The 6ixty: Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Wednesday stepped up cricket’s bid to find another innovative short-form form of the game with the announcement of a new 60-ball domestic competition. Six men’s teams and three women’s teams will compete in a new T10 tournament at 6ixty in August, which organizers say will feature “many of the best cricketers from around the world”.
It is not the first T10 league – one was sanctioned by the International Cricket Council in the United Arab Emirates in 2017 and the European Cricket Network offers a large number of competitions for European club and national sides – but it is a full member for the first time I.C.C.
Cricket West Indies and their partner Caribbean Premier League say it will “see brand new innovations that will transform T10 cricket and make the game even faster paced and action-packed”.
Innovations include allowing each batting team to take only six wickets instead of the traditional 10. Each batting team has two powerplay overs but can “unlock” a third by hitting two sixes in the first 12 balls. The first 30 balls of an innings will be bowled as five separate overs from one end, before action begins at the other end for the last 30 balls.
And if teams do not bowl their overs within the stipulated time, a member of their team is taken off the field for the last six balls. The public can also play a hand in run-scoring with fans able to vote at times of “mystery free hits”, where the batsman cannot be dismissed by the bowler.
“I’m really excited about the innovation, excitement and entertainment it’s going to bring to fans,” CWI President Ricky Skerritt said in a statement. The first edition of 6ixty will take place at Warner Park from August 24 to 28. St Kitts limited-overs cricket originated in England in 1963 with the 65-over side Gillette Cup. It was considered too long and the international game has now settled on the World Cup in 50-over and 20-over (T20) formats.
The England and Wales Cricket Board last year introduced a new City franchise-based 100-ball competition, 20 balls less than T20s but 40 more than 6ixty.
Fans can look forward to the following exciting new rules:
Each batting team has six wickets – they are all out when the sixth wicket falls
Each batting team has two powerplay overs. He can unlock the third powerplay by hitting two sixes in the first 12 balls. This additional powerplay over can be taken at any time between 3-9 overs
For the last 30 balls 30 balls will be bowled from one end before moving on to the other end of the action
30 balls will be given as 5 separate overs with no bowler able to bowl more than 2 overs for the innings.
If teams do not bowl their overs within the allotted time, a member of their team is taken off the field for the last six balls.
Fans will vote for times of “mystery free hit” where the batsman cannot be dismissed by the bowler.
The first edition of The 6IXTY will take place at Warner Park – one of the fastest scoring grounds in world cricket – in St Kitts and Nevis from 24 to 28 August. 6IXTY’s future expansion plans include the potential for multiple events in various locations in the Caribbean and beyond.
The 6IXTY Cricket is a joint venture between the West Indies and the Caribbean Premier League, with the two organizations working together to create a more world-class event.