BAT X BALL

OFFICIAL INDOOR CRICKET LEAGUE RULES & REGULATIONS

1. MATCH FORMAT & GENERAL RULES

1.1. Team Composition

  • Each team consists of 6 players.

  • A minimum of 4 players must be ready at the scheduled start time.

  • The fielding team may have a maximum of 6 players on the court at any time.

  • Substitutes are permitted for injuries only, subject to the umpire's approval.

1.2. Match Format

  • Each match consists of 2 innings, with each team batting once.

  • Each innings consists of 12 overs of 6 balls each.

  • Each innings must be completed within 30 minutes.

  • Each bowler may bowl a maximum of 3 non consecutive overs per inning.

  • Each batting partnership lasts for 4 overs.

  • All 6 players must bat in pairs, creating 3 partnerships per innings.

  • There will be a maximum of 5 minutes between innings.

1.3. Toss & Match Start

  • Team captains must complete the toss 5 minutes before the scheduled match start time.

  • If a team is late for the toss, that team forfeits the toss to the opposing team.

  • If a team does not have at least 4 players ready at the scheduled match start time, the late team will have 1 over deducted from its batting innings for every 2 minutes of delay.

1.4. Match Results

  • The team scoring the most runs wins the match.

  • If the team batting second exceeds the first team's total before completing its 12 overs, play must continue until all 12 overs have been completed.

  • If both teams finish with the same score, the match is declared a draw.

2. BATTING RULES

2.1. Batting Partnerships

  • Batters must bat in pairs.

  • Each partnership bats for exactly 4 overs.

  • A batter continues batting for the full 4-over partnership, even if dismissed.

  • After 4 overs, the next batting pair takes its turn.

2.2. Wicket Penalties

  • Every dismissal results in a penalty of 5 runs deducted from the batting team's score.

  • Any runs scored on the delivery resulting in a dismissal are canceled.

  • Following a dismissal, the batter who was not dismissed must face the next delivery.

  • Batters must change ends if necessary to ensure the non-dismissed batter takes strike.

  • A dismissal does not end a batter's innings. The batter continues until the partnership's 4 overs are completed.

2.3. Three Consecutive Dot-Ball Rule (Playoffs Only)

  • If the same batter faces 3 consecutive dot balls without scoring, a 3-run penalty is applied on the third dot ball.

  • All 3 dot balls must occur within the same over.

  • Dot-ball counts do not carry over into the next over.

  • A wide or no-ball delivery resets the dot-ball count.

2.4. LBW, Leg Byes & Body Contact

  • LBW (Leg Before Wicket) is not a valid form of dismissal.

  • If the ball strikes a batter's leg or any other part of the body, the ball becomes dead.

  • Batters cannot score leg byes.

  • If the ball strikes the wicket, the batter may still be dismissed.

  • A batter's hands are considered part of the bat.

  • A batter's forearms are considered part of the body.

3. RUN SCORING SYSTEM

3.1. Types of Runs

Runs are scored in 2 ways:

A. Physical Runs

  • A physical run is scored when both batters successfully run from one crease to the other.

  • The batters only have to run to the middle crease, which is between the batting and bowling crease, halfway down the pitch.

B. Bonus Runs

  • Bonus runs are awarded when the ball strikes a designated net-scoring zone.

  • At least 1 physical run must be completed for bonus runs to count (Zone B & C only).

  • Bonus runs are added to the physical runs completed.

  • Bonus runs still count if a fielder touches the ball before it strikes the net.

  • If the ball hits the runner before hitting the bonus zones, the bonus runs will not count. Only the physical runs will count. 

3.2. Net Scoring Zones

Zone/Location/Runs

A Front net, behind the wicketkeeper 0

B Side nets between the striker's crease and halfway down the pitch 1 (Bonus)

C Side nets between halfway down the pitch and the bowler's end 2 (Bonus)

D Back net behind the bowler, hit on the bounce 4

D Back net behind the bowler, hit on the full 6

3.3. Back Net Scoring

  • A ball that strikes the back net on the bounce earns 4 runs.

  • A ball that strikes the back net on the full earns 6 runs.

  • If the ball strikes the ceiling before reaching the back net, the appropriate 4 or 6 bonus runs still apply.

  • At least 1 physical run must be completed for these bonus runs to count.

4. DISMISSALS & CATCHING RULES

4.1. General Dismissal Rules

  • Every valid dismissal carries a 5-run penalty.

  • Runs scored on a delivery resulting in a dismissal are canceled.

  • The dismissed batter remains in the game and continues batting for the remainder of the 4-over partnership.

4.2. Catches

  • A batter may be caught from a ball rebounding off a net, provided the ball has not touched the ground.

  • Catches may be taken from balls rebounding off the ceiling.

  • Catches may be taken from balls rebounding off the side nets.

  • A catch cannot be made from a ball that strikes the back net for 4 or 6 bonus runs.

  • A catch cannot be made from the Zone A (0-run) nets around the wicketkeeper.

  • A valid catch cancels all physical and bonus runs scored on that delivery.

4.3. Dismissals on Wides & No Balls

  • Batters may be run out or stumped on a no-ball delivery.

  • Batters cannot be caught or bowled out on a no-ball delivery.

  • A batter dismissed on a wide or no-ball delivery receives the standard 5-run penalty.

  • If a dismissal occurs on a wide or no-ball, the 2-run wide or no-ball bonus is canceled.

