.) Gold – school yrs 5/6 more skilled.
  • Teams to be of 8 Players (9 may play by agreement of the coaches – the 9th man may bat and bowl but only 8 players may field at any time.) If a team has insufficient numbers to field 8, by mutual consent, batting team may lend players for fielding. Should a team have spare players please try to arrange for spare players to play in the other team if they are short.
  • Hours of play Gold 30 am – 12.00 noon. Blue 9.00am – 12noon. Games to comprise of Gold 24 x 6 ball overs each innings and Blue 20 x 6 ball overs.
  • The length of the Wicket is to be 18 metres (both Gold and Blue) unless otherwise agreed by Management in both Gold & Blue Divisions.
  • The fielding team (in Gold Division only) is limited to bowling their allotted overs by 9.55am and the batting team must commence their innings no later that 10.05am
  • A two piece 142gm leather ball is to be used.
  • THE EMPHASIS IS TO GIVE ALL PLAYERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BAT AND BOWL

  

BATTING:

  • Batsmen must wear protective gear i.e. pads, gloves, box (compulsory) and helmet (strongly recommended).
  • Batsmen to retire at 20 runs (or at the umpires discretion if taking too much time.)
  • Batsmen to retire at end of over that they got their 20 runs.
  • Retired batsmen have the right to return to bat again after all wickets have fallen.
  • The retired batsmen must return in ascending order of score, i.e. a player who retired on 11 must come back in before a player who retired on 21. If the last batsmen at the crease have lower scores than all other retired batsmen, the last batsmen cannot be retired.

 BOWLING:

  • Division 1 Gold bowl from both ends while for Division 1 Blue it is strongly recommended they bowl from same end in an effort to shorten the time for games.
  • Each bowler can bowl no more than 3 x 6 ball overs.
  • Ø  All overs to be six (6) balls i.e no extra balls for wides and no balls except for:
  • Last over of each innings must have 6 legitimate deliveries to a maximum of 8 deliveries.

NO BALLS: (1 Run is added to score)

  • The ball which bounces three (3) times or more before reaching the batsman crease.
  • The ball bounces over batsmen shoulder in a normal standing position.
  • The ball is a full toss above the batsman waist.
  • Batsman may run on no balls and the extra runs are added to the score.
  • If ball lands off pitch and deflects significantly back onto the pitch it will be deemed a dead ball - the ball will have to re bowled.

WIDES: (1 Run to be added  in Blue Division & 2 Runs are added to score in Gold Division)

  • the ball passes outside the lines at the batsmen’s crease (if no lines, then the umpire shall decided if the ball is not within reach of the batsman normal stance)
  • If the batsman manages to hit a wide delivery or if it hits the batsman NO wide is to be called.
  • Batsman may run on wides and no balls and the extra runs are added to the score.
  • If ball lands off pitch and defects significantly back onto the pitch will be deemed a dead ball - the ball will have to re bowled
  • NO L.B.W’s

 FIELDING

  • No player to field closer than 10 metres to the batsman facing except wicket keeper or slips.
  • Wicketkeeper must be wearing correct protective gear IE; gloves, box & pads.
  • Umpires only to assist the players on the field during the game if necessary.

  

Primary Division Two

GENERAL RULES

  • Approximate age group: Blue - school yr 3 (& yr 4 who are less skilled) Gold school yrs 4 – (& yr 5 who are less skilled.)
  • Teams are to be of 8 players
  • Teams must even up numbers if possible instead of bowling or batting players twice.
  • Hours of play 9.00am – 11.30am
  • Teams are supply own gear
  • Ball to be used is the Incrediball/Wonderball - Junior Size (both Coaches agree on ball before play starts)
  • Games to comprise of 20 overs each innings or 2 equal innings depending on numbers per team.
  • The length of the pitch to be agreed to between Coaches up to a minimal length of 18 metres.
  • THE EMPHASIS IS ON GIVING CRICKETERS EQUAL TIME TO DEVELOP CRICKET SKILLS WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT GOING OUT.

BATTING:

  • For Gold Division – It is compulsory for Batsmen to wear at least a front pad, & box.
  • Each team to bat 4 partnerships (2 batsmen) for 5 overs each
  • Each player can be out numerous times but stays batting for full 5 overs of the partnership – but on being out should go to non strikers end.                                              

BOWLING:

  • Each child to bowl a minimum of two overs each and a maximum of three – no child to bowl third over until each has bowled their second. In order for team to bowl 20 overs 4 players will bowl three overs and four will bowl two.
  • All overs to be bowled from the same end
  • Maximum of 6 balls per over including wides and no balls.
  • Wides are called if the ball passes outside the lines of the batsman’s crease.
  • A ball which bounces three (3) times or more before reaching the batsman’s crease is a no ball
  • A full toss above the batsman’s waist is a no ball
  • Wides and no balls count as one run.
  • If a wide ball is hit or hits the batsman NO wide is called.
  • All extras are credited to the batsmen
  • No L.B.W’s

 FIELDING

  • No player to field closer than 10 metres to the batsman facing except wicket keeper or slips.

 SCORING:        

  • All runs taken by partnership are recorded against the partnership 
  • A penalty of 2 runs is deducted from the batting team for each wicket lost. 
  • The team with the highest team score is declared the winner.

 

Primary Division Three

GENERAL RULES

  • Approximate age group: - School Years 1 – 2 (and less skilled Year 3)
  • Teams to be of 6 Players (or an equal number of players)
  • Teams must be evened up. Use players from other team for fielding and bat your own players again if necessary.
  • Hours of play 9.00am – 10.00am.
  • All equipment supplied at venues.
  • Games to comprise of 2 equal innings.
  • 2 Bats, yellow synthetic ball and two sets of stumps required per game.
  • THE EMPHASIS IS ON GIVING CRICKETERS EQUAL TIME TO DEVELOP CRICKET SKILLS WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT GOING OUT.

 BATTING:

  • Each team to bat partnerships (2 batsmen) for 4 overs each
  • If the batsman misses the ball he hits another ball placed on a cone in front of him and then run between the wickets.
  • The cone is changed at the end of each over to the leg side then the off side so batsmen learn to hit either side of the wicket.
  • No boundaries – batsmen must run everything!
  • Each player can be out numerous times but stays batting for full 4 overs of the partnership – but on being out batsmen change ends.

 BOWLING:

  • Each child to bowl 2 overs each – no child to bowl second over until each player has bowled their first.
  • Maximum of 6 balls per over including wides
  • If the batsman misses the ball he/she has a FREE hit of the cone.
  • If a wide ball is hit NO wide is called
  • No more than one swing per ball by the batman
  • There are no NO BALLS at this level

 No L.B.W’s

 FIELDING

  • No player to field closer than 10 metres to the batsman facing except wicket keeper.
  • Markers placed for the fieldsmen – 2 on leg side and 2 on off side.

SCORING:

  • The scores do not need to be kept – Coaches/Managers welcome to keep scores for their players.
  • Each Coach/Manager is encouraged to present a “Player of the Day” to one of their own teams players.
  • THE EMPHASIS OF DIVISION 3 IS ON PARTICIPATION & ENJOYMENT