Box cricket: the usual rules, and how to get the most from your slot
How box and indoor cricket is usually played — team sizes, overs, how the nets count — plus practical tips for booking a slot with friends.
Updated
Box cricket is fast, short-format cricket played inside a netted enclosure on artificial turf. Every arena has its own house rules, so check at the start — but most games follow the same pattern.
The usual format
- Teams of six to eight players a side.
- Short innings — commonly four to eight overs each — so an hour fits two or three matches.
- Tape ball or a soft tennis ball; hard ball only in proper nets or on outdoor grounds.
- Hitting the roof net or the back net is often out, or scores fixed runs — agree it before the first ball.
- Every player usually bowls at least one over, so nobody is left out.
Tips for booking with friends
- Book early for evening slots, especially Thursday to Sunday — they go first.
- Agree in your group chat who is paying the venue, and collect the money before you play.
- Arrive ten minutes early: the hour starts on time whether you are warmed up or not.
- Bring your own tape balls and a spare bat; venues have some, but not always enough.
- If you cannot make it, cancel with the link in your email so another team can play.
Wear flat trainers or turf shoes — spikes are not allowed on artificial turf, and running shoes grip better than you might expect.