Bowl-Off Rules

York Vale Cricket League - Bowl Out Rules



1. A full set of stumps, including bails, will be pitched at both ends of the designated pitch, but the bowlers will all bowl from the same end. The umpires will decide which end to bowl from if neutral umpires are involved, if they are not, by the toss of a coin between the captains.

2. The captains shall nominate five bowlers (from the eleven players that started the game) and the order of bowling. In the event of injury during the bowl out, another bowler may replace the injured player.

3. The captains shall toss a coin for the right to decide which team bowls first in the bowl out.

4. The wicket keeper will not be permitted to stand within 1 meter of the stumps.

5. The bowl out shall be conducted in the same manner as a penalty shootout.

6. Deliveries will be bowled alternatively, one from each team. A dislodged bail will constitute a hit provided the ball has not been called a no-ball by the umpire.

7. After the first set of 5 deliveries, if still the ‘hits’ are still equal, one bowler for each team (from those who have not already bowled), will have alternate attempts until a winner is achieved. If the hits are equal after all eleven players have had a go, the bowl out will continue in the same order as the first round, until a winner is achieved.

8. No bowler will be allowed a practice delivery.

9. The umpires will stand in their normal positions and will be responsible for officially recording the number of ‘hits’ on the wicket. Their decision shall be final as to the result. If neutral umpires are not involved then the team winning the toss and deciding which end to bowl will supply the umpire at the bowler’s end and that umpire will stand throughout at that end, unless it is his turn to bowl and then the square-leg umpire will stand in his place.

10. The umpires will be responsible for making sure only the nominated bowlers actually bowl.

11. Only the 5 nominated bowlers and the wicket keeper shall be allowed on the field of play. All other players not involved in the bowl out shall be beyond the boundary.

12. If a bowl out is not possible the result will be determined by the toss of a coin.


If these rules do not cover every eventuality, common sense must prevail.