Indoor Walking Cricket Rules
Indoor 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 (4th Edition 2026) 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 up to 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.
L4 The Ball
L4.1 Weight and Size shall read as follows:
The ball used shall be a standard 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 be 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
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. It is envisaged that the playing area will be a rectangular indoor hall and the pitch shall be laid parallel to the two longer walls and exactly equidistant from each. The shorter wall behind the bowler shall be the boundary wall. The wall behind the wicket will be the back wall and the longer walls will be the side walls.
L6 Extra – Batters Running
A line shall be drawn 12 yards from the batting end stumps and parallel to the popping crease. Non-strikers shall “run” from this line that also defines the batters’ ground at the bowling end.
L6 Extra - Umpires
Where two umpires are appointed for the duration of the match, they shall also change ends every over. Where there is one umpire 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.
L13 Innings
L13.1 Number of Innings shall read as follows:
A match shall be one innings for each side. An innings shall be limited to 8 overs per side to fit a one-hour session. Variations may apply where time permits.
L13.3 Completed Innings shall read as follows:
The batters shall bat in four pairs who will receive two overs each, and an innings is only completed once 8 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. If an agreed interval between innings has to be reduced, there must always be at least 5 minutes allowed between innings. Where overs have to be reduced due to unforeseen circumstances (for instance a late start or a light failure), calculations of overs remaining shall be based on an over rate of 15 per hour. Drinks should not be consumed in the playing area.
L13 Extra - General
In the event of unforeseen circumstances reducing the length of the match, 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 two overs each. In unforeseen circumstances where the innings length is reduced below 8 overs, 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 6 overs, two pairs bat for 2 overs each and two for 1, 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 2 overs. 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 scores are equal.
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 4 overs, unless a result is achieved earlier. Where both sides have had the opportunity to receive 4 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 par 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 65 off 8. RR = 8.125. Side batting second can only receive 6 overs. 6 x 8.125 = 48.75. Rounding up par score will be 49. So for the side batting second, < 49 is a loss, 49 is a tie, and > 49 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.
L18.1.1 Run(s) – Extra
In addition to the above, 1 run is scored for first impact of the ball on side walls, back wall, or the ceiling, once the striker has received the ball. Except for overthrows, no more runs are credited for any further walls hit by the ball. If a fielder is in contact with the ball while touching any wall, this is not deemed to be an impact of ball on wall. If a run out occurs after the first impact of the ball on side or back wall, that 1 run scored will still be credited to batting side along with any other completed runs (including wall overthrows L19.8) which occur before the dismissal takes effect.
18.7 Runs scored for Boundaries
A boundary 4 is scored if the ball is hit into the back wall on the full without touching any side walls. A boundary 6 is scored if the ball is hit into the back wall having bounced or rolled on the floor without touching any side walls.
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 defined by the boundary wall as described under L6.
L19.6.2 Boundary Allowances shall read as follows:
Boundary allowances shall be awarded as described under L18.7.
L19.8 Overthrow or Wilful Act of Fielder
This Law shall apply in full, with the exception that there will be no boundary allowances. An overthrow hitting a wall shall count as one extra run per overthrow for the first wall hit by the ball.
L21 No Ball
L21.3 Ball Thrown or delivered Underarm:
Underarm bowling is permitted and shall not be penalised, however only once bounce is permitte. 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
- 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 an artificial pitch mat 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 3 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 3 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 8 metres from where the striker would take a normal stance on the popping crease.
L33 Caught
L33.2.1 A Fair Catch (Boundary)Extra
The fielder may be in contact with any wall, including the boundary wall, while making and completing a fair catch.
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.
L33.2.x A Fair Catch (Other)Extra
The fielder may complete a fair catch after the ball has hit one or more walls, unless the first wall hit by the ball is the boundary wall (when a boundary would have already resulted). No runs will be scored when a fair catch is completed after the ball has hit a side or back wall.
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 if 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 repeat. 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.
