Variants of cricket

Tests, ODIs, six-a-side, 20-20 and what else?:

Cricket is one of those games which has become popular, even more than the national game among Sri Lankans.

The most popular types of cricket may be ODIs, Test matches and six-a-sides. But the 20-20 matches too have caught a lot of attention these days, and we intend writing more about it in one of our next editions. By the way, did you know that there are much more, types of cricket other than these variants? We have mentioned some of them here.

At all levels, the rules of cricket are often modified. The rules are often changed to make the game playable with limited resources, or to make it more convenient and enjoyable for the participants.

Cricket is played in areas such as sandy beaches and ice floes, after modifying it a bit to match the environment. Let's look at a few recognised variations. However, these may not be well structured as the types that we are familiar with.

Kilikiti

In Samoa, a form of cricket called Kilikiti is played in which hockey stick-shaped bats are used. Just as in cricket, there is a batting team and a fielding team, and a pitch. Unlike in ordinary cricket, the ball alternates between two bowlers, one at each end of the pitch, and accordingly, there are two wicket-keepers.

There is no limit to team size, and teams are made up of whoever turns up regardless of gender or age.

A kilikiti game is more of a multi-day community event full of singing, dancing, and feasting. Entire villages will compete and everyone will be involved, whether as player, cook, or spectator. Surprisingly, the only universal rule is that the host team loses if it cannot provide enough food.

Ice cricket

In Estonia, teams gather over the winter for the annual ice cricket tournament. The game is different from the normal summer cricket, with harsh, wintry conditions.

Rules are otherwise similar to those for the six-a-side game. Ice cricket is played directly on the ice, with no mat laid down. The results are a little more unpredictable and provide more fun and variety.

Kwik cricket

Kim cricket is a high-speed version of cricket aimed mainly at encouraging children to take part in the sport, Kwik cricket is played with a plastic bat and ball, for safety reasons.

In Kwik cricket, the bowler does not have to wait until the batsman is ready for a delivery, leading to a faster, more exhausting game designed to appeal to children.

Another modification to increase the speed of the game is the 'Tip and Run', 'Tipsy Run' or 'Tippy-Go' rule, in which the batsman must run when the ball touches the bat, no matter whether it was intentional or not.

This rule speeds the match up by disabling the batsman's ability to block the ball. In Australia and New Zealand, and the rules include a one-handed catch resulting in the dismissal of the entire team.

Tape ball cricket

This is a variant of cricket, which is popular in India and Pakistan. In this game, a tennis ball is covered with insulating tape. The idea behind this is to make the ball heavier.

As a result, fast bowlers can generate extra swing in both directions while spinners can produce turn. A game usually consists of a limited overs match with the number of overs being between four and twelve.

Tournaments of this type are regularly held in Karachi and Lahore, and night matches are common, during the month of Ramadan.

Non-stop cricket

This is also called continuous cricket. According to the rules of this game, the batsman must run to a marker square to the wicket as soon as he strikes. The bowler may bowl as soon as the ball is returned, regardless of whether or not the batsman is still running.

So, this requires the batsman to come back to the wicket as soon as possible to prevent the bowler from bowling before he comes back.

French cricket

This is an informal form of cricket where a ball is bowled underarm at the legs of another player holding a cricket bat. The batsman is required to block and defend his wicket, which is his pair of legs.

Any number of fielders can stand around the batsman, and any fielder can bowl at the batsman from any angle. The batsman is bowled out when his legs are hit below the knee and he can also be caught out.

The bowler or fielder who bowls or catches the batsman out normally replaces him. Interestingly, this game is not played by the French, and how the game got its name is a mystery.

Catchy shubby cricket

This is a form of the game developed in Jamaica where roles are changed rapidly, so that all players can have a turn in a short time. The rules of the game are very unclear, and usually they are made by the players in a way which would ensure that the roles are changed rapidly.

Compiled by Aravinda Dassanayake