Backyard Cricket entering the professional arena

Backyard Cricket entering the professional arena

The classic Kiwi pastime of backyard cricket has evolved into something bigger than a couple innings with a few mates. The Crewcut Backyard Bash is the first official backyard cricket tournament the world has seen. With two of the days being spent in the Auckland region, one in Hawke’s Bay, and one in Manawatu, this is an exciting start of what’s to come. The first tournament is now under the organiser’s belt, they know for sure that it’s something for everyone to enjoy. The quality of the pitch is vital, which is why the lawn mowing experts Crewcut, mowed the lawn and rolled the strip.

For those not familiar with the rules of backyard cricket, there is always a tough debate before most games. So with an official tournament coming into play, these rules can be solidified to prevent any future arguments. One hand, one bounce is an out, over the fence on a full is out as well, hitting the pub on the full is a 6, just to name a few of the rules.

The inaugural tournament was held at The Wade in Silverdale on the 13th of January 2018. It had the perfect square shaped field for backyard cricket, and even had obstacles, including soccer goal posts, a swing set and a tractor. These small details really gave the authentic backyard feel. There were some who came in and out to support their team or to see what was going on, but the majority stayed the entire day. As the first ever tourney, the Crewcut Backyard Bash organised a way for everyone to see how the day turned out. The event was live-streamed on Facebook with multiple camera angles, live commentary, graphics and scoring, which made it feel like an authentic sporting event. The live-streamed Crewcut Backyard Bash can be watched via Facebook, so if you’re thinking about attending the next three events, you can get a great idea of what is to come at these next tournaments.

When the 4th of February rolls around, The Rongotea Tavern on the plains of Manawatu will be the second host for the Crewcut Backyard Bash. Rongotea is a 10 minute drive from Palmerston North. Right handers have it easier on this rectangular field, but be aware of the offside fence as going over it on the full is out, and it's not the tallest fence.

On the 18th of February the Crewcut Backyard Bash will be held at the Meananee Hotel in Napier. The Meeanee Hotel has been the home of backyard cricket for years to any would-be cricket professionals. With its oddly curved garden at the batsman’s end and a hard & fast pitch that can deliver a brutal swing - the Napier Crewcut Backyard Bash is one not to miss!

To finish up the tournament, the fourth stop is back up in Auckland for the 2018 Crewcut Backyard Bash and were finishing it off in style. On the 24th of February the Montressors Function Centre at Pakuranga Rugby Club will be the home for the final installation of the Crewcut Backyard Bash. Boundaries could be hard to come by, and make sure to navigate the BBQ on the full, but beat the man in close and runs will start to come. The Crowd Goes Wild even filmed a spot for their show with us at the Pakuranga Rugby Club.

Everyone involved with the Crewcut Backyard Bash has been tirelessly working at making sure this goes off with a bang. This first tournament was a great success, and everyone got into the spirit of backyard cricket. If you live in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay or Manawatu, why not get along to the next three events to check them out. Crewcut will be in charge of the lawn mowing and pitch preparation, but you’ll probably find us behind the BBQ as well. If you’re interested in the event and want to learn more, you’ll find everything you need at Crewcut Backyard Bash.

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