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Walking Cricket

Walking Cricket

Walking Cricket brings the sport back within reach for players who love the game but can no longer manage the running between wickets or the physical intensity of the full-pace version. Bowling, batting, and fielding all stay recognisably cricket — the pace is simply brought down to walking speed, opening the game back up to a much wider range of players.

What is Walking Cricket?

Walking Cricket adapts standard cricket by removing running between wickets and reducing the physical demands of fielding and bowling, while keeping the core skills — batting, bowling, and fielding — fully intact. Games are typically shorter and played on a smaller playing area than full cricket, with rules adjusted so players walk rather than sprint between overs and between wickets.

Sessions welcome complete beginners as readily as lifelong cricket fans looking for a way to keep playing. No whites, no long-form matches — just cricket, at a pace that works.

The history of cricket

Cricket’s exact origins are debated, but it’s widely believed to have developed in south-east England — likely in Kent, Sussex, or Surrey — as early as the 16th century, possibly from a children’s pastime involving hitting a ball with a stick. The first written laws of the game were codified in 1744, and the sport’s most famous institution, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), was founded at Lord’s in 1787 and remains the custodian of cricket’s laws to this day.

Walking Cricket is a much more recent adaptation, developed independently by cricket clubs and county boards across the UK to keep former and aspiring players involved in the game at a walking pace. As with several walking sports, there’s no single documented founder or founding date — it emerged from many community initiatives around the same time.

Who is Walking Cricket for?

Walking Cricket has found a strong following among the over-50s, but like every walking sport, it isn’t limited to any single age group. It suits:

  • Former club or village cricketers who want to keep playing without the physical strain of the full game
  • Complete beginners curious about cricket without the intimidation of a fast-paced match
  • Anyone managing a long-term health condition or returning to activity after injury or illness
  • Players looking for a genuinely social, team-based activity with a shared purpose

Why try Walking Cricket?

Walking Cricket keeps everything that makes cricket cricket — the tactics of a well-set field, the satisfaction of timing a shot, the psychological duel between batter and bowler — without the running between wickets that eventually pushes many players away from the full-paced game. For former club or village cricketers, it’s a genuine route back into the sport, not a generic replacement. For complete beginners, it’s one of the more approachable team sports to try, precisely because the slower pace gives you time to think through each ball rather than react on instinct alone.

The benefits, briefly

Walking Cricket builds fitness through sustained low-impact movement, keeps hand-eye coordination and tactical thinking sharp, and offers a strong social dimension through regular team sessions. Read the full breakdown of Walking Cricket’s benefits

The rules, in brief

Rules vary slightly between clubs, but most sessions share the same core adaptations: running between wickets is replaced with a walking pace, bowling is typically underarm or reduced-pace overarm, and games are shorter than full-format cricket. Read the full rules guide

Getting started

New to Walking Cricket? Find out what to expect, what to bring, and how a first session usually runs. Read the getting started guide

Find a session

Ready to find your local session? Search our directory of Walking Cricket clubs across the UK — updated regularly, free to browse, no signup required. Find Walking Cricket Near You

Browse Walking Cricket by Session Type

Looking for something specific? Browse our Walking Cricket directory by session type:

FAQ

Do I need to have played cricket before?

No. Walking Cricket sessions are specifically designed to welcome complete beginners alongside lifelong cricket fans and former club players. Coaches and session organisers typically talk newcomers through the basics — batting, bowling, and that club’s specific scoring system — before play starts, so you won’t be expected to know the rules in advance.

What age do I need to be?

Most sessions are open to any adult, regardless of age. Walking Cricket has found a particularly strong following among players in their 50s, 60s, and beyond, often as a way to keep playing a sport they’ve loved for decades, but clubs generally welcome younger adults too, including those managing an injury or returning to activity after time away.

Is Walking Cricket safe if I have joint or mobility concerns?

The no-running format significantly reduces the physical strain associated with full-paced cricket, particularly the sudden sprints between wickets that put the traditional game out of reach for many players. Many people specifically take up Walking Cricket to manage existing joint issues or as part of a gradual return to activity, though as with any new activity, it’s worth checking with a doctor first if you have specific health concerns.

Do I need my own bat or equipment?

Generally no — most sessions provide bats, stumps, and a softer ball, so there’s usually nothing to buy before trying it out for the first time. If you do want your own equipment later on, your local club can usually point you toward what they’d recommend for their specific format.

How do I find a club near me?

Search our directory of Walking Cricket sessions at walkingsports.com/walking-cricket/ to find clubs and sessions in your area, filterable by location, alongside all our other walking sports listings.

More Walking Cricket Guides

Explore other walking sports

Last updated: August 2026 — This guide draws on guidance from national governing bodies where available, established club practices from across our directory, and real feedback from the walking sports community. Walking Sports Hub has been connecting players for over 5 years, with 3,500+ sessions and clubs listed across 8 walking sports. Clubs and players are welcome to submit updates or corrections. Learn more about Walking Sports Hub

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