English Cricket darts is – as the name suggests – the English version of the hugely popular game, cricket darts. The rules, scoring, and overall concept are very much the same but there is one key difference with this game and that is the nostalgia of having a bowler and a batter just like regular cricket!
For those unfamiliar with the darts game cricket, in this article, I’ll run through all the rules, scoring, and tips for how to play English cricket. Don’t worry about your geographic location either, this is a game that has global appeal, the name is only for the patriotic brits!
Table of Contents
Number of Players
2 or more players
English Cricket Darts can be played with either two players or two teams. When you are playing with teams, you can increase the number of marks needed from the bowlers so the game lasts longer.
English Cricket Darts Rules and Scoring
The object of English Cricket Darts is to hit all of the numbers from 15 to 20 and the bullseye three times each. When a number is hit three times, it closes the number out. If you close out a number that your opponent has not closed out, you can score on that number by hitting it again.
To play, one player will become the batter and the other will become the bowler. The batter will always play first. Both the bowler and the batter will get three throws per turn.
The batter will be responsible for focusing on scoring. In order to score, the batter needs to hit at least 40 points, then any additional points are added to their score. For example, if the batter hits 60 with the three darts they get for their turn, they can add 20 points to their score.
When someone is playing as the bowler, they are trying to stop the batter from scoring points. To do this, the bowler is going to want to score 10 marks in the bullseye. The outer ring is one mark, and the inner ring and bullseye are two marks.
After the bowler scores their 10 marks, the players switch roles, and the game is repeated. After each player gets a turn, the game is over, and the highest score wins.
Keeping score for English Cricket Darts is pretty easy. Write down the names of the players on a whiteboard or a piece of paper. You will want to keep track of each hit to ensure you are getting the right number added to your score. As long as your score is higher than 40, you will be able to add the extra to your score.
You will also need a list of the numbers you are trying to hit (15-20 and the bullseye). When a number is hit, you will need to place a mark by that number each time it is hit. When a number is hit three times, it will close out and you can score by hitting it again.
How to Play English Cricket Darts
The first player will start the game by throwing three darts at the dartboard. They will be aiming for 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and the bullseye. You will need a way to keep track of which numbers you have hit and how many times.
If you are playing as the bowler, you want to hit the bullseye as much as you can. If you are playing as the batter, your goal is to