Cricket

(The bowler vs batter game)

Players: 2

Time: minutes per round

Complexity: /10

Setup

• This game requires: all 210 numbered cubes and a pen and paper to note the scores.

  • • Discard the 6 wildcubes either before the game, or as they are dealt throughout the game, whichever is easier.

• Each player selects one of the 6 playing colours to use during this game. This playing colour shows the number used by that player on each cube.

• Deal 6 cubes to each player, leaving the rest in the bag.

• Each player should turn their cubes so that their playing colour is on the side facing them, so that the other player can’t see their numbers.

Aim of the game

• This game is scored like a game of cricket. If there are any cricket terms you are unsure of, please see the The Laws of Cricket.

• In the first inning, one player will play as the bowler and the other as the batter. When that inning is over, the roles are reversed for the second inning.

  • The aim of the game for the batter is to get as many runs as possible, and not give away their wickets too quickly.

  • The aim of the game for the bowler is to get to ten wickets as quickly as possible, and not give away too many runs.

• The winner of the game is the player who scored the most runs across both innings.

How to play

• Toss a coin to decide who is bowling and who is batting (if a coin is unavailable, use a cube)

• The six cubes that are dealt to each player at the start represent the six balls of the first over.

• Keeping it secret from their opponents, each player places their 6 numbers into their chosen order (from left to right). This order can not be changed once both players have agreed they have finished re-ordering.

• When both players have done this, both players show their first selected number. The bowling player first, followed by the batting player. The scoring of this ball is as follows:

  • If the bowler's number is 

    • 5 or more higher than the batter's number - a wicket is taken by the bowler. Once 10 wickets have been taken, the inning is over and the batter can score no more runs.

    • between 0 and 4 higher than the batter's number - then this is a dot ball. No runs are scored and no wickets are taken. Due to the pressure built by no runs being scored, for each dot ball in a row, the difference required for a wicket is lowered by one. (For example, if there has been two dot balls in a row, then a bowler's number only needs to be 3 or more higher than the batter's to get a wicket, instead of the usual 5 or more higher.)

    • 1 lower than the batter's number - 1 run scored by the batter.

    • 2 lower than the batter's number - 2 runs scored by the batter.

    • 3 lower than the batter's number - 3 runs scored by the batter.

    • 4 or 5 lower than the batter's number - 4 runs scored by the batter.

    • 6 or more lower than the batter's number - 6 runs scored by the batter.

    • (Include table that shows all possibilities)

• After this is done for the first ball, move on to the second ball of the over by revealing the bowler's and then then the batter's numbers in the same way.

• (Include example of how an over could go)

  • 1st ball - Bowler's 2 vs Batter's 6 - 4 runs

  • 2nd ball - Bowler's 0 vs Batter's 6 - 6 runs

  • 3rd ball - Bowler's 6 vs Batter's 6 - 0 runs (dot ball, only 4 difference needed for a wicket)

  • 4th ball - Bowler's 4 vs Batter's 3 - 0 runs (dot ball, only 3 difference needed for a wicket)

  • 5th ball - Bowler's 5 vs Batter's 2 - wicket (due to the 2 dot ball's immediately prior)

  • 6th ball - Bowler's 5 vs Batter's 7 - 2 runs

  • The score of this over is 12 runs for 1 wicket (i.e. 12/1)

• At the end of the over note down the score (as an example, 16 runs for 2 wickets would be noted as 16/2). Then deal 6 cubes to each player for the second over.

• Continue playing over after over until the bowler has taken 10 wickets.

• When 10 wickets have been taken, the first inning is over. Note the number of runs that the batter made. Then switch roles and play the second inning. 

• The player who scored the most runs when they were the batter is the winner.

Possible alternative rules

• To play a test match, play 2 innings for each team and increase the number difference required for a wicket to 7.

• Add a rule that each over, each player can opt to roll one of their cubes instead of playing their own colour.

• Finished one game? Let the winner make a new rule and play again!

• And, as always, add any other rules you like to have more fun!