Ahead of the 1st ODI against Sri Lanka at the MCG where Aaron Finch, Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja will all deservedly make their debuts for the Green & Golds, I thought I would share some fun content with you.
As you can see by the above image, Backyard Cricket has formal rules at long last.
Personally, the game has resulted in very few disputes in my time but after years of the game being a summer tradition played by many the rules have been made official and may just bring about some clarity.
Commonwealth Bank, whose involvement in Australian cricket continues to be absolutely massive, established the campaign to set about making the rules as an established code once and for all.
To assist them in finalising the rules was the recently retired Michael Hussey, as well as Southern Stars bowler Ellyse Perry.
Amusingly enough Commonwealth Bank carried out a survey to establish which States in Australia were having the most disputes over the rules. Inevitably this would likely cause chaos to any game, such as it was for the Hussey brothers when they were youngsters with Mike putting David away to all areas of the yard.
Their games often ended in David locking himself in the car, crying in frustration so this is some evidence of games in Western Australia being called off due to disagreement on the rules.
As per the release from Commonwealth Bank:
"According to the research, one quarter (25 per cent) of backyard cricket matches have resulted in a disagreement about the rules, and one in five (20 per cent) backyard cricket matches have ended prematurely because people couldn’t agree on the rules.
When it comes to state-by-state comparisons, South Australian’s were revealed as being the most likely to have a dispute over a decision, Western Australians the most likely to call off the game because players couldn’t agree on the rules and Queenslander’s deemed the most likely to play a game without any arguments at all.
With over 21 million games of backyard cricket expected to be played this year, and with no definitive set of rules for the game, Commonwealth Bank has sought to settle the nations’ disputes once and for all by launching the official Rules of Backyard Cricket.
While the formal game of cricket has over 133 rules and clauses, the official Rules of Backyard Cricket have been condensed into 13 easy to follow, undisputable rules and clauses. They have been developed in partnership with Australian cricketers and Commonwealth Bank ambassador’s Mike Hussey, Ellyse Perry and more than 1,000 Australians with the aim of ending disputes and arguments at family gatherings, picnics, and BBQs around Australia this summer."
It's something fun that has been done but if you find yourself playing the game regularly on Christmas day, Boxing day or Australia day maybe the rules will circulate and result in games less manic about the rules and more about some intense games of Backyard Cricket!
Glad the no LBW rule is set in stone!
The Rules:1. Played between two teams of equal players - minimum one player on each side
2. Whichever team scores the most runs after every player on each team has batted is declared the winner of the
match
3. Batsmen are dismissed if their wickets are dislodged or the ball is caught
4. A one-hand-catch off a rebound from a wall or roof means the batsman's out
5. Batsmen can't be declared out on the first ball
6. Automatic wicket keeper and slips
7. No Leg Before Wicket (LBW)
8. Kids can bowl underarm
9. Six and out – over the fence or in the pool
10. Break the window or damage plants- you're out
11. One hand, one bounce
12. If a pet catches the ball- you're out
13. When a batsman reaches a pre-determined maximum score - retirement is enforced
Commonwealth Bank can be found on Facebook as well for many more promotional programs they do through their sponsorship of Australian cricket and the community.
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