What is Smash Series Cricket, and what do I need to play?

Smash Series Cricket is Cricket Australia's fast, simplified format born from backyard, street, tape ball, beach and gully cricket. It suits new players, people moving on from Cricket Blast, returning players and current club players, and has flexible formats for juniors, youth and seniors (Cricket Australia lists it for ages 9 and over).

• Matches: about 60 minutes, with smaller fields and smaller teams, soft balls and modified bats, and everyone gets a chance to bat and bowl.
• Rules: simple and flexible, like backyard cricket (for example tip and run, powerplays, one hand one bounce, six and out). Team size, field size and overs can change depending on where you play and how many turn up. Full rules and variations come from your program provider.
• Equipment: none needed. Bats, balls and stumps are provided, so bring active gear, a hat and a drink bottle. Soft tennis and rubber balls are used, so protective equipment is not required, though you are welcome to bring it.
• Experience and team: no cricket experience is needed, and you do not need a club or team. You can register as an individual and be placed in a team, or register as a small group and be merged into a team.
• Where: local ovals, parks, basketball courts, indoors or even the beach, run through your state or territory cricket association.
• Women and girls: Cricket NSW, for example, runs Girls Smash for girls aged 8 to 14 (new and experienced) and Twilight Women's Smash for women aged 16 and over, with 60 to 90 minute social games.

Sources: play.cricket.com.au Smash Series Cricket and Junior Club Cricket pages; cricketnsw.com.au/women-and-girls.