Outdoor Walking Cricket Rules
Outdoor Walking Cricket Playing Conditions
The WCA strives to create an atmosphere which is welcoming, friendly, and inclusive of all for the enjoyment of competitive walking cricket in the true spirit and traditions of the game. The primary objective is to promote a healthy pursuit, sense of fun, mutual respect, and consideration of the needs of others.
The Laws of Cricket 2017 Code (3rd Edition 2022) shall apply except as varied below.
L1 The Players
L1.1 Number of Players shall read as follows:
The match is played between two sides, each of ten players, one of whom shall be captain. Not more than eight players will bat, and not more than eight players may field at any time unless otherwise agreed.
L4 The Ball
L4.1 Weight and Size shall read as follows:
The ball used shall be a senior size incrediball.
L4.6 Specifications
Please refer to L4.1. The ball used will vary as appropriate for men’s and women’s matches.
L5 The Bat
L5 The Bat shall read as follows:
Plastic bats shall be used, conforming to the dimensions set out under L5.7. There shall be no protection to the blade of the bat.
L6 The Pitch
L6.1 Area of Pitch
The length of the pitch shall be 17 yards. With this exception, all other stipulations of this Law shall apply.
L6 Extra - Pitch Orientation and Batters
The batting and bowling shall take place from the same ends throughout the match. The batters shall change ends at the conclusion of every over; it is recommended this starts only once over has been called and the relevant signals by the umpires to the scorers have been made. Umpires should take particular care to ensure batters resume at the correct ends at the beginning of the new over following any runs, boundaries, or dismissals from the final ball of the previous over.
L6 Extra - Umpires
Where there is one umpire appointed for the duration of the match, he/she shall stand at bowler’s end throughout. The precise protocol for any other umpiring arrangements shall be agreed between the captains. In the event of two umpires being appointed, they should change after 8 overs to avoid losing time changing every over.
L13 Innings
L13.1 Number of Innings shall read as follows:
A match shall be one innings for each side.
L13.3 Completed Innings shall read as follows:
The batters shall bat in pairs who will receive four overs each, and an innings is only completed once all overs have been bowled.
L13 Extra - Hours of Play
If no competition guidelines are given, cut off times and interval times should be agreed before the match in case of bad weather. If an agreed interval between innings has to be reduced, there must always be at least 10 minutes allowed between innings. Where overs have to be reduced, calculations of overs remaining shall be based on an over rate of 15 per hour. One drinks break interval for the fielding side around halfway is recommended if the temperatures are exceeding 20C. In order to maintain the flow of the game, any other drinks should only be taken when batting pairs are changing over.
L13 Extra - General
In the event of bad weather, the umpires shall arrange wherever possible that both teams receive the same number of overs. Where the number of overs in an innings has to be reduced, the batting captain shall reduce the length of time at the crease for each pair of batters proportionately and similarly the fielding captain reduce the overs per bowler in the same way.
L13 Extra - Batting
The batters shall bat in pairs for four overs each. Where the innings length is reduced, in principle no batting pair may bat for more than 25% of the revised innings length once play is resumed. Where the revised innings length is not directly divisible by 4, batting pairs shall bat for an exact number of overs and quotas shall be rounded up accordingly. For example, in an innings of 14 overs, two pairs bat for 4 overs each and two for 3, etc. Where a match is interrupted mid over and the same innings is later resumed, the same batting pair shall continue at least to the end of the interrupted over even if they have already exceeded their quota.
L13 Extra - Fielding
The bowlers may bowl a maximum of 3 overs each. Where the innings length is reduced to 12 overs or less, the bowlers may bowl a maximum of 2 overs after play is resumed. Where the match is interrupted mid over and the same innings is later resumed, the same bowler shall complete the interrupted over even if the bowler’s quota of overs has already been exceeded.
L16 Result
L16.5 A Tie or Draw shall read as follows:
The result of the match shall be a tie when all innings have been completed, and the net scores are equal regardless of wickets lost.
L16 Extra - Determining the Result after overs reduced
The match shall be declared as a no result if one of the sides does not have an opportunity to receive 8 overs, unless a result is achieved earlier. Where both sides have had the opportunity to receive 8 overs or more but not in equal measures, a par score shall be calculated for the second innings based on the run rate of the first innings. Where the calculated par score is not a whole number, it shall be rounded up to the next whole number. When the second innings actual score equals the part score, the match shall be declared a tie – where it is lower the side batting first shall win and where it is higher the side batting second shall win. Eg side batting first scores 82 off 16. RR = 5.125. Side batting second can only receive 10 overs. 10 x 5.125 = 51.25. Rounding up par score will be 52. So for the side batting second, < 52 is a loss, 52 is a tie, and > 52 is a win.
L17 Over
L17.3.2 Validity of Balls - ball not to count in over - extracts shall read as follows:
L17.3.2.3 shall not apply for No Balls, which shall not be rebowled unless it is in the final over of the innings.
L17.3.2.4 will not apply for Wides, which shall not be rebowled unless it is in in the final over of the innings.
L18 Scoring Runs
L18.1.1 Run(s) shall read as follows:
Two runs are scored so often as the batters, at any time when the ball is in play, have crossed and made good their ground from end to end.
18.7 Runs scored for Boundaries
Runs shall be scored for boundary allowances under Law 19 (Boundaries) as amended by the target area diagram below. The arrow denotes bowling direction.
L18 Extra – Run Penalty for Dismissal
When a batter is dismissed, the batting side shall be deducted 5 runs for every dismissal. The dismissed batter shall not face the next ball.
L19 Boundaries
L19.1 Determining the Boundary of the Field of Play - Extra
The boundary shall be around 45 yards from both sets of stumps and from each side of the pitch. The playing area does not have to be an exact oval and it is accepted boundaries could be constrained by ground dimensions. Under no circumstances shall a boundary exceed 50 yards.
L19.6.2 Boundary Allowances shall read as follows:
Boundary allowances shall be awarded according to the target area diagram. Boundary 6 and boundary 4 will be awarded as normal where the ball crosses the boundary at any point in front of the wicket at the bowler’s end. Otherwise a two run boundary allowance shall be awarded plus an additional two runs whenever the batters have crossed on a run before the ball reaches the boundary (after which the batters would stay at their nearer respective ends). Where a Boundary 6 or Boundary 4 is awarded, only the standard boundary allowance shall apply regardless of how the batters have run before the ball crosses the boundary and batters remain at the same ends.
L19.8 Overthrow or Wilful Act of Fielder
This Law shall apply in full, with the exception that a boundary allowance shall be 2 runs anywhere on the field whenever a boundary results from an overthrow or wilful act of a fielder.
L21 No Ball
L21.3 Ball Thrown or delivered Underarm:
Underarm bowling is permitted and shall not be penalised. For any ball thrown, the Law shall be applied in full.
L21.7 Ball bouncing more than once, Rolling along the ground, or Pitching off the pitch shall read as follows:
The umpire shall call and signal No Ball if a ball which he/she considers to have been delivered without having previously touched bat or person of the striker,
- If delivered overarm bounces more than twice or rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease, OR
- If delivered underarm bounces more than once or rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease, OR
- Pitches wholly or partly off the pitch as defined in Law 6.1 (Area of pitch) before it reaches the line of the striker’s wicket. Where a non-turf pitch is being used, this will apply to any ball that wholly or partly pitches off the artificial surface.
L21.15 Penalty for a No Ball
This Law shall apply in full, with the exception that the penalty for No Ball shall be two runs.
L21.17 No Ball not to count
L17.3.2.3 shall not apply for No Balls, which shall not be rebowled unless it is in the final over of the innings.
L21 Extra - Approach of bowler
To constitute a legal delivery, the bowler may only walk in from a maximum of three metres from behind the line of the stumps.
L22 Wide Ball
L 22.6 Penalty for a Wide
This Law shall apply in full, with the exception that the penalty for Wide Ball shall be two runs.
L22.8 Wide not to Count
L17.3.2.4 shall not apply for Wides, which shall not be rebowled unless it is in in the final over of the innings.
L24 Fielder’s Absence; substitutes
With the exception of 24.2.8 and 24.2.9 relating to player misbehaviour, this Law shall not apply.
However please note that where a fielder leaves the field of play, he/she shall be replaced by one of the nominated 10 players under L1.1. Penalty time shall not be applied, but fielding sides are asked to have the courtesy of informing umpires and batters when changes are made, and to make changes only in between overs except in the case of serious injuries.
L25 Batter’s Innings; Runners
This Law shall apply in full.
Please note that a batter shall not retire unless it is for reason of illness, injury, or any unavoidable cause, and in the event of such a retirement that batter shall be replaced by a nominated player who has neither already batted nor will bat in any of the other three pairs.
L28 The Fielder
L28.4 Limitation of On Side Fielders - Extra
At the instant of the bowler’s delivery, there shall be at least two fielders, other than the wicket keeper, on the on side. In the event of infringement of this Law by any fielder, either umpire shall call and signal No Ball.
L28 Extra - Off Side
At the instant of the bowler’s delivery, there shall be at least three fielders, other than the wicket keeper, on the off side. In the event of infringement of this Law by any fielder, either umpire shall call and signal No Ball.
L28 Extra - Health and Safety
At the instant of the bowler’s delivery, all fielders except the wicket keeper and any fielder on the off side behind the stumps at striker’s end must be at least 10 metres from where the striker would take a normal stance on the popping crease.
L33 Caught
L33.2.2 A Fair Catch Furthermore… Extra
The only time that both feet may leave the ground is when a fielder is jumping for a catch, but the fielder shall still not run forward, backwards, or sideways to attempt a catch. See L41.2.
L36 Leg before Wicket (LBW)
This dismissal shall only be awarded in favour of the fielding side upon appeal where the striker has made no genuine attempt to play the ball with the bat AND 36.1.1, 36.1.2, 36.1.3, and 36.1.5 all apply along with the principles of 36.2 and 36.3.
This is done to prevent negative cricket, but it is worth emphasising that the striker is not automatically out because he/she is not attempting to hit the ball with the ball.
L41 Unfair Play
L41.2 Unfair Actions – Walking
All players must “walk” at all times while the ball is in play. The definition of walking is that one part of the foot must be on the ground AT ALL TIMES. During a game, the umpires will be the sole judges of what is deemed to be walking in just the same way that they are the sole judges of fair and unfair play. The only time that both feet may leave the ground with the ball in play shall be when a fielder is jumping for a catch, but the fielder shall still not run forward, backwards, or sideways to attempt a catch. Where the umpires consider a player to be running (not walking) they will apply 41.2.1.1, 41.2.1.2, and 41.2.1.3 as appropriate (one team warning given to the captain), and the award of 5 Penalty Runs for any subsequent infringement. This shall even be applied to apparently “off the ball” situations observed whenever a player could be in a position to take an advantage – eg batters running even while in their ground, fielders moving to back up a throw, etc.
L41.7 Bowling of Dangerous and Unfair Non-Pitching Deliveries
A reminder that this Law shall be applied in full.
