We play 'time cricket' in all of our home matches. Things have changed quite a bit since we started the club in 1988. In our first few seasons, it was rare that any of our opposing teams played anything but time games. Now it is rare that anything other than limited overs cricket is played at our away matches. Because many players now, particularly younger ones, are less familiar with the traditional form of the game, this page sets out the basic principles and the local playing conditions when we play at home. We hope it will be useful.
Quick Summary
- The standard laws of cricket apply
- Games start at 1pm. The last hour of play begins at 5.30 after which a minimum of 20 overs have to be bowled
- Each team bowls with the new ball that they supply themselves
- Tea is taken after the side batting first declares or is bowled out. There is no fixed time or number of overs for this. (The batting first captain declares when they wish)
- Match clock is adjusted so that only 20 minutes of ‘match time’ is taken at teatime
- Drinks break in second innings takes place after last hour is called.
- No limitation on overs bowled by each bowler (except for ECB youth regulations)
- Results are win, loss, draw, tie (if the team batting second don’t reach their target runs but are not all out then it is a draw)
Detailed FAQs and Examples
How long do the games last?
Games start at 1.00pm. Last hour begins at 5.30pm after which a minimum of 20 overs need to be bowled before the game ends.
Balls and bowling
Each team bowls with their own new ball. The side bowling second can elect to start the innings with the ball used in the first innings and then take the new ball when they wish (the latter is not a special condition but in the standard laws of cricket). There are no limitations on the number of overs that bowlers can bowl. The exception is for young players, where ECB regulations apply.
What kind of rules do the games follow?
Our matches are what are commonly called 'time' games. This means that the usual laws of cricket apply as far as possible and that the number of overs in the game is determined by the time available - not fixed to the same number per team. The side batting first can declare whenever they like (unless they have been bowled out). For the batting first captain, this involves judging how many runs will be needed to be set by what time in order to give you time to bowl out the side batting second before play ends. Typically, there tend to be about 80-85 overs bowled in the day. The match time available is around 5.5 hours. Slow over rates mean less chance of a positive results being obtained so bowling your overs quickly gives you the best chance of winning.
How does it work in practice?
The biggest difference between 'time' cricket and limited overs cricket is that wins, losses, draws and ties are possible in a time game, just like in a Test match or County Championship match. A draw happens when the side batting second are not all out by the end of the match but did not score more runs than the team batting first. So, if your team is bowling second, the only way to win is to bowl the side out before the end of play before they reach your score. The match is also drawn when both teams score the same number of runs. The exception to this is where the side batting second are also all out with scores level. In this case, the match is tied.
What if the side batting second doesn't have time to score the runs and just tries to stay in?
The other big difference from limited overs cricket is that the side batting first have to decide when to declare their innings closed (unless they are bowled out before that point). The trick is to allow the side batting second enough time to get the runs, which also gives the side bowling second time to bowl them out. This is not always an easy judgement to make. Declare too early and you might make it too easy for the opposition to get the runs. On the flip side, if the side batting second thinks they have no chance of chasing down the runs because they don’t have enough time, then they will understandably play defensively in order to secure the draw – the limit of their ambitions, given the time available. This is the main danger in declaring too late. It is therefore the batting first captain who often holds the key to the competitiveness of the match.
Are there any limitations on overs bowled?
In terms of the total overs bowled during the match, no. In the second innings, the umpire will signal when one hour of playing time remains (usually at 5.30pm) and from that point on, a minimum of 20 must be bowled before the match ends. Usually it takes a bit longer than one hour to bowl 20 overs, so the games tend to finish at a little later, at about 7.00pm.
When are tea and drinks?
Tea is taken between innings. There is no fixed time for tea, as it depends on when the first innings is declared or when the team batting first is bowled out. That often tends to be between 3.30pm and 4.00pm - but not necessarily. Although tea can be taken at any time, it will always last exactly 20 minutes of 'match time'. We stop the match clock when the players come off for tea and when the second innings begins, we set it going again, advanced by 20 minutes.
So for example, if tea is taken at 4.05 and the tea interval lasts 30mins, then play restarts at 4.35. When play restarts, the clock is restarted showing 4.25, so only 20 minutes of play is lost. 'Match time' is therefore now behind 'real time'. It is a good idea not to take longer for tea than necessary, or games can end quite a lot later than scheduled. The only exception to this is where the team batting first gets bowled out very early, say after only one hour’s play. In these cases, if the captains agree, the second innings can start after a 10 minute break and a time fixed for when tea will be taken – usually 4pm.
Drinks break in the first innings would normally be at 2.30. In the second innings, the drinks break takes place at the start of the final hour’s play.
Examples
Chigwell vs Theydon Bois
Chigwell bat first. At 3.40pm they have reached 220-7 and declare. After tea, Theydon Bois bat and chase Chigwell’s total. They fall just short and score 218 for 8 by the end of play. The game is drawn because Theydon Bois were not all out but did not reach the 221 needed to win.
Chigwell vs Hadley Wood Green
Hadley Wood Green bat first and reach 238-4 by 3.10pm, when they have received 36 overs. They decide to declare as they think they have enough runs and want to give themselves enough time to get Chigwell out – even though that also gives them a chance of winning.
After tea, Chigwell start slowly but then, to tempt them into chasing the runs, the spinners come on and Chigwell reach 229-9 with one over to go. All three results are possible at this stage. If Chigwell block out the last over the game will be drawn. If they risk going for the runs and get them, Chigwell will win. If Hadley Wood Green get the final wicket, they win.
Chigwell vs Pacific
Pacific reach 205-3 declared in the first innings. After tea, Chigwell bat and reach 205-9 with one ball to left in the innings. Pacific run out the Chigwell batter on the last ball as they go for a single to win the match. As each side ends the game with the same score and Chigwell were all out, the match is tied.
