Print

[Visigoth]

I was curious about how a typical village/ afternoon cricket match is structured. Is such a match usually limited overs? One innings? What would a typical day be like, that is, when do you start playing, break for lunch (how long), tea, drinks, etc..? This might give me some ideas about how to do things over here.

[johan95]

Sunday Friendly games I guess you're talking about mate...

We usually start at 2pm and play a time game. Generally it is 20 overs taken from 6.30. A time game involves the side batting first declaring if they haven't been bowled out for a while.

Usually, it is common to declare after max. 45 overs (or two and a half or maybe two and three quarter hours..).

We take tea therefore at 4.30-4.55 and turn around starting the second innings at 5. This therefore gives the side batting second (roughly) the same amount of overs.

Drinks are once or twice every innings depending on the heat. 15/20 and 30/35 etc overs..

The side batting second can draw the game if they are not out at the end without having scored the runs. Therefore it is a big advantage for the stronger team to bat second as they can win the game outright and not be frustrated by some crabbing openers!

Hope that helps.

[Nickauger]

40-50 overs per innings, with tea in the middle. Tea is the most important thing to get right the cricket can sort itself out!

[jw17]

40 overs a side and start at 1 i think
5 bowlers bowl 8 and drinks at 20 overs
and i agree with nick

[The_Bird]

A usual league game for me would be a 1:30 start 48 overs per side with tea around 4:30.
Drinks at 24 ( or 16 and 32 if it's hot ) 4 bowlers bowling 12 overs each. I have played a few crusader timed games starting at 11, which is the side batting first bats for as long as they want (usually 55-60 overs) and declare leaving the other team to chase the score with lunch at 1:30 (Pasties)and tea at 4:30 (Cornish cream teas) These types of games usually for me are friendly games and a great family day with the opportunity for the cricket purists to be in their element.

[Visigoth]

Thanks, very helpful. What kind of 'overs per hour' rate would be considered "normal" ?

[Manormanic]

Over rate - aim for 16-18 through the innings, accepting that it will be slower than that when the seamers are on.

Style of game - personal choice really.  40/40 has the advantage of making it reasonably easy to give everyone a game.

[johan95]

In our Saturday league games we aim for 17 per hour. Which would indicate Mm. is spot on!

Though it's completely subjective, to be honest it's more getting the fielders round at the end of each over that causes a slow over rate..(so obviously don't get someone doing deep midwicket to deep midwicket on a big ground haha!).

I like 40/40, but sometimes, if a team is bashing you, they could have declared after 35 overs and given you more overs to chase and a better game..that's why I prefer time..

[Manormanic]

I like 40/40, but sometimes, if a team is bashing you, they could have declared after 35 overs and given you more overs to chase and a better game..that's why I prefer time..

Depends how well you can trust the teams you're playing doesn't it?  For every friendly I've arranged where one side has "misdeclared" their strength, I've played another where a side wants to bat 60 overs in a timed game to give everyone a knock!

[johan95]

Yeah it's difficult. Sometimes you have to play overs games as you fear the other team won't declare sportingly.

Most our club has batted is 46 overs, that's cause we were struggling to a decent score..

Really varies though, any game tends to work if the opposition is sporting and is of a similar standard to you..

[Manormanic]

Really varies though, any game tends to work if the opposition is sporting and is of a similar standard to you..

Agreed - our record is 52 to be fair - though in our defence, the oppo got through those overs in under 3 hours and we bowled 47 back at them (a dusty track and seven spinners) but I've played against sides who have gone on to 56 and 57 - the 57 managed to bowl 28 back at us!

[roco]

I hate that timed cricket crap we play a team who insists on it and it's just not good at all

[johan95]

Yeah it's fair enough. I was scoring for our last game of the season. The oppo batted for 43 overs scoring 308-6. We did bowl our overs slowly, and it took 3 and a half hours. Admittedly they (our players) bowled slowly, but 300 on our pitch at the end of the year is more than enough.

They then bowled 45 overs back at us. But they only achieved that by bowling pies for the entire first 15 overs. That was just disrespectful, rude and wasn't cricket.

So some time games can be good, but some can be awful like that one. In the end we lost because everyone on our side just didn't give a (No Swearing Please) and wanted the game to end as quickly as possible.

[alexrickyponting]

I hate that timed cricket crap we play a team who insists on it and it's just not good at all

Same it's pretty crap, normally if the oppo want a timed game we say "40/40 or we go". No-one has stuck to their guns and let us go home yet so all's good.

[Manormanic]

Same it's pretty crap, normally if the oppo want a timed game we say "40/40 or we go". No-one has stuck to their guns and let us go home yet so all's good.

thats actually a pretty (No Swearing Please) attitude - if you feel that strongly, at least discuss it beforehand!