Running a Night Tape Ball Tournament? The Complete Gear Checklist

Night tape ball tournaments are one of the best parts of the cricket year, but they live or die on organisation. Running out of balls at 11 pm, or arguing over how a ball was taped, can spoil the whole night. Here's a checklist to keep things fair and on time.

Balls

• Buy by the dozen. Our tape balls come 3 to an air-tight pack, and the dozen option is 4 packs. Work out how many matches you'll play and how many balls each match is likely to need, then add spares for lost balls.
• One brand for the whole tournament. Using the same ball in every match keeps things fair.
• Keep packs sealed until they're needed so the balls stay fresh.

Tape

• Tape all match balls the same way before the first match, ideally by one person. Our guide on how to tape a tennis ball has the method.
• Bring plenty of tape. Osaka ball tape comes in packs of 10 rolls; 10 yard rolls mean fewer roll changes.
• Re-tape between innings if the tape starts to peel.

At the scorer's table

• Spare taped balls in a bag
• Spare bat grips
• Scissors, a marker and the scorebook
• Drinking water and a basic first-aid kit

Rules to agree in advance

• Overs per side and how long each innings can take
• What counts as a four or a six on your ground
• How wides and no-balls are called
• What happens if a ball is lost or damaged

Write them down and share them with every captain before the first ball.

Safety

Play under proper lighting, keep spectators behind the boundary, and keep the area around the pitch clear of parked bikes and cars.

Prizes and kit

Bats and gloves make popular prizes. See our tape ball bats and batting gloves, or message us on WhatsApp if you're buying in bulk for a tournament.