5. BOWLING RULES

5.1. Bowling Limits

  • Each bowler may bowl a maximum of 3 overs per innings.

  • A bowler cannot bowl consecutive overs.

  • The ball must be delivered by throwing it in accordance with the league's bowling rules.

  • Chucking is not permitted.

5.2. Illegal Bowling Action

  • A bowler who uses an illegal bowling action (chucking) will receive 1 warning for the first offense.

  • On the second offense, the bowler will not be permitted to bowl again during that innings.

5.3. Wide Balls

  • Umpires will strictly enforce off-side wide deliveries.

  • Any delivery passing the batter on the leg side will be called a wide.

  • A wide results in 2 runs being awarded to the batting team.

  • Batters may run on a wide delivery and score physical runs in addition to the 2-run wide bonus.

  • Wide deliveries count toward the 6 balls in an over, subject to the re-bowling rules in Section 5.6.

5.4. No Balls

A delivery will be called a no-ball for any of the following reasons:

A. High Full Toss

  • A delivery reaches the batter on the full above waist height.

B. Excessive Bounce

  • A delivery bounces above the batter's shoulder height.

C. Front-Foot Violation

  • No part of the bowler's front foot is grounded inside the return crease and behind the popping crease at the moment of delivery.

D. Illegal Field Placement

  • More than 2 fielders are positioned in either half of the court at the commencement of the bowler's run-up, excluding the bowler and wicketkeeper.

E. Wicketkeeper Violation

  • The wicketkeeper leaves the designated wicketkeeping area before the ball has been hit or swung at.

5.5. No-Ball Scoring

  • Every no-ball results in 2 runs being awarded to the batting team.

  • Batters may hit a no-ball and score physical and bonus runs.

  • Runs scored from the delivery are added to the 2-run no-ball bonus.

  • The ball remains live.

  • Batters may be run out or stumped.

  • Batters cannot be caught or bowled out.

  • No-balls count toward the 6 balls in an over, subject to the re-bowling rules in Section 5.6.

5.6. Re-Bowling Wides & No Balls

A. Final Over of a Partnership

  • Wides and no-balls may be re-bowled at the batters' request only during the final over of a partnership.

  • Only wides and no-balls delivered during that final over are eligible to be re-bowled.

  • This rule applies to the fourth over of each batting partnership.

B. Deliberate Wides & No Balls

  • If the umpire believes a bowler deliberately delivers a wide, leg-side delivery, or no-ball to limit the batting team's scoring opportunities, the umpire may require the delivery to be re-bowled.

  • The batting team will still receive the 2-run penalty awarded for the delivery.

  • The umpire may issue a warning to the bowler at their discretion.

  • This rule may be enforced at any stage of the match.

6. FIELDING RULES

6.1. Fielding Positions

  • A maximum of 6 fielders may be on the court at any time, including the bowler and wicketkeeper.

  • A maximum of 2 fielders may occupy the front half of the court.

  • A maximum of 2 fielders may occupy the back half of the court.

  • The bowler and wicketkeeper are excluded from these fielding-position limits.

  • Fielding-position violations at the commencement of the bowler's run-up result in a no-ball.

6.2. Wicketkeeper Restrictions

  • The wicketkeeper must remain within the designated wicketkeeping area until the ball has been hit or swung at.

  • Leaving the designated area early results in a no-ball.

6.3. Substitutions

  • Substitutions are permitted for injuries only.

  • All substitutions require the umpire's approval.

7. DEAD-BALL RULES

7.1. Automatic Dead Balls

A dead ball may be called when:

  • The ball strikes a batter's leg or any other part of the body, as described in Section 2.4.

  • The ball becomes caught or trapped in the net in a way that affects its natural movement or play.

7.2. Discretionary Dead Balls

The umpire may call a dead ball in situations involving:

  • Player injuries.

  • Unusual circumstances affecting normal play.

  • Other situations require the umpire's judgment.

7.3. Umpire's Discretion

For discretionary dead-ball situations, the umpire will determine whether:

  • The delivery must be re-bowled.

  • Runs already scored will count.

  • A dismissal and its associated penalty will stand.

8. TEAM ROSTERS & PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY

8.1. Team Rosters

  • Teams may register an unlimited number of players on their roster.

8.2. Playoff Eligibility

  • To be eligible to participate in the playoffs, a player must have played in at least 1 regular-season game.

  • Players who have not participated in a regular-season game are not eligible to compete in the playoffs.

9. PLAYER CONDUCT & DISCIPLINARY RULES

9.1. General Conduct

  • All players must conduct themselves appropriately during matches and while on facility premises.

  • Any act of misconduct may result in a player being ordered to leave the facility and premises.

  • If a player refuses or fails to leave when instructed, police may be contacted to escort the player from the premises.

9.2. Disciplinary Penalties

The following penalties may apply to player misconduct:

  • Suspension of 8–15 days.

  • A fine of up to $50.

10.3. Disciplinary Offenses

The following offenses are subject to disciplinary action:

A. Dangerous or Unduly Rough Play

  • Any dangerous or excessively rough behavior during a match.

B. Offensive Language

  • Swearing by a player that, in the umpire's judgment, can be heard by spectators outside the court.

BAT X BALL INDOOR CRICKET LEAGUE

Official Rules & Regulations

All participating teams and players are responsible for understanding and following the league rules throughout the competition.