GB2118846A - Cricket card game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus includes at least one pack of 55 cards and no-ball indicator means (shown) in the form of a cardboard panel having holes to receive match sticks. Each pack of cards consists of five suits of cards hearing respective symbols of a bat, gloves, pads, a ball and stumps, and each suit has eleven cards respectively bearing the numerals 1 to 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Card game simulating the game of cricket Field of the Invention This invention relates to a card game simulating the game of cricket. The invented game uses at least one piece, component or accessory in combination with the cards, and the term "card game" is to be construed herein as meaning a game involving the use of cards in combination with at least one piece, component or accessory.

Background to the Invention The invention aims to provide a card game which simulates as closely as possible a game of cricket, whether this be a short limited overs match or a longer two innings match such as a test match. The invention also aims to provide a game where the skill and strategy of the players are important in determining the result.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention a card game simulating the game of cricket comprises a pack of cards including a plurality of sets of cards with all the cards of one set being similarly marked to distinguish them from cards of other sets, each set of cards comprising a predetermined number of cards bearing the respective numbers one to said predetermined number and no-ball indicator means bearing a plurality of markings corresponding to the markings of the plurality of sets of card, the no-ball indicator means bearing -a plurality of markings corresponding to the markings of the plurality of sets of cards, the noball indicator means being capable of indicating any one of the plurality of markings to indicate which set of cards is regarded as being a "no-ball" set during an interval of play.

Said predetermined number is preferably 11, the cards of each set bearing the respective numbers 1 to 11 to represent the 11 players in a cricket team. The plurality of markings are preferably symbols associated with cricket, such as pictorial representations of cricket accessories, or cricketing themes. In a preferred form of the game there are five sets or "suits" of cards the five markings being pictorial representation of bats, balls, pads, stumps and gloves. The pack of cards then consists of 55 cards. Such a pack may be duplicated, making a total of 110 cards with each card of one pack having an identical counterpart card in the other pack.

The no-ball indicator means may be of any suitable form to indicate which set or suit of cards are regarded as being the "no-ball" set or suit during the interval of play. To achieve this the no-ball indicator means preferably include pictorial representations of the five symbols, namely a bat, ball, gloves, pads and stumps in the preferred embodiment. The no-ball indicator means may be capable of indicating and differentiating between two of the symbols, this being necessary when four players are playing the game because two of the players then take on the role of bowlers and the prevailing no-ball suit for each bowler may be different.

The no-ball indicator means preferably include a panel marked with the five symbols, there being adjacent each symbol a hole or recess to receive an indicator such as a match stick to enable an indication to be given of which suit is the prevailing no-ball suit, or which suits are the prevailing no-ball suits in the case of four players.

The panel may be formed from cardboard and may have foldable tabs along its edges to enable the panel to be raised above a support surface so that the match stick indicator can be inserted through the panel. The panel may be formed such that, with the two packs of cards, it fits neatly into a rectangular shallow box or tray which is preferably provided with a lid to retain all the components of the game within a single enciosure.

The game may also include score sheets which are preferably in the form of pads. Each game may be provided with two such pads of differing format, one pad to suit a limited over match and the other pad to suit a match of two innings.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows two representative cards of the set of 11 cards bearing the symbol of a cricket bat, Figures 2 to 5 show similar representative pairs of cards from the other four sets or suits of cards, and Figure 6 shows a no-ball indicator panel unfolded so that edge tabs are visible.

Detailed Description of the Drawings The game comprises two packs of cards with each pack consisting of 55 individual cards. Each pack consists of five suits of cards and each suit has eleven cards respectively bearing the numerals 1 to 11. Figure 1 shows a representative pair of the cards of one suit all of which bear the pictorial representation of a cricket bat. The pictorial representation is larger on cards with higher numbers.

The cards of the four other suits bear respective symbols representing cricket gloves (Figure 2), cricket pads (Figure 3), a cricket ball (Figure 4) and stumps (Figure 5). It will be appreciated that each suit of cards consists of 11 cards the particular cards illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 merely being sample representative illustrations.

Figure 6 shows a cardboard panel which is marked with the five symbols of the five suits.

Above and below each symbol there is a small hole punched in the cardboard to enable a match stick or the like to be pushed through the cardboard panel to indicate which of the five suits is the no-ball suit. The game is provided with two match sticks one distinguishable from another (e.g. by colour) enabling the match sticks to be inserted in the no-ball indicator so as to indicate and differentiate between two no-ball suits.

The cardboard panel shown in Figure 6 is provided with edge tabs or flaps which are folded down to raise the main panel above a support surface. With the edge tabs folded down in this way the no-ball indicator of Figure 6 is fitted into a box accommodating two packs of cards, the match sticks, and two pads of score sheets one designed for limited over matches and the other for two innings matches.

The game may be played by two or four players.

First, the players must decide on the type of match, e.g. a limited over match or a two innings match. Both packs of cards are then shuffled together and seven cards are dealt to each player.

The remaining stack of cards is placed face downwards and constitutes a pick-up pile. A coin is tossed for choice of innings. The winner, after studying his cards (i.e. inspecting the wicket) either elects to bat or put his opponent in. The batting team is entered in the score sheet along with the opening bowler. Both players must now throw away an unwanted card -- bowler first to start a discard pile. It should be noted that the bowler's discard will determine the no-ball suit in the first over.

Play commences when the bowler bowls the first ball by playing one of his six cards onto the discard pile and immediately picks up from the stack. To avoid being out the batsman now has three basic choices open to him: a) he may play a card of a different suit to the bowlers which is equal or higher in number. This signifies that he has allowed the ball to pass to the wicket keeper, unless a 10 or 11 is used in which case the ball has beaten the bat but failed to take a wicket, b) he may play a card of the same suit which is equal or lower in number. This signifies a defensive stroke or one which has not penetrated the field, c) he may play a card of the same suit which is higher in number.This will score runs according to the following table (subtract bowlers card from batsmans) RUNS BATSMAN'S CARD SUPERIOR BY: 1 1,2or3 2 4or5 3 6 4 7, 8, 9 (or more) 6 10 (or more) The batsman is out if he cannot perform operation a, b, or c above.

One suit becomes the no-ball suit for each over of the game. For the first over no-balls are determined as specified above -- thereafter the last ball of every over determines the no-ball suit for the following over. Accordingly, the no-bail indicator must be adjusted at the end of every over to indicate the no-ball suit for the following over, this being done by inserting a match stick in one of the rows of holes shown in the indicator in Figure 6.

The game may be played in a similar manner by four players forming a pair of partners. Both packs of cards are shuffled and seven cards dealt to each player, the remainder being placed in a stack on the table. Seven is the standard hand for the batting side in "partners" while the bowlers will normally hold six cards. There are two discard piles - one for each bowler. Play commences with the opening bowler playing a card onto his discard pile, not forgetting to pick up from the stack. The first batsman responds and play continues between the two until the end of the over unless an odd number of runs is scored. If this happens the player representing batsman number 2 faces the bowling and so on. At the end of the over the other bowler throws away one card, reducing his hand to 6, starting a discard pile at his "end" and determining no balls for his first over. He now "bowls" to the appropriate batsman who responds by playing onto his discard pile. for the third over the opening bowler resumes, no-balls being determined by the last card he bowled.

Play continues with bowlers delivering alternative overs and the batsman in strike responding until one of them is out. Because there are two bowlers operating in "partners" it will be necessary to use two match sticks and both rows of holes of the no-ball indicator shown in Figure 6.

Additional rules may be provided to simulate other aspects of the real game of cricket.

Claims (12)

1. A card game simulating the game of cricket, comprising a pack of cards including a plurality of sets of cards with all the cards of one set being similarly marked to distinguish them from cards of other sets, each set of cards comprising a predetermined number of cards bearing the respective numbers one to said predetermined number, and no-ball indicator means bearing a plurality of markings corresponding to the markings of the plurality of sets of cards, the no-ball indicator means being capable of indicating any one of the plurality of markings to indicate which set of cards is regarded as being a "no-ball" set during an interval of play.

2. A card game according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined number is eleven, the cards of each set bearing the respective numbers one to eleven to represent the eleven players in a cricket team.

3. A card game according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of markings are symbols associated with cricket, such as pictorial representations of cricket accessories, or cricketing themes.

4. A card game according to any of the preceding claims, wherein there are five sets or "suits" of cards, the five markings being pictorial representations of bats, balls, pads, stumps and gloves, so that the pack of cards consists of fiftyfive cards.

5. A card game according to claim 4, wherein said pack is duplicated, making a total of one hundred and ten cards with each card of one pack having an identical counterpart card in the other pack.

6. A card game according to claim 3, wherein the no-ball indicator means are capable of indicating two of the symbols, and differentiating between them, this being necessary when four players are playing the game.

7. A card game according to claim 6, wherein the no-bali indicator means include a panel marked with the five symbols, there being adjacent each symbol a hole or recess to receive an indicator such as a match stick, to enable an indication to be given of which suit is the prevailing no-ball suit, or which suits are the prevailing no-ball suits in the case of four players.

8. A card game according to claim 7, wherein the panel is formed from cardboard and has foldable tabs along its edges to enable the panel tb be raised above a support surface so that a match stick indicator can be inserted through the panel.

9. A card game according to claim 8, wherein the panel is formed such that, with the two packs of cards, it fits neatly into a rectangular shallow box tray which is preferably provided with a lid to retain all the components of the game within a single enclosure.

10. A card game according to any of the preceding claims and also including score sheets which are in the form of pads.

1 A card game according to claim 10, wherein there are two such pads having score sheets of differing format, one format to suit a limited over match and the other format to suit a match of two innings.

12. A card game simulating the game of cricket, substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.