If you haven’t played cricket yet, don’t worry as you’re definitely not alone. Despite the fact that cricket is one of Australia’s favourite sports, not everyone knows that there is an indoor version of this popular Commonwealth sports. Believe me, I did, too. It’s like playing softball except that it comes with different rules. Regardless, it is still one of the most fun activities you can have with your friends. Here’s how you can enjoy a game of indoor cricket.
Watch the Pros
The first thing you really have to do is to watch how professional or even amateur bowlers, batters, and fielders accomplish the different tasks expected of them with each game. Watch these athletes as they play indoor cricket in Melbourne or any other major city in Australia. This will give you an idea as to just how fervent the spectators can be, cheering their team and even giving them the much-needed morale boost when scoring. Alternatively, you can watch a game on TV, although I personally recommend watching the actual games so you’ll get the vibe of the game.
Learn the Rules
Like I said in the beginning, a game of indoor cricket is pretty much like a game of softball or baseball except that there are certain rules and gameplays that are highly specific to indoor cricket. My suggestion is to read indoor cricket rules even before you watch a game. The idea is to have a better understanding of how the principles in the rule book are applied right out in the field. Or, you can watch a game now then read the rules later. At least you will already have a mental picture of how the rule is applied on the field. Trust me, for absolute newbies like us, it usually takes time before such rules become crystal clear. The good news is that once you understand these rules the more that you will enjoy the game.
Get Your Team Organised
Unlike cricket played outdoors, indoor cricket is only composed of 8 players in each team. That means you’ve got to organise your own team of 8, although you can go for 16 and then divide it into two when you’re ready to play the game. Here’s the tricky part. You will need to determine who among your team members can bowl the ball and not just simply throw it. This is one of the major differences between softball or baseball and cricket. There’s a certain way of ‘bowling’ the ball. The same is true with batting. You cannot swing the bat as hard as you possibly can like in baseball. Again, review your rules and try to see the different positions that the game requires.
Get Your Gear
The problem with indoor cricket is that you’ll be playing mostly on concrete floor. This will present some fundamental changes in the equipment that you use. The stumps will be different as they cannot be stuck in the floor. The cricket ball will also have a much softer centre than the conventional cricket ball. I did found out that you can use an ordinary tennis ball for such a purpose. As for the bat, it doesn’t really matter if it’s for outdoor or indoor. However, I do recommend getting a bat that you’re more comfortable swinging with finesse.
Get Ready to Score
Once you’ve got all these preliminaries settled, you’re ready to take turns batting and hitting the ball. Do take note that you’re also supposed to limit your opponents’ score. This makes a game of indoor cricket so much fun.
Learning to play indoor cricket is one of the best ways to enjoy the game, not as a spectator but as an active participant in the sport.
