Summarv of the Invention According to the invention, there is provided a kit for playing a game. the kit including a pluralitv of representations of participants in the game ; and each representation bearing at least one indicium relating to a score in the game.

The game may be cricket and the representations. may comprise representations of fielders in the game of cricket.

The kit may include a sufficient quantity of representations for enabling an equal number of representations to be placed on each side of a cricket pitch demarcated on a substrate. in use. Thus. it will be appreciated that. in use. the representations will be arranged in a shape approximating a pattern of fielders about the cricket pitch.

The representations which are to be placed on opposite sides of the pitch. in alignment with each other. may be mirror images of each other.

Each representation may carry two indicia thereon, the indicia being arranged on opposed sides of the representations. Each indicium may represent a number of runs. The representations containing lower numbers may be placed closer to a batting crease of the cricket pitch with representations containing higher numbers being locatable progressivelv further from the batting crease. In respect of those representations which, in use. are placed closest to a batting crease of the pitch, the indicium on one side of the representation may be a"zero"with the indicium on the other side of each such representation being a"one". The next representation mav have a"one"on one side with a"two"on the other side. and so on with the remainder of the representations.

Each representation may. conveniently, be a demountable unit having a base and a device removablv mountable on the base.

Thus. each representation may include a base or pedestal and a member which is either in the shape of a person or a device bearing a

representation of the person. the member being removably mountable on the base.

The base may be in the form of a plastic cone or bollard of the type used to demarcate areas or zones on a road. Instead. the base may be in the form of a wicket-like post having a receiving formation, such as a slot, at its upper end in which the member is receivable.

The kit may include a scorecard arrangement for enabling players of the game to keep score.

In one embodiment of the invention, the scorecard may comprise at least one base having sockets defined therein in which markers are receivable.

In another embodiment of the invention, the scorecard may comprise a carrier and at least one indicia carrying element displaceably arranged on the carrier. The carrier may be in the form of a cylinder and the, or each, indicia carrying element may be in the form of a ring mounted to be rotated about a periphery of the cylinder.

The kit may further include items used in the playing of the game such as wickets, bails. bats. balls, etc. The ball may be a conventional cricket ball or. instead. the ball may be of a resiliently flexible material, such as a tennis ball. rubber ball. or the like.

The kit may also include a measuring device for enabling a playing region to be measured out.

In another embodiment, where the game is to be played in a practice net. the kit may include a mounting arrangement for enabling the representations to be mounted in predetermined orientations on a backing device. The mounting arrangement may be a rope securable at a predetermined height to an inner surface of a peripheral fence of the net.

The representations may then be secured, for example, by clipping to the rope.

The invention extends also to a component for a kit as described above. the component including a representation of a participant in the game and the representation bearing at least one indicium relating to a score of the game.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a schematic ! front view of a component. in accordance with the invention, for a kit for playing a game: Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of a layout of the components of the kit for playing the game; Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a scorecard forming a part of the kit for plaving the game : Figure 4 shows a schematic. front view of a component, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, for a kit for a game ; Figure 5 shows a schematic, three-dimensional representation of another embodiment of a scorecard forming a part of the kit for playing the game: and Figure 6 shows a schematic plan view of another embodiment of a about of the components of the kit for playing the game.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, a component for a kit for a game is designated generally by the reference symbol 10. The game in question is cricket and the kit includes a plurality of the representations 10.

Each representation 10 is a representation of a cricket fielder and will be described as a fielder hereafter.

Each fielder 10 is of a two-part construction having a base 12 and a representation of a part of a human figure 14 removably mounted on the base 12. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the base 12 is in the form of a cone 16 having an opening 18 in its apex. The representation 14 has a mating formation (not shown) removably receivable in the opening 18 in the apex of the cone 16. The cone 16 has a flange portion 20 at its base which is securable to a substrate 22 by a suitable securing means such as pegs 24.

The pegs 24 form part of the kit. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the base 12 is in the form of a wicket- like element 48. The element 48 has a pointed end 50 to be inserted into the substrate 22. A slot 52 is defined at an opposed end of the element 48 in which the representation 14 is received.

Each fielder 10 has indicia 26,28 on opposed sides thereof. The indicia 26. 28 are representative of a number of runs as will be described in greater detail below. Also, if desired, to increase the knowledge of young players of the game, each fielder 10 has the name of its fielding position carried thereon in the form of a label 30.

The kit further includes a scorecard 32 (Figure 3) which will be described in greater detail below. In addition. and not shown. the kit includes four cricket stumps, a cricket bat. a cricket ball and a measuring implement such as a measuring tape or measuring stick. Instead of a cricket ball, the kit may include a rubber-type tennis ball. This is particularly the case where the game is to be played on the beach.

In use. to set up the game, the three wickets in front of which the batter stands are set up at a position A (Figure 2) on a suitably sized piece of ground. A cricket pitch designated 34. is measured off the appropriate length from A and the fourth cricket stump is located at B to define a bowling end of the pitch 34.

In one embodiment, the kit includes eight fielders 10. Four of the fielders 10 are arranged on the off side of the pitch 34. For a right handed batter. these are the fielders 10 illustrated at 36 in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Another four fielders are arranged on the on or leg side 38 (once again, for a right handed batter) of the pitch 34.

The fielder 10.1 has a"zero"as the indicium 28 on its left side and a "one"as the indicium 26 on its right side. The fielder 10.2 has a"one"as the indicium 28 and a"two"as the indicium 26. The fielder 10.3 has a"two"as the indicium 28 and a"three"as the indicium 26. The fielder 10.4 has a "three"as the indicium 28 and a"four"as the indicium 26. The fielders 10.5.

7 and 10.8 are mirror images of the fielders 10.1 to 10.4, respectively.

It is to be noted that the fielder 10.3 is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings and bears the label 30"mid-off'being that fielder's fielding position.

In another embodiment. the kit may include fewer fielders 10, for example. six fielders 10. In this embodiment, three fielders 10 are arranged on each side of the pitch 34 and fielders 10.1 and 10.5 are not used.

The length of the pitch 34 is dependent on the age of the players playing the game. Similarly, the distance at which each of the fielders 10 is positioned from the pitch 34 is dependent on the age of the players playing the game. Typically, the pitch 34 has a length of about 12 metres. The

fielders 10.1 and 10.5 are each placed approximately 6 metres from the batting crease A. Also, if only a small area is available in which to play the game. the length of the pitch 34 and the spacing of the fielders from the pitch 34 are reduced accordingly.

To play the game. the first player bowls an over to the second player who is batting. The number of balls constituting the over is dependent on the relative skills of the participants. For example, if a father is playing with his voung son, the father may bowl six ball overs and the son may bowl eight or ten ball overs. Also. the number of balls in each over may be governed by the number of participants in the game. For three or more participants. six ball overs are recommended.

It is an aim of the game that the batter attempts to hit the ball past the fielders 10. A rule of the game is that the batter must not hit the ball on the full ie. without bouncing, over an imaginary line interconnecting the fielders 10 4 and 10.8 with the bowler's wicket B. The player batting scores runs according to those fielders 10 between which the ball passes. Hence. should the batter hit the ball between fielders 10.2 and 10.3, two runs would be scored.

If a batter hits the ball on the full over any of the fielders or a boundary, being an imaginary line interconnecting the fielders and fielders 10 4 and 10.8 with the bowlers wicket B. the batter loses a run which is deducted from the batter's score. If a ball hits any of the fielders having bounced first. no run is scored by the batter.

The batter is out and loses one run bv being bowled, caught by the bowler, hitting the ball so that it hits any fielder on the full or if the ball lands at any point behind the crease A, ie. behind either of the two fielders 10.1 and 10.5 without having bounced.

Various other rules apply such as, if a bowler bowls a wide, the ball has to be re-bowled and the batter is awarded one additional run. In this game however. there are no stumpings, LBWs If no running is permitted in the game, then runouts do not apply.

Optionally however, running between the wickets could be allowed; the runs run then being added to the batter's score. In this scenario, runouts would apply. A batter could be run out by the bowler or by any other participant participating as a fielder hitting the stumps with the cricket ball before the batter has made his or her crease or before the batter has been able

to ground his or her bat in the crease. The batter can be run out at either end irrespective of where the batter was running at the time.

After the bowler has bowled an over to the batter. the roles are reverse and the player who was previously bowling bats and the player who was previously batting bowls. If there are more than two players, each player has an opportunity to bat and bowl in turn.

At the end of each ball. the batter calls out his or her score. At the end of each over. the batter notes the score on the scorecard 32.

For this purpose, the embodiment of the scorecard 32 illustrated in Figure 3 comprises at least one base 40 with a plurality of markers 42. The markers are of different colours to accommodate four different players. Each scorecard base 40 is demarcated into a plurality of squares 44. A number of runs is marked in each square 44. An opening 46 is arranged in each square 44 in which one of the markers 42 is received for marking that player's score.

If desired. a plurality of openings could be provided in each square 44 so that only a single base 40 need be provided. If two players are on the same score, onlv one marker 42 of a neutral colour is used if there are fewer than four players.

Another embodiment of the scorecard 32 is illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

In this embodiment, the scorecard 32 comprises a carrier in the form of a cylinder or barrel 54. A plurality of ring-like elements 56 are rotatably mounted about the periphery of the barrel 54. The barrel 54 has two markers. one of which is shown at 58. one for a score of 40 or less and one for a score of more than 40. These markers are arranged at circumferentially spaced intervals about the periphery of the barrel 54. Each ring 56 carries numbers up to 40 as well as negative numbers in the event that a player loses "runs"without having scored. The rings 56 are of different colours to enable the scores of up to four players to be kept.

The players decide in advance on the number of overs to be bowled to each player to determine a winner and the number of balls in each over. If the players are all of more or less the same standard, each player will bowl the same number of balls. For example, three overs (the recommended number of overs) could be bowled to each player.

Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings, a schematic representation of another embodiment of the kit of the invention is shown and is designated

generallv bv the reference numeral 60. With reference to the previous drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

This embodiment of the kit 60 is intended particularly for use in cricket nets where cricketers practise.

The kit 60. in this embodiment of the invention. once again, comprises the eight fielding representations or fielders 10.1 to 10.8. The difference in this embodiment is that. unlike the embodiment described above, the fielders 10.1 and 10.5 located on either side of a batting crease 64 have a"1"on both sides thereof.

The cricket nets have a fence 62 around three sides of the cricket pitch 34 More particularly, the fence is arranged behind the batting crease 64 and parallel to each longitudinal edge of the cricket pitch 34. Accordingly, in this embodiment of the invention. the kit 60 includes a rope 66, or other similar device. which, in use, is secured to the fence 62. on an inner surface of the fence 62. at a predetermined height above the ground. The fielders 10 include suitable fastening formations, such as clips (not shown), for securing the fielders 10.1 to 10.8 to the appropriate part of the rope 66. The rope 66, tvpically. is set about 30 centimetres above the ground. but it will be appreciated that the rope 66 may be set at a height governed by the skills of the players. For example, a very strong player who wishes to keep the ball low will set the rope 66 lower than a weaker player.

The game played in accordance with this embodiment of the invention is substantially the same as that as set out above. The fielders 10.1 and 10.5 are located behind the wicket A about halfway between the middle stump of the wicket A and a junction of a back part of the fence 62 and the relevant side part of the fence 62.

Each bowler bowls an over, which may be a six ball over or an eight ball over. The batter attempts to score as many runs as possible between the fielders 10 or past the bowler. If the batter hits to any one of the fielders below the rope 66. the batter scores runs based on the point of impact. If the batter hits the ball past the bowler with at least one bounce, the batter scores four runs. If the batter hits the ball between, for example, fielders 10.3 and 10.4 the batter scores three runs.

As described above, if the bowler bowls a wide, the bowler has to re- bowl and the batter has a run added to the total. Once again. there are no stumpings. runouts (but subject to what has been described above) or LBWs.

The allia of this embodiment of the game is for serious cricketers to improve their cricketing abilities. In the case of a batter it enables the batter more accurately to place the ball and. for a bowler, it enables the bowler to bowl to a batter such that the batter is not in a position to maximise his or her score.

It is an advantage of the invention that a cricket game is provided which encourages players to avoid hitting the ball in the air. It also encourages players to learn to time the ball to score the most possible runs.

The game encourages the bowler to bowl according to the field placement to limit the number of runs scored by the batter. Particularly in respect of novice plavers, the labels 30 applied to the fielders 10 enable the players to learn the positions of the fielders in a normal cricket game.

Another major advantage is that only two players are required to enable the game to be played.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore. to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.