Quick reference
- 6 to 8 a side, on an enclosed turf pitch.
- Walls and nets are usually in play.
- One-hand-one-bounce catches count.
- Usually no LBW; last man often stands.
- Short overs, agree everything before the first ball.
Box cricket is cricket distilled to its most fun: a small enclosed turf, a few players a side, and a ball that never really goes dead because the walls keep it in play. Because grounds differ, the golden rule is to agree your version before you start.
What is box cricket?
Box cricket, sometimes called turf or cage cricket, is played inside a netted enclosure, usually on artificial turf. The confined space makes it fast and high-scoring: there's nowhere for the ball to run away, big hitting is risky because of caught-out rules, and every player is involved on every ball. It's the format most weekend turf bookings use in Indian cities.
The setup
- Pitch: a short turf strip inside the enclosure. Length varies, so agree the crease and bowling mark.
- Teams: typically 6 to 8 a side. Smaller grounds play 4 or 5.
- Ball: tennis or tape-ball, occasionally a soft league ball. Never a hard leather ball in a small cage.
- Overs: short, often 4 to 8 per side, with a cap of one or two overs per bowler.
The key rules
Walls and nets are in play
In most box games, the side and back nets are live. The ball rebounding off a wall stays in play, so batters and fielders keep going until the ball is controlled. Some grounds mark a back-wall boundary as a four or six; others give nothing for hitting the net. Agree which.
One-hand-one-bounce
The signature gully and box rule: a fielder can catch a batter out with one hand after exactly one bounce, often off a wall. It keeps big hitters honest in a small space. Two bounces is not out, and a clean catch off the full is always out.
Caught off the wall
Groups differ here. Common versions: out if caught cleanly off the wall on the full, or out only on one-hand-one-bounce. Decide before you start, because this rule decides matches.
Usually no LBW
Most box games drop LBW. It's hard to judge without an umpire behind the stumps and it slows a fast format. Bowled, caught, run out and stumped do the work.
Last man stands
With small teams, many box games let the last batter bat alone once partners are out, running singles and odd numbers as usual. It keeps the innings alive and the finish tense. Others end the innings at the last wicket. Pick one.
Run scoring and short runs
Runs are the same idea as full cricket: run between the wickets, or score boundaries by the rules your ground uses. In tight spaces, many groups play that certain zones or the back wall are automatic runs to avoid collisions.
Common variations
| Rule | Common options |
|---|---|
| Catch off the wall | Out on the full · out one-hand-one-bounce only · not out |
| Last man | Last man stands · innings ends at final wicket |
| Wides and no-balls | One run only · one run plus a re-ball · free hit after a no-ball |
| Boundaries | Back net = 4 or 6 · no boundaries, run everything |
| Retire | Retire at a set score to give everyone a bat |
How to score a box cricket match
Because rules vary game to game, scoring by memory gets messy fast. The clean way is to set your rules once at the start and let the app enforce them:
- Set overs, bowler cap, and wide/no-ball behaviour for your ground.
- Turn on last man stands and a common player if a team is short.
- Score ball by ball with one-tap wides, no-balls and boundaries.
- Share the scorecard to the group when it ends.
FAQ
How many players in box cricket?
Usually 6 to 8 a side, sometimes as few as 4 or 5 on smaller turf. Agree the number when you book.
Is one-hand-one-bounce out?
Yes, in most gully and box games. A fielder catching the ball one-handed after one bounce, often off a wall, is a legal dismissal.
Are there LBWs in box cricket?
Usually not. Most groups skip LBW because it's hard to judge and slows the game.
Can I score box cricket with custom rules?
You can set overs, wickets, bowler caps, last man stands, solo batting and a common player per match. Ground-specific rules such as wall catches or one-hand-one-bounce are agreed and enforced by your umpire, then recorded as the resulting runs or dismissal.