Indoor cricket is played similarly to outdoor cricket.
Originating in 1970's Australia, indoor cricket is a fast-paced game played inside netting, that defines the boundaries,between two eight-person teams. The netting encloses an area about 20 feet longer than a doubles tennis court, with a 14-foot top netting. The teams have one innings each and the highest runs total wins. Each player must bowl two overs (a sequence of six fair deliveries) so the innings are 16 overs long.
Equipment
The indoor ball is yellow leather with a hollow center, making it softer than outdoor cricket balls, though with the same raised seam around the circumference. Batsmen do not wear any protection but a groin cup and gloves, according to IndoorCricketWorld.net. Of the fielders, only the wicketkeeper has gloves. Fielders may wear other protective gear, such as shin guards, cups and helmets, though they're not required. The bat must be wooden and not larger than 38 inches long and 4 1/4 inches wide.
Batting
Each pair of batsmen have four overs to score runs by running between the wickets or hitting the side netting. They score one run for a stroke to the net on their half of the pitch, two for a side-netting hit further down the ground, four for a shot to the back netting along the ground and six for a straight shot on the full. Every "out" is five runs off the team total.
Some batsmen try to hit every delivery for six runs,the most you can score in one hit. IndoorCricketWorld.net suggests concentrating on scoring ones or twos instead. This will remove pressure and actually allow you to focus more. When batting, instead of focusing on scoring, concentrate on not getting out. If you do get out (lose a wicket), as you probably will, the key is to stay calm. Don't panic and overcompensate by trying to hit a six right away. Stay cool and try not to get out again, while striving for ones and twos.
Bowling
The main bowling goal is to make sure the other team's batsmen don't score. Bowlers should concentrate on forcing "run-outs", which is the easiest and most common way to dismiss a batsman. Bowlers want to keep batsmen from the high-scoring "down and up" shot (playing the ball into the ground and bouncing it over the fielder to the net). To counter this shot, angle the ball to come into the batman's legs, trying to hit him between the hip and knee. This angle keeps scoring opportunities down.
Fielding
Fielders have different tasks depending on their location but their overall goal is the same. They must prevent the ball from hitting the net while also trying to collect wickets. Players on the front half of the field are responsible for the majority of a game's run-outs. The best way to get a run-out is to throw a ball in play to the wicketkeeper. The alternative is throwing it to the fielder closest to the back stumps, usually the bowler, as either batsman can be out of her ground.
Tags: ones twos, outdoor cricket