The Rules
RULE
1. - FIELDING A TEAM
RULE 2.
- THE GAME
RULE 3.
- UNIFORMS
RULE 4.
- THE TOSS
RULE 5. - PLAYING EQUIPMENT
RULE 6. -
THE UMPIRE
RULE 7. -
ARRIVAL/LATE PLAYER(S)
RULE
8. - PLAYER SHORT / SUBSTITUTES / INJURED PLAYERS
RULE 9. -
FIELD PLACEMENT.
RULE
10. - PLAY BALL/LIVE BALL/DEAD BALL.
RULE 11. -
SCORING.
RULE 12. - NO
BALL.
RULE
13. - WIDE AND LEG SIDE WIDE BALLS.
RULE 14. -
BOWLER CHANGING DIRECTION/STYLE.
RULE 15. - BALL
LEAVING THE PLAYING AREA.
RULE 16.
- APPEALS FOR DISMISSALS.
RULE 17.
- DISMISSALS.
RULE
18. - INTERFERENCE.
RULE 19. -
MISCONDUCT.
RULE 20. - ORDER OFF.
RULE 21. - ILLEGAL
COURT ENTRY/EXIT.
RULE 22. -
RUNNERS.
RULE 23. - END OF GAME.
RULE 24. - MIXED GAMES.
SECTION 2 - AICF STANDARDS
1.
COURT LAYOUT
AND DIMENSIONS.
2. EQUIPMENT.
SECTION 3 - MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES
1.
GAME FEES.
2. LATE STARTS.
3. PREMIERSHIP AND BONUS POINTS.
4. LADDER POSITION.
5. FINALS QUALIFICATIONS.
6. DRAWN FINAL.
SECTION 4 - VARIATIONS.
SECTION 5 - UMPIRE SIGNALS.
Umm . . out?
Changing style mid-stream and balls leaving
Keeping track of bowlers changing from over the wicket to around the wicket to over the wicket to around the wicket and so on and so forth
An analysis and explanation (where possible) of the Rules of Indoor Cricket
RULE 14. BOWLER CHANGING DIRECTION/STYLE
Basically, this rule is simply that any bowler changing style (from overarm to underarm or vice versa, "over the wicket" to "around the wicket" or vice versa, or from left to right handed or vice versa) from the immediately preceeding ball he/she bowled, must inform the umpire and gain signalled and verbal acknowledgement of the change from the umpire. That acknowledgement is to also be the vehicle for the umpire informing the batsmen of the change. It should be added that a bowler does not have to advise either batsmen or umpire of the style of delivery of the first ball of any over. The rules below get that message across, eventually.
A. A bowler must advise the umpire, and receive verbal and signalled acknowledgement from the umpire (covered in following rules), if they intend to change their bowling style (ie. overarm to underarm, left arm to right arm or vice versa) or sides of the wicket (ie. "over the wicket" to "around the wicket" or vice versa). I emphasise the need for the umpire's signalled and verbal acknowledgement, even though it is covered further below, because so many players seem to think that the fact they have signalled a change is sufficient. They must gain the umpire's acknowledgement, otherwise they have not advised the umpire of the change. This ensures the umpire, who may have simply not noticed the bowler's signal, can confidently inform players that until he, the umpire, acknowledges the change, it is not legal. See below.
B. The umpire must use the correct hand signal to indicate to the bowler that their change of bowling style has been noticed. The onus is on the fielding team to ensure that the umpire is aware of the bowling change - and if they don't, the change of style is to be considered "not advised", making any subsequent delivery illegal.
C. The AICF version of this rule states "When a bowler changes direction or style, the change is to both batters unless a difference is advised". It's not crystal clear what this means, but I suspect it means something that any good umpire will NOT allow: it seems to me this wording is saying that a bowler can say "I'm bowling around the wicket to batsman A, and over the wicket to batsman B". NO NO NO, a thousand times NO . . . do NOT allow this. Simply state to the bowler that he / she must inform you EVERY TIME he / she is going to change which side of the wicket they are going to bowl from. In a nutshell, this then allows the umpire to advise both batsmen of each and every change AS IT OCCURS. To do as this rule appears to suggest is contrary to the principle of the rule and will only lead to tears, trust me.
D. The umpire will advise both batsmen of the change.
E. "No Ball" will be called if a bowler contravenes this rule.
F. The AICF rules state here "If the batters believe the umpire has overlooked a change they may appeal for a "No Ball", however the umpire's decision is final". Hmmmmmmm ..... the easiest way to avoid such a mistake is as I described in the Umpiring section .. hang the copyright consequences, I'm going to quote myself - Umpire's tip: An umpire should never lose track of which side a bowler is bowling from, even if you get one of those bowlers who changes all the time. The trick? When the bowler bowls his first delivery, mark next to his name on the score-sheet the following - 'L' if left-handed, 'R' if right, and 'O' for over the wicket, 'A' for around (and if you're in a game where changing from overarm to underarm etc is happening [as in mixed games for example], you just need to devise another little notation for yourself to indicate overarm or underarm). Then, whenever the bowler indicates he is changing side, cross out the note and write a new one. Believe me, if you are umpiring a bowler who changes side often, it can become confusing trying to remember which side he bowled from the previous delivery, and whether he has indicated the change. The little notes to yourself mean you will never, ever miss this one.
RULE 15. BALL LEAVING THE PLAYING AREA
A. A ball that leaves the playing area or lodges in the netting or netting fixtures (court "door", corner cable or covering conduit) as a result of being hit by the batsman, will be called "Dead Ball" by the umpire and will be rebowled. This includes balls coming off the bat onto the non-striker or fielder/s prior to leaving the playing area or lodging in the netting etc. No runs are scored, and the original striker must face the rebowled ball.
B. Any ball, when bowled, that leaves the playing area or lodges in the netting or fixtures (I emphasise this because the AICF rules don't mention it), without being touched by the batsman, the bat or the fielding side will be called "Dead Ball" by the umpire and will be rebowled. Again, the same batsman will face the rebowled ball.
C. Any ball that leaves the playing area (or lodges etc etc ... see "B" immediately above) as a result of an attempted run out by a fielder will be called "Dead Ball" by the umpire. All runs made off the ball, prior to it leaving the court, will count. At this point, the AICF's rules state "Batters must have crossed to be eligible to score a physical run" .... however, at another part of the AICF's rulebook describing this very situation, the AICF states "The score (net zone and physical runs) made up until when the ball leaves the court will count". I agree with that statement - I think it should be runs made (i.e. completed) - but the AICF rules seem to contradict themselves (this is discussed in a little more detail under Rule 10 G 'Special case No Balls'.). Under these circumstances the ball will not be rebowled.