An Introduction to Indoor Cricket

Hello all, I am DropBear. You may know who I am if you hang around the Brood War forum a fair bit. I just reached 500 posts, so in celebration I'm going to talk about my favorite sport, Indoor Cricket. I started playing when I was 12 and played for 7 years, including representing my State for Under 16s several years ago. I just started a team of my friends (only one of whom had played before) after several years off so it's good to be back!

Ask anyone who isn't from a Commonwealth country what they think about cricket and the majority will say this:

Common complaints are that it's too long, nothing ever happens, fielders go for hours without touching the ball, the players look stupid in all their protective gear, if you get out first ball you have to wait forever before you can participate again, etc. etc.

All of these are true and I can tell you that Indoor Cricket is very different from it's more commonly known form. It is a high-energy, shorter, faster, more action-packed game with much more emphasis on the team than individuals.

The biggest difference is obviously that it is indoors. The typical dimensions of the playing area look like this:

The field is much smaller. Batsman only have to run approximately half the pitch length to score a run. Fielders, batsmen and bowlers are all close together. Because of this, all the players are in the game each ball.

The average game goes for an hour, give or take ten minutes. Games are between two teams of one inning each which lasts for 16 overs (1 over is 6 balls or 8 depending on which country or league you play in). Each team has 8 players. Unlike outdoor cricket EVERYONE has to bat and bowl the same amount. Each player bowls two overs in the field, and there are 4 pairs who bat for 4 overs each. Runs are scored by hitting the ball and running. Bonus runs are scored for hitting the ball into the side nets.

Another major difference is if you get out, you don't have to leave the field. Instead, a penalty of five runs is applied and you keep going until your 4 overs are up. So you don't have to get too upset if something like this happens:

Another thing that really makes Indoor stand out compared to outdoor is the fielding skills. The ball may come to you at any time and it will come quickly, so agility is a very important thing if you want to become a top player. It is very common to see players diving and throwing themselves around to make the most of the split second they have to make a play.

Batsmen have to do it too!

A criticism of many outdoor players is that Indoor is a less skilled game and playing it ruins your technique. This is inaccurate and in my opinion indoor actually takes more skill as there is less room for error. Edges never go for four in this game! As for skills, many of Australia's most famous players have played and umpired indoor. Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Justin Langer, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey are among those who were heavily involved in Indoor before they made the Australian outdoor team.

The best thing of all is that anyone can play. It is very easy to start at any age and find a league at any skill level. Most centres in Australia have games on each weeknight, there are ladies leagues and mixed leagues. Aussies, you can check out the link at the Cricket Australia website here. New Zealand, England, South Africa and India all have international teams as well and you could probably find your local centre fairly easily.

The only problem with this sport is that it has quite a high injury rate, especially at lower levels. With such small distances between everything, an errant throw or a wild shot can be difficult to dodge. If you do ever play, try to cover your face or you might end up looking like I did after my game on Monday night....

Lastly, thanks to everyone in the Brood War forum who make TL such a fun place to hang out.
Go FOX!

One of things I think, in my judgement, is a good and useful way of promulgating your beliefs is to say them

Legatus Lanius May 06 2011 01:36. Posts 2135

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jesus that couldve really fucked up your eye man :X

i used to play indoor football, not indoor cricket, but the centre had both courts

"He's the Triple H of Brood War." - Ribbon on Flash | "He's more like the John Cena of Brood War." - Aus)MaCrO on Flash

DropBear Australia. May 06 2011 01:44. Posts 2453

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On May 06 2011 01:36 Legatus Lanius wrote:
jesus that couldve really fucked up your eye man :X

i used to play indoor football, not indoor cricket, but the centre had both courts

Yeah fortunately no lasting damage was done, I just look silly

Indoor football is sick, the centre I play at tends to have a lot of fights though! Probably has something to do with the bar selling very cheap beers all the time.

One of things I think, in my judgement, is a good and useful way of promulgating your beliefs is to say them

Thrill May 06 2011 02:05. Posts 2334

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Doesn't seem at all gentlemanlike.

DropBear Australia. May 06 2011 02:13. Posts 2453

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On May 06 2011 02:05 Thrill wrote:
Doesn't seem at all gentlemanlike.

Indoor does tend to be less serious than outdoor, but I'm confused as to what you mean.

One of things I think, in my judgement, is a good and useful way of promulgating your beliefs is to say them

Thrill May 06 2011 02:35. Posts 2334

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Take the gentlemanlike spirit out of cricket and you're left with barbarians holding sticks, chasing after a small spherical object.

See? The other colonies got the message:

[image loading]

DropBear Australia. May 06 2011 03:06. Posts 2453

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On May 06 2011 02:35 Thrill wrote:
Take the gentlemanlike spirit out of cricket and you're left with barbarians holding sticks, chasing after a small spherical object.

See? The other colonies got the message:

[image loading]

Indoor is more rough and tumble and less rigid than normal cricket, that's why I like it. I can understand your argument, much of the "romance" of the outdoor game is missing in the indoor form but it is more than compensated for by its ease of access, increased participation of all players and the need to focus on every skill to improve.

You sound like a bit of a cricket tragic which is great, if you get the chance give indoor a go! You might be surprised at how fun it is.

One of things I think, in my judgement, is a good and useful way of promulgating your beliefs is to say them

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