Umm . . out?

SCORING - zones, score-sheet download, balls-per-over, skins

Hey, I just want to score ....

And so you shall....one way or another.

Runs are scored by a) both batsmen safely running to the opposite ends, plus b) 'bonus' runs for hitting the ball into specified sections of the net (including 4 for a direct hit to the back net and 6 for a direct hit, on the full, to the back net), and sundries (wides, no-balls). I have prepared a diagram showing the scoring zones of the nets, with a plain-English explanation. I also have an basic example of a 6-ball over blank score-sheet (in Adobe pdf format) which you can download and use.

Each dismissal deducts 5 runs from the batting side's score, but the batsman out continues for his/her allotted 4 over innings (a 'dismissal' is an "out", often refered to as "losing a wicket" if you're batting, or "taking a wicket" if you're bowling). It is therefore possible for a team to have a minus score for its full innings . . . and it does sometimes happen.

All standard ways of losing your wicket apply, with an important exception regards Leg Before Wicket, and the added condition that catches can be taken of the netting (excluding a direct hit, on the full, to the back net....this is scored as a "six", and you cannot be caught off a six). A batsman can only be out LBW if he/she does not play a shot and the ball meets all the other conditions of the LBW rule.

Balls per over

A variation which can have an effect on scoring is the number of balls per over. The standard is six, in line with Cricket in general. However, all National Championships in Australia held in conjunction with the current ruling body (the Australian Indoor Cricket Federation) have eight ball overs. Indeed, when Indoor Cricket first started in the late 1970's (in Perth, Western Australia), eight ball overs were the norm. Eventually they moved to seven, then the current six. Whereas the move in Cricket in general (in Australia) from eight to six ball overs was to allow more advertisement breaks during TV coverage, the move in Indoor Cricket was to allow more games to be played every night, thereby increasing the centres' income. The pen may be mightier than the sword, but the mighty dollar leaves them both for dead.

Skins

The other aspect of scoring is part of game-points which can be won. League competitions allocate points for a win. Additionally, most, if not all, now award points for "skins". A "skin" is won when one pair of batsmen score more than the corresponding pair of opposing batsmen. i.e Team A's third pair vs Team B's third pair, etc. Skins and game-points are explained further in the Rules page. Skins adds an extra level of interest and excitement, and are one of the better innovations of recent years.

Further explanation and commentary on all the above is contained in the "Rules" pages.