Play walking cricket
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Walking cricket keeps the batting, bowling, scoring and umpiring of the traditional game but takes the running out, so everyone gets a turn at everything. Sessions are run by county cricket boards and charities, often indoors on a weekday morning for a few pounds.
GentleUnder £100 / $130A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK
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How the game differs
There is no running. Bideford Cricket Club's guide says all movement is limited to walking, between the wickets and in the field, and Age UK East Sussex says running and jogging are not allowed. Kent Cricket says the game is played with a softer ball, usually indoors, and everyone gets to bowl, bat, score or umpire. Some groups use lightweight bats.
Formats vary. In Storrington, West Sussex, runs are scored by hitting the ball against the walls of the sports hall, and the non-striking batter has a crease about two-thirds of the way down a normal pitch. Staffordshire plays in pairs with target areas. Bideford says teams are usually smaller and matches last an hour or two.
There is competition if you want it. In 2023 Nottinghamshire's walking cricketers won an eight-a-side tournament at Lord's, with 40-ball innings, against teams from Sussex, Surrey and MCC.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Kent Cricket Community Trust, Folkestone | Mondays, 10am to noon, Three Hills Sport Park; also sessions in Canterbury, Sittingbourne and Strood | £3 per session (Folkestone) |
| Age UK East Sussex, Bexhill Leisure Centre | Fridays from 9.30am; started by volunteers from its walking football group | £3 per session |
| Sussex Cricket Foundation, Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, Storrington | Thursdays, 12.30pm to 1.30pm; indoor rules | Free for members, £6 per session for non-members |
| Staffordshire Cricket | Indoor walking cricket in pairs; contact the county's disability cricket officer for venues | Free to £4 per session |
We could not find a walking cricket programme in the US on a page we could check, so this page covers the UK only.
How to start
- Look on your county cricket board's or cricket foundation's website for walking cricket; Kent and Sussex list sessions, and Lancashire and Staffordshire give a contact for local sessions.
- Check the day, venue and price, and ask whether newcomers are welcome; Kent says one aim is to introduce people who have never played.
- Take indoor trainers and a drink, and ask whether bats and balls are provided.
Where to go
- Kent Cricket: walking cricket sessions
- Age UK East Sussex: walking cricket in Bexhill
- Sussex Cricket: walking cricket group in Storrington
We opened these links on 10 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. The hard part of a day out is the timing: the right season, tickets and getting there. The plan watches the calendar for you.
Questions people ask
What are the rules of walking cricket?
The main rule is no running, between the wickets or in the field. Games use a softer ball, are usually played indoors and often have smaller teams and shorter matches.
Who can play walking cricket?
Sessions say they are for all abilities, including people who have never played. Some, such as Lancashire's and Staffordshire's, are aimed at people over 50.
How much does walking cricket cost?
Usually a few pounds. Kent lists £3 a session in Folkestone, Age UK East Sussex £3 in Bexhill, and Staffordshire free to £4.
Where this comes from: Kent Cricket, Walking cricket; Age UK East Sussex, Walking cricket; Sussex Cricket, New Walking Cricket Group gets underway in Storrington; Staffordshire Cricket, Walking cricket; Lancashire Cricket Foundation, Walking cricket; Bideford Cricket Club, How does walking cricket work; Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, Notts' walking cricketers triumph at Lord's; u3a, Inspiring Award for U3A Walking Cricketer. Opened 10 November 2026.
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