Indoor cricket
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Indoor Cricket is a variation on the conventional game of cricket. The game originated in Perth, Western Australia, in the 1970s. It is now popular across the world.
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Differences from cricket
The biggest difference between cricket and indoor cricket is, obviously, that it is played indoors. As large indoor playing fields are extremely rare, the game of indoor cricket has been adapted to suit much smaller playing areas. As a result of this, the game is much faster than conventional cricket.
Rules
For the most part, indoor cricket follows the usual Laws of Cricket, with some changes. Those changes are discussed here.
The Playing Arena
The length of an indoor cricket pitch is the same as a conventional cricket pitch, and has 3 stumps at each end, but there the similarities end. The arena is completely enclosed by tight netting, a few metres from each side and end of the pitch. The playing surface is normally artificial grass matting. Whilst the pitch is the same length, however, the batsmen don't have to run the entire length. The striker's crease is in the regulation place in front of the stumps, but the non-striker's crease is only half way down the pitch.
Players
Indoor cricket is played between 2 teams of 8 players. Each player must bowl 2 overs, and bat in a partnership of 4 overs.
Equipment
The stumps used in indoor cricket are not, for obvious reasons, stuck in the ground. Instead, they are collapsible spring loaded stumps that immediately spring back to the standing position when knocked over. The ball used in indoor cricket is a modified cricket ball, with a softer centre.
Scoring
Scoring in indoor cricket is split into 2 areas: physical runs and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net. Bonus scores for particular parts of the nets follow:
- Zone A (front net - behind the keeper): 0 bonus runs
- Zone B (side nets between the striker's end and halfway down the pitch): 1 run
- Zone C (side nets between halfway and the bowlers end): 2 runs
- Zone D (back net - behind the bowler):
- On the bounce: 4 runs
- On the full: 6 runs
- Zone B or C onto Zone D: 3 runs
NB: For bonus runs to be scored, at least one physical run must be scored. The bonus runs are then added to the physical runs.
Dismissals
A batsman can be dismissed in the same ways they can be in conventional cricket. When a batsman gets dismissed, however, he continues batting, and receives a score of -5. Batsmen bat in pairs for 4 overs at a time, regardless of dismissals.
The Game in Australia
The governing body for Indoor Cricket in Australia is Indoor Cricket Australia (formerly known as the Australian Indoor Cricket Federation) and is represented in each state by the various state entities.
Within each state and territory there are hundreds of domestic competitions that are played in centres that are generally privately owned, yet affiliated with the state and national bodies.
Each of the affiliated centres generally compete in what is known as Superleague in order to contest the State Championships. It is important to note that these competitions are based on centres and are not regional (ie. A Player living in District A could play Superleague for a centre based in District B if that is where they played their domestic competition).
From the participants of the Superleague competition each state and territory generally selects a side to compete at the Australian Championships held annually. By extension, the Australian side is selected from participants of the Australian Championships.
Past Winners of the Australian Championships
Open Mens Division
1984: New South Wales
1985: New South Wales
1986: Tasmania
1987: Tasmania
1988: Tasmania
1989: Victoria
1990: New South Wales
1991: Western Australia
1992: Western Australia
1993: New South Wales
1994: Victoria
1995: New South Wales
1996: Queensland
1997: Queensland
1998: New South Wales
1999: Queensland
2000: Queensland
2001: Queensland
2002: Queensland
2003: New South Wales
2004: Queensland
2005: Queensland
Open Women
1984: Western Australia
1985: Tasmania
1986: New South Wales
1987: Queensland
1988: Queensland
1989: Australian Capital Territory
1990: Queensland
1991: Queensland
1992: New South Wales
1993: New South Wales
1994: New South Wales
1995: New South Wales
1996: New South Wales
1997: New South Wales
1998: Queensland
1999: Queensland
2000: New South Wales
2001: Queensland
2002: Queensland
2003: Queensland
2004: Queensland
2005: Queensland
18/U Boys
1995: Queensland
1996: Queensland
1997: Queensland
1998: Queensland
1999: Queensland
2000: Queensland
2001: Queensland
2002: Queensland
2003: Queensland
2004: Queensland
2005: South Australia
16/U Boys
2004: Western Australia
2005: Queensland
Lord Taverners Shield
1993: Victoria
1994: Western Australia
1995: Victoria
1996: Victoria
1997: Victoria
1998: Victoria
1999: Victoria
2000: Queensland
2001: Queensland
2002: Queensland
2003: Queensland
2004: Victoria
Over 35 Men
1989: New South Wales
1990: New South Wales
1991: New South Wales
1992: Queensland
1993: Queensland
1994: Queensland
1995: Victoria
1996: Queensland
1997: Victoria
1998: Queensland
1999: Queensland
2000: Queensland
2001: Queensland
2002: Queensland
2003: Queensland
2004: Queensland
Over 40 Men
1991: Queensland
1992: Queensland
1993: Queensland
1994: New South Wales
1995: Queensland
1996: New South Wales
1997: Victoria
1998: Queensland
1999: Queensland
2000: Queensland
2001: Queensland
2002: New South Wales
2003: Queensland
2004: Queensland
Over 30 Women
1995: Queensland
1996: Queensland
1997: Queensland
1998: New South Wales
1999: Queensland
2000: New South Wales
2001: New South Wales
2002: Queensland
2003: Queensland
2004: Queensland
Over 40 Men
1996: Queensland
1997: Queensland
1998: Queensland
1999: Victoria
2000: Victoria
2001: Queensland
2002: Victoria
2003: Victoria
2004: New South Wales
International Events
Indoor Cricket is also big on the international stage with World Cups held on a regular basis. The Australian sides (known as Australian Extreme on the Open level, Australian Electric on the junior level, and Australian Elite on the masters level) have dominated the international scene since the early nineties and are currently world champions in five out of six divisions - a situation that current Indoor Cricket Australia President Ross Collins deems "unacceptable".
External links
National Bodies
Indoor Cricket Australia (http://www.aicf.com.au/)
British Indoor Cricket Association (http://www.stumps.org.uk/)
Ceylon (Sri Lankan) Indoor Cricket Association (http://www.srilankanindoorcricket.com/)
South African Indoor Cricket Association (http://www.saicf.co.za/)
Australian State Bodies
Australian Capital Territory Indoor Cricket Federation (http://www.acticf.com.au/)
Indoor Cricket Queensland (http://www.indoorcricket.com/)
Indoor Sports New South Wales (http://www.indoorsportsnsw.org.au/)
Indoor Sports Victoria (http://www.indoorsportsvictoria.com.au/)
Indoor Sports Western Australia (http://www.indoorsportswa.com/)
Indoor Cricket South Australia (http://www.indoorcricketsa.com/)
Other Links
Rules of Indoor Cricket (http://www.indoorcricketworld.com/What/rules/index.html)