Diamond Cricket with Four Batters
A fast cricket game with four wickets at the corners of a square and a bowler in the middle who can bowl at any of them. Batters run to the next corner every time anyone hits the ball. Students practice focus, reaction time, and defensive batting.
How to play
- Set up two 33 ft squares. At each corner, build a wicket from three cones with a batter facing out; each group of 12-13 has 4 batters, 1 bowler in the middle, and the rest fielding outside (3 min).
- The bowler picks a wicket and bowls underhand with one bounce; that batter tries to hit the ball out of the square.
- On a hit, all four batters run to the next corner; each batter who gets there scores 1 personal run.
- Fielders return the ball to the bowler, who can bowl right away at any wicket, even if that batter is still arriving.
- If a wicket falls or a hit is caught on the fly, rotate: the batter goes out to field, the bowler takes that corner, and a fielder becomes the bowler.
- Play 15 minutes straight; at the end, everyone checks their run total (17 min).
Rules
- Safety: fielders stay out of the square until the ball leaves it.
- Batters run with the bat in hand and never throw it.
- Everyone counts their own runs honestly.
Variations
Easier
The bowler calls out the wicket before bowling.
Standard
The bowler picks a wicket without warning and bowls as soon as they get the ball.
Harder
A batter who hasn't reached their corner when the wicket falls is also out.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student stays at one corner, and a teammate runs for them.
- Hearing impairment: the bowler points to the chosen wicket before bowling.
- Skill level: students who struggle can bat with a wide paddle.
Learning goals
- Stay focused to react to an unpredictable delivery.
- Bat to protect the wicket and send the ball out of the square.
- Coordinate running with teammates to avoid collisions.
Equipment for a class of 25
- soft bats: 8
- soft balls: 4
- cones: 24
Teacher tip
Write the rotation on a whiteboard before you start so nobody waits long. If play bogs down, the bowler may hold the ball for only 5 seconds.
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