Cricket rules hit sticky wicket, so here's ours

A New Zealand tourism body, in a survey of more than 1000 people, has established the generally accepted rules of backyard cricket.

It seems to me that having the rules defined like that sort of defeats the point - one of the best things about backyard or beach cricket is that the rules can and should be negotiated according to conditions and location.

For instance, if you've got a neighbour with a nasty dog then you ban any shots that might send the ball in that direction.

If you need to even up the odds between players, you give the younger kids several "outs" before they have to leave the wicket, but more experienced players have to bat with one hand behind their back.

The rules set out by Tourism Bay of Plenty contradict themselves too - if you get bat to ball you have to run, but running between wickets is optional?

Where else would you run?

For your information though, should you need it in the backyard this summer, here's Tourism BOP's rules:

1. One hand, one bounce: catches can be taken with one hand if the ball has bounced once.

2. Six and out: the batsman is out if the ball is hit over the fence or into water on the full.

3. LBW: in or out - the decision is yours.

4. Nick it and out: any edges that go behind the wicket are automatically out.

5. Tippity run: you have to run if you get bat to ball.

6. You can't go out first ball.

7. Hit the house/bach: instant dismissal.

8. Hit the person cooking the BBQ or the BBQ itself: instant dismissal.

9. Standard over: backyard bowlers can bowl continuously until queried by the fielders awaiting their turn.

10. Running between wickets: purely optional.