Smash 5s is a fast-paced way to play cricket.  With a multiple-innings format, it  provides significant opportunities to enhance the skills and game awareness of all Players.

With multiple chances to bat, bowl and be actively involved in the field, Smash 5s is designed to maintain Players full engagement across the duration of the game.

The structure of the game - split innings and ‘alternative’ rules - also develops wider tactical understanding.

Smash 5s incorporates a number of elements that enhance skill development and enjoyment for young cricketers.
 

Modifications

The core of Smash 5s is a split innings format (think baseball style innings...) promoting a faster, action-packed game with more active involvement for all players.
 

Players and Multi-innings Format

• Promotes a fast, action-packed game.
• More active time for all Players.
• Encourages strategic thinking, such as how to approach each innings.
   

4-ball Overs

• A quicker rotation of bowlers means less downtime between each turn to bowl, and more action.
• Encourages the bowler to think strategically to maximise their over.
• Promotes a fast, action-packed game.

Batting Order

Each team determines their batting order, which operates as a rotating order (similar to a game of baseball). If all batters are dismissed, the batting line-up restarts at the top of the order.

This provides each Player with multiple opportunities to bat within each game. It results in more proactive batting, and more activity for each Player.
 

Extra Life

When a batter is dismissed, they can opt to activate their Extra Life. This allows them to stay in for an additional three balls.
The cost of activating an Extra Life is minus 3 runs to the team’s score. Each batter can play their Extra Life only once during the game.
Why?

• Encourages strategy from the batting team.
• Encourages proactive batting and provides greater opportunity for a positive playing experience.
• It's fun!
   

Maximise Time

Each innings should be being bowled from one end - rather than changing ends every over. 

This reduces the downtime between overs, resulting in more active time for the Players. It also enables the game to be played faster, reducing the overall game duration.
 

Flexible Approach

Smash 5s provides significant flexibility as a cricket format. It can be a competitive hard ball game for experienced cricketers, or a soft ball game for new cricketers.

Discuss with your team or competition manager to select the options that best suit how you want to play.

Cricket is evolving - there are various styles, exciting techniques and may different ways to play.

Smash 5s is just one of modified game formats in Smash Play youth-rangatahi. Follow the links below for further information:

Smash 5s can be scored on Play HQ or through paper scoring.

Follow the link below for further instructions