Sunday, September 13 2009

RED Bull QuickHit, an innovative and exciting version of windball cricket, is set to be launched in Trinidad and Tobago this month with the “street-wise” game coming to a climax on October 18 with the inaugural Red Bull QuickHit tournament.

West Indies legend Brian Lara and all-rounder Dwayne Bravo were among a number of high-profile local cricket stakeholders involved in creating the concept which Red Bull will be introducing to the public.

Each team consists of two players with the fielding team having a bowler and wicketkeeper while the batting team’s players are at either ends of the wicket.

Each team faces two overs from the opposing team with the team scoring the most runs in the allotted overs winning the match.

Each batsman must face three legitimate deliveries per over from the opposing team’s bowler and will then change ends for the non-striking partner to take his turn at the batting crease.

A batsman can only be out bowled, caught, stumped or hit wicket. If one batsman is dismissed twice then the innings will end.

The field will be divided with an inner perimeter as well as four scoring areas. If the bowler or wicketkeeper retrieves the ball before it crosses the perimeter no run will be given.

Runs will be scored accordingly when a batsman hits a shot past the perimeter into the scoring area. For a stroke behind the wicket one run will be given while shots to long on and long off will earn two runs. And for shots to the on and off side (from square to cover ) three runs will be awarded.

If the ball reaches the boundary after touching the ground the umpire will signal four runs while as in normal cricket a six will be awarded if the ball clears the boundary.

Three runs will be given if the ball hits one of the Red Bull markers on the boundary while double points will be awarded if the ball hits the Red Bull logo straight back over the bowlers head.

All scoring shots must be from the bat only. Another interesting element of Red Bull QuickHit is the Pelting Power Play (PPP) which is mandatory and allows the bowler to pelt three consecutive deliveries at the batsman.

Red Bull QuickHit tournament qualifiers will be held on September 20 at the Police Barracks, St James (10 am), at Skinner Park, San Fernando on September 27 at noon, at the Eastern Indoor Sport Complex, Tacarigua on October 3 at noon and at Clico Preysal Cricket Grounds, Gran Couva on October 4 at noon.

The final will bowl off on October 18 at a unique street venue to be announced.

For more information and pre-registration call 771-5885, 620-9666 or 674-9191 (ext544).