Leg cricket
Leg cricket is a sport played between two teams of eleven players[1][2] on a circular ground with a radius between 80 and 120 feet.[3][4] The game is played in South Asian countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.[5][6][7]
Highest governing body | International Leg Cricket Council |
---|---|
Nicknames | पाय चेंडू, लेग क्रिकेट, लात बॉल |
Characteristics | |
Contact | Permitted |
Mixed gender | Yes, separate competitions |
Type | Team sport |
Equipment | Ball, Wicket (Stumps, Bails) |
Venue | Cricket field |
Presence | |
Country or region | India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Indian Subcontinent, Asia |
The leg cricket involves using legs while the other side fields. The bowler rolls down the ball using under-arm bowling and the legsman have to hit the ball to score runs. A legsman can score a four or a six run by kicking the ball out of the boundary line.[5]
History
Leg cricket game was a well known recreation game. It was played in different part of India with their own rules. It was played extensively in Saint francis high school ground Aurangabad Maharashtra in the year 1999 to 2002 and was introduced to students by a local boy named Mehul Sorathiya. It became so popular that it is still played in many schools of Aurangabad. In 2005 Mr.S. Nagraj, a physical education teacher in Bangalore introduce this games to the school children of the town for free of cost as a source of physical fitness. It was played in almost all part of India but there were no common or universal rules for this game. Mr. Jogender Prasad Verma, a Physical Education teacher in Delhi, was working on leg cricket for a long time and finally after various practical season and research he introduced the official rule book of leg cricket in 2010. This is the effort of Mr. Verma and his team that at present Leg Cricket game is played in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Florida and Ghana . Mr. J. P. VERMA, a Physical Education Teacher in Delhi and Mr. S. Nagraj, a physical education teacher in Banglore is known as the father of the leg cricket game. Mr. Verma is the Present Secretary of International Leg Cricket Council and Leg Cricket Federation of India.[2]
Specifications
The leg cricket is played between two team of 11 playing and 4 extra players. It is played on a circular ground with a radius between 80 and 120 feet. The pitch is 8 feet wide and 42 ft to 48 ft long, (depending on the age group and category of the players). The distance in stumps is 12 inches (1 feet).[8]
- Pitch
Categories | Boys | Girls | Mix |
---|---|---|---|
Under-12 Mini | 44 feet | 44 feet | 44 feet |
Under-14 Sub Junior | 44 feet | 44 feet | 44 feet |
Under-17 Junior | 46 feet | 46 feet | 46 feet |
Under-19 Senior | 48 feet | 48 feet | 48 feet |
Men's/Women's | 48 feet | 48 feet | 48 feet |
- Boundary
Categories | Boys | Girls | Mix |
---|---|---|---|
Under-12 Mini | 70 feet | 70 feet | 70 feet |
Under-14 Sub Junior | 80 feet | 80 feet | 80 feet |
Under-17 Junior | 90 feet | 85 feet | 90 feet |
Under-19 Senior | 100 feet | 90 feet | 100 feet |
Men's/Women's | 120 feet | 100 feet | 120 feet |
- Stumps
Width of the 3 stumps | 12 inches, 1 feet |
Height of the 3 stumps | 24–30 inches, 2–2.5 feet |
Federation
At International level leg cricket is governed and promoted by International Leg Cricket Council. This International body is headed by Shri Surender Kumar as a President and Shri Joginder Prasad Verma as a Secretary General. In India, the Leg Cricket Federation of India is an apex governing body, which was formed in 2011. It is registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 and affiliated with the International Leg Cricket Council.[3] Apart from India, leg cricket is famous in Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Florida, Ghana, and Pakistan.
Competitions
National Championship in India: In July 2012, the Senior National T-10, Leg Cricket Championship was organised by Leg Cricket Federation of India at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium at Bawana, Delhi where total 24 teams of boys and girls participated. Sh. Surender Kumar, M.L.A. & Parliamentary Secretary to C.M., Delhi was the Chief Guest of Opening Ceremony and[1] Satpal Singh, an Olympian Wrestler and the president of School Games Federation of India was the chief guest of second day's championship.[9] Since 2012 Leg Cricket Federation India has organized 6 National games at various city and states in India e.g., Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Haryna, Uttar Pardesh, and Madhya Pardesh.
International Championships: India were the winners of the first Indo Nepal T-10 Leg Cricket Series, which was held in July 2013 and runners-up at the 1st South Asian Championship at Kathmandu, Nepal in 2016.[3][10] There were there national championships and two Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan Series of leg cricket conducted between 2012 and 2015.Mr. Dharmender of Delhi is known as the sixer machine of leg cricket game. His highest score is 175 in six overs.[9]
The 5th National T20 leg Cricket Championship was held at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.[11]
In January 2017, Karnataka team won by securing 211 runs,[12] and Odisha Leg Cricket team secured 3rd position in the 5th National T10 Leg Cricket Championship, held in New Delhi.[13] Chandan Ray is the present captain of the Indian leg cricket team.[14][8][15]
See also
- Sport in India
- Sports in Nepal
- Sports in Bhutan
- Sport in Sri Lanka
- National Games of India
- Indian Rural Olympic Association
- School Sports and Cultural Activities Federation, India
References
- Kargal, Rahul (March 15, 2017). "Leg Cricket - your favourite sport, served with a twist". Sportskeeda.
- K., Sarumathi (February 28, 2017). "Welcome to the world of leg cricket". The Hindu.
- harpreet, Lamba Kaur (January 6, 2018). "Football or cricket? Leg cricket tries to find its feet in India". Asian Age.
- "Cricket's Rendition of the 'Beautiful Game' - Leg Cricket". News 18. May 8, 2017.
- Narayanan, Jayashree (July 20, 2016). "'Every game has its challenges'". Deccan Herald.
- Engineer, Rayomand (January 6, 2018). "Is It Cricket? Is It Football? Well, It Is Both! Try Your Hand at This Unusual Sport". Thebetterindia.com.
- Mishra, Vidhan Chandra (August 11, 2017). "देश में लोकप्रिय हो रहा लेग क्रिकेट, अपने पैर से कीजिए किक मिलेगा फोर और सिक्स" (in Hindi). Prabhat Khabar.
- Panda, Namita (May 12, 2016). "Bargarh boy strives to promote new sport". Telegraph India.
- Mather, Nazrin (January 24, 2018). "'Is it football or cricket?': Captain of India's Leg Cricket team decodes the sport". Thebridge.in.
- "Chandan, Tushar, Ansuman get rousing welcome". Bhubaneswar: SportsLogon. July 25, 2016.
- "Chandan to lead State Leg Cricket team". Daily Pioneer. May 18, 2016.
- "Odisha finish 3rd in National Leg Cricket". SportsLogon. May 24, 2016.
- "Odisha Leg Cricket team gets warm welcome for securing 3rd Potion at the National T10 Championship". JSG Live. January 2, 2017.
- "Odisha's Chandan Ray is India U-19 Leg Cricket team captain". Incredibleorissa. May 12, 2016.
- Biswas, Sudipta (June 12, 2016). "Leg Cricketer Chandan urges Government for sponsorship". Sportzwiki.