THE RULES OF VIGORO
Written by Queensland Vigoro
AS COMPILED BY:
ALL AUSTRALIAN LADIES/WOMENS VIGORO ASSOCIATION &
ALL AUSTRALIAN LADIES/WOMENS VIGORO UMPIRES ASSOCIATION
1. THE GAME
Vigoro is a compulsory run game played between two sides each of 12 players. Each side has two innings taken alternatively except in the case of a follow on.
2. EQUIPMENT
(A) The Vigoro Bat must not exceed 787.4mm (31”) in length, with the blade to measure no more than 304.8mm (12”) in length and 152.4mm (6”) in width at its widest part – approved design.
(B) The Vigoro Ball is of the approved design and is not to exceed 134.66gms (4-3/4 oz) in weight – one white, one red.
3.
(A) The pitch shall not be less than 17.68m (58’) in length. The distance of the popping crease from the wicket shall be 1.37m (4’6”) with the line denoting the popping crease deemed to be of unlimited length.
(B) The wickets shall be pitched opposite and parallel to each other at either end of the pitch. Each wicket shall be 203.2mm (8”) in width and consist of three stumps with two bails on the top and not less than 685.5mm (27”) high (to top of bails). The stumps shall be of equal length and of sufficient size to prevent the ball from passing through.
(C) The bowling crease shall be in line with the stumps, 2.6m (8’8”) in length, the stumps in the centre, with a return crease at each end, at right angles behind the wicket.
(D) The boundary is measured from the middle stump at a distance of 45.72m (50 yards), same from other wicket. These two semi-circles then joined by straight lines 17.68m (58’) in length.
4. THE COMPULSORY RUN
Is when a ball comes off the bat and is fielded in front of the batting crease, or if the ball hits the bat and then the batswoman and is then fielded in front of the batting crease. (Ball hits batter and then bat etc.). It is not a compulsory run if the ball rebounds off a fielder and then in front of the batting crease.
5. The score shall be reckoned by runs. The side which scores the greatest number of runs wins the match. A run is scored:
(A) So often as the batters after a hit or at any time while the ball is in play shall have made good their ground.
(B) For penalties – No balls, lost ball and the fielder wilfully stopping the ball otherwise than with any part of her person.
(C) In the case of a boundary resulting from an overthrow, the run completed shall count plus four for the boundary.
(D) A fielder shall not use her cap or dress or any part of her clothing for the purpose of stopping the ball or fielding the ball. Penalty five runs and the batters do not change ends.
(E) It is optional to run for a bye, a leg bye, hit behind, or an overthrow.
(F) Penalty of four runs, plus runs scored, for non-bowler making contact with bowler’s ball either deliberately or accidentally.
6. Two batters shall go in, one at each wicket. The one at the wicketkeeper’s end shall be deemed the striker, and the other at the bowler’s end deemed to be the non-striker. Batting shall be done at one end of the pitch, each batting side shall have choice of end for each of its innings.
7. NO BALLS
(A) The ball must be bowled or thrown by an over arm action and must not be delivered below the shoulder – Penalty No Ball.
(B) The bowler shall deliver the ball with both feet behind the bowling crease, and within the return crease otherwise the umpire shall call “No Ball”.
(1) A player can be given out from a No Ball under Laws 9(G) and 9(I).
8. The bowler can be changed as often as the attacking side may desire.
9. DISMISSALS
(A) The wicket shall be deemed to be broken when either of the bails is struck off. If both bails be off, the wicket shall be deemed to be broken when a stump is pulled from the ground, provided that the ball is held in the hand or hands so used to pull the stump. If one bail is off, it is sufficient to remove the remaining one with the ball in order to stump or run the batter out.
(B) The striker can be out if the wicket be bowled down even if the ball just touched the striker’s bat or person. Decision – bowled.
(C) The striker can be out if the ball from a stroke of the bat or hand be held before it touches the ground although it be hugged to the body of the catcher.
(1) A catch may be attempted on any part of the field including the wicket.
(2) The fielder must have both feet entirely within the playing area to complete a fair catch. Should a fielder when making a catch step or fall over the boundary the umpire shall signal six runs. A fielder standing within the playing area may lean against the boundary fence to catch a ball and this may be done even if the ball has passed over the boundary.
(3) When a fielder catches the ball and falls and the ball touches the ground it is a question of fact for the umpire to decide whether or not the catch was completed before the ball touched the ground.
(4) Providing the ball does not touch the ground the hand holding it may do so when effecting a catch.
(5) The striker can be given out caught if either batsperson interferes with the fielder whilst attempting to make the catch – Decision “Obstructing the fielder”.
(6) The striker being caught out – no runs shall be scored, and the remaining batter shall return to her original position. The rule of crossing does not apply in Vigoro.
(D) The striker is out “hit the ball twice” if the ball be struck or stopped by any part of her person, and she wilfully strikes it again, except for the sole purpose of guarding her wicket, which she may do so with her bat or any part of her person other than with her hands. No runs except those which result from an overthrow shall be scored from a ball lawfully struck twice.
(E) The striker is out stumped if, in receiving a ball not being a “no ball” delivered by the bowler, she be out of her ground, otherwise than in attempting a run, and the wicket be put down by the wicketkeeper without the intervention of another fielder.
(1) The striker is deemed to be out of her ground if position of her foot or the bat is not grounded behind the popping crease.
(2) The striker may be out stumped if the wicket be broken by a ball rebounding from the wicketkeeper’s person, providing the striker is out of her ground.
(F) The striker is out, if in the opinion of the umpire at the bowler’s end a ball is pitched in a straight line with the wicket (be it over or around the wicket) and would have hit the wicket had not the player prevented it doing so by checking it with any part of the body or clothing (except the hand). Decision – LBW.
(G) A batter can be given out – run out- when attempting a run if the wicket be broken and she has not made good her ground (even if the umpire has called “no ball” for the delivery).
(1) In the case of a compulsory run the batter running to the wicket broken shall be out.
(2) When attempting a non-compulsory run the batter running to the wicket broken is out. In the case of one batter standing her ground, the batter returning to her original position is out if the wicket is broken.
(3) A batter is not out, if a ball, hit by the striker, breaks the non-striker’s wicket without being touched by a fielder when the batter is out of her ground.
(4) If the ball is deflected onto the wicket by a fielder and the batter is out of her ground that batter is out.
(5) The non-striker may be run out if out of her crease before the ball is actually delivered by the bowler, though the bails be removed by either an over or underarm action.
(6) The striker being “run out” that run which was being attempted shall not be scored, and the remaining batter returns to the original position.
(H) The striker is out – hit wicket – if in playing the ball, she hits down her wicket with her bat or any part of her person or clothing.
(I) A batter can be given out if she touches with her hands or takes up the ball while in play. Decision – Handled the ball.
10. OBSTRUCTION
(A) The umpire must decide whether an obstruction is “wilful” or not, as the involuntary interception of a throw-in is not in itself an offence by a batter whilst running.
(B) Should a fielder run across the wicket and obstruct either batter in reaching the crease and the wicket be put down, then the batter is not out.
(C) The umpire shall have the power to intervene without appeal if in his opinion the batter has been obstructed during her running between wickets.
11. If either batter runs a short run the umpire shall call one short and the run shall not be scored.
12. If a ball being bowled falls short and becomes stationary before reaching the striker, the striker has the right to hit ball once before it is fielded. A ball so hit and caught by fielder cannot be deemed a fair catch (Bump Ball).
13. A substitute shall be allowed to field for any player who may, during the match, be incapacitated from illness or other injury, but for no other reason, except with the consent of the opposite side. In all cases where a substitute shall be allowed, the consent of the opposite side shall be obtained as to the person to act as a substitute and the place in the field which she shall take, but she shall not be allowed to bat or bowl.
(A) A substitute fielder must be a registered player and may not bat or bowl.
(B) A substitute runner must come from the batting side.
14. The side which bats first and leads by double the number of runs shall have the option of requiring the other side to “follow on” their innings.
15. If the ball whether struck with the bat or not, lodges in the batter’s or umpires’s clothing the ball shall become “dead”.
16. At the beginning of the match and of each innings the umpire at the bowler’s wicket shall call “play”. From that time no trial balls shall be allowed to any bowler on the ground between the wickets, and when one of the batters is out, the use of the bat shall not be allowed to any person until the next batter comes in.
17. If “no ball” has not been called, and the ball passes the striker without touching her bat or person and any run be obtained the umpire shall call “bye”. If however the ball touches any part of the striker’s person (hands excepted) and any run be obtained the umpire shall call “leg bye”. Such runs must be scored “byes” and “leg byes” respectively.
18. The umpire at the bowler’s wicket shall be appealed to in all cases except in those of stumping, hit wicket, run out at the striker’s end.
(A) In any case in which an umpire is unable to give a decision he shall confer with the other umpire so that an equitable decision can be given.
(B) The square leg umpire may without appeal, be allowed to consult the bowling umpire re: decisions. In all cases except the ones quoted in Rule 18, the umpire at the bowling end makes the final decision.
19. The umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play.
(A) They shall allow two (2) minutes for each striker to come in. The two minutes shall commence from the time of the fall of the previous wicket until the incoming batter crosses the boundary. The umpire shall decide if the batter after having crossed the boundary is deliberately wasting time and can intervene without appeal.
(B) Five (5) minutes shall be allowed between the first and second innings, also between the third and fourth innings. Ten minutes shall be allowed between the second and third innings.
(C) When “play” is called, the side refusing to play shall lose the match.
20. The umpire shall not order a batter out unless an appeal has been made excepting Rule 19(A).
21. The umpire should intervene if he or she is satisfied that a batter not having been given out has left her wicket under a misapprehension.
22. The ball is “dead” when lodged in the wicketkeeper’s gloves, when both batters are behind their crease, after a boundary has been scored, a wicket has fallen and in the bowler’s hand prior to bowling.
23. If a ball in play becomes “lost” a fielder can call “lost ball”. No more than 6 runs can be added to the score plus what has been already run. However if more than six runs has been run before “lost ball” is called then as many as have been run may be scored.
24. The ball becomes alive the moment the bowler commences her run-up. Either ball may be bowled first.
25. The captains shall enter the names of their players in their respective score books. Before the first ball of the match is bowled, the umpire must get a signal from the scorers that they are ready to commence. After the toss up is taken no further names can be added or deleted from the score book.
26. The umpires shall be the sole judge of the game and conduct thereof and their decisions shall be final.
UMPIRES' SIGNALS
BOUNDARIES: By waving of the hand from side to side.
A BOUNDARY SIX: By raising both arms above the head.
BYES: By raising the open hand above the head.
LEG BYES: By raising the leg and touching it with the hand.
THE DECISION OUT: By raising the index finger above the head.
ONE SHORT: By bending the arm upwards and touching the top of the nearest shoulder with the tips of the fingers of one hand.
CANCELLATION OF
PREVIOUS DECISION: By crossed arms on chest.
NO BALLS: By extending one arm horizontally.
DEAD BALL: Arms crossed above knees.
GENERAL HINTS
- The two captains together shall walk around the boundary and place the boundary flags at about 30 yards apart and 50 yards out from the centre of the wickets.
- The umpire shall spin a coin and either team captain shall “call” whilst the coin is in the air, and the captain winning the toss shall have the choice of either “batting” or “fielding” first.
- The captain of the batting side should then inform the umpires at which end of the pitch her team will take strike.
- The captain of the fielding team should see that her team is properly formed up and should lead her team on to the field of play in an orderly manner. She should then inform the fielders of their positions on the field.
- The captain of the fielding team should consult with her bowlers when placing the field; she should also agree to arrange the field as the bowlers may, from time to time, desire.
- At the close of an “innings”, the captain of the fielding team should arrange for all members of her team to meet on the centre of the pitch and leave the field in an orderly manner.
- The captains, vice-captains and umpire only should go to the scorers at the end of each innings.
- The captain of the fielding team at the close of play should arrange her team in the centre of the pitch and call for three cheers for the batting team, and the batting side should respond by giving three cheers to the fielding side whilst they are leaving the field of play.
- The umpires shall check and sign the score books at half time, as well as at the end of the match.
- Both teams should part the best of friends, always remembering that Vigoro is a sport and that they have played the game in a sportsman like manner.