Gully cricket is a form of informal, street cricket played in India and other South Asian countries, often using makeshift equipment and played in small, limited-space areas such as alleys or streets.
This is where most of the cricketers start and learn the basics of cricket. The international cricket world is full of famous players who rose from gully cricket to best cricketers.
Backyard Cricket vs Gully Cricket vs Street Cricket
Backyard cricket, gully cricket, and street cricket are all informal forms of cricket played in various settings and locations. The main difference between these terms lies in the location where the game is played:
- Backyard cricket: A form of informal cricket played in the backyard or private open space.
- Gully cricket: A form of informal cricket played in small, limited-space areas such as alleys or streets.
- Street cricket: A form of informal cricket played on public streets or sidewalks.
Note: These terms are not used consistently and often interchangeably in different regions, but the basic rules and gameplay of these informal cricket variations are usually similar.
Fun Watch – Gully Cricket in India
Required Equipment in Gully Cricket (Backyard Cricket)
The equipment required for gully cricket typically includes:
- Cricket ball
- Bat
- Wickets (made of stones, stumps, or any available objects)
- A flat surface to play on (street, alley, etc.)
Since gully cricket is informal and often played in makeshift conditions, the equipment may vary and be substituted with available items.
Gully Cricket Rules
Gully cricket is a fun, informal, and adaptive version of cricket that is played in small, cramped spaces like alleys or streets. The rules of gully cricket can vary, but some of the key rules include:
The rules applied in Gully cricket are lesser than in formal cricket. Here are some common Gully cricket rules:
Teams: Usually played between two teams with 2 to 10 players on each side.
Turns: Each team takes turns batting and fielding.
Scoring: Players score runs by hitting the ball and running back and forth between the wickets.
Bowling: The bowler throws the ball to the batter who tries to score runs.
Getting Out: A batter can be out by being caught, bowled, run out, stumped, or hitting the ball twice.
The Catch: Fielders try to catch the ball or run the batter out. Credit goes to both bowler and the fielder.
Limits: In cramped spaces, hitting the ball beyond a certain point may automatically result in runs.
Substitution: If someone gets injured or is too tired, they can be swapped out for another player.
Also, if the playing space is very the rules like one tip one hand catch, out if the batsman hit six or the bowler can not do fast bowling otherwise it will be counted as no ball
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Ways of Getting Out
In gully cricket or street cricket, a batsman can get out in the following ways:
Bowled: If the bowler delivers a legal ball that hits the wickets.
Caught: If the ball is caught by a fielder before it hits the ground.
Run out: If the batsman is outside the crease and the wickets are hit by the ball.
Stumped: If the wicket-keeper removes the bails while the batsman is out of his crease.
Six: Short boundary cricket often apply this rule to make sure the ball does not get lost or hit someone outside the playing area.
Leg before wicket (LBW): If the umpire determines that the ball would have hit the wicket if the batsman’s leg was not in the way.
The exact rules of getting out in gully cricket can vary based on the specific game being played.
Gully Cricket Position
In gully cricket, there are usually fewer players compared to traditional national and international formal cricket, so the positions are often more flexible and less formalized. However, some common gully cricket positions include:
Batsman: The player who is currently facing the bowler and trying to score runs.
Bowler: The player who delivers the ball to the batsman to out.
Wicket-keeper: The player who stands behind the wicket and tries to catch the ball or stump if the batsman is out of the crease while facing the ball.
Fielders: The players who are positioned around the field to catch the ball or run out the batsman.
The positions in gully cricket can vary widely based on the specific game and the number of players involved.
Tip and Run Cricket
Tip and run cricket is an informal and adaptive form of the sport played in tight spaces with limited equipment. It is known for its fast-paced, high-energy gameplay and emphasis on running and agility.
The name “tip and run” comes from the tactics used in the game, where the batsman aims to softly “tip” the ball into gaps in the field and then quickly runs to the other end of the pitch to score runs.
In this variation of cricket, the playing area is usually smaller and the number of players is limited, resulting in adaptations to the rules and equipment used. Despite these differences, the fundamental principles of the sport remain the same.
Tip and run cricket is widely popular in urban areas, especially in South Asian countries where space is limited but the passion for cricket runs high.
Conclusion
Informal versions of cricket are played in various settings with adaptations to the playing area and limited equipment. These adaptations can take the form of backyard cricket, gully cricket, street cricket, and tip and run cricket.
Backyard cricket is played in private open spaces, gully cricket in small, limited areas such as alleys or streets, street cricket is on public streets or sidewalks, and tip and run cricket is a high-paced version played in tight spaces.
In these forms of cricket, the number of players is often smaller and the rules may be adapted, but the basic gameplay and principles remain the same as in traditional cricket. The specific rules, positions, and equipment needed can vary depending on the type of game and location.
