Running Between the Wickets: The Club Cricket Guide (2026)

The three calls — and only three

Use exactly three calls: YES, NO, WAIT. Loud, clear, and from the batter who can see the ball best. No fourth call, no maybes, no half-shouts. Ambiguity is what causes run-outs.

Whose call is it? Ball in front of the wicket (mid-off, mid-on, covers, mid-wicket) — the striker calls. Ball behind the wicket (third man, fine leg, slips, keeper) — the non-striker calls. Memorise this and never overlap calls.

Backing up at the non-striker's end

Walk a metre out of your crease as the bowler enters their delivery stride. Be in motion, not stationary. Bat held in the hand closest to the running line, ready to extend.

Watch the ball off the bat, not the bowler. If it's in the air or going to a fielder, you can already be a half-pace into the run. Two extra metres of backing up turns dot balls into singles when the fielder misfields.

The first run

Run hard from ball one. Easy first runs are how you lose the second. Bat in the inside hand (the hand closest to the wicket you're running to), arms pumping, eyes fixed on the crease line.

Ground the bat over the crease, don't dive unless you must. Dives lose milliseconds and bruise everything.

Converting ones into twos

As you approach the far crease on the first run, look up — not down. You need to see whether the throw is in or the fielder is still bending to pick up. Decision happens in the last three strides.

The turn: slide the bat into the crease, plant the foot closest to the return run, push off. Stay low; a tall turn wastes a metre. The batter completing the turn calls YES, NO, or WAIT for the second.

Twos into threes on Indian outfields

On slow, damp outfields — common at most Indian club grounds in monsoon and winter — the ball stops 5 metres short of the boundary. A two is often a three if both batters call early and the throw is to the wrong end. Always finish each run looking for the next.

Habits that prevent run-outs

Never run on the call of the other batter while looking at the ball — you'll trip or hesitate. Hear the call, then move.

If you call and your partner sends you back, you go back. The caller's word is final — arguing mid-pitch is how both batters end up at the same end.

Practice running in pairs at training. Two stumps 22 yards apart, full kit, 10 runs of various lengths. Do this once a week and your partnership scoring jumps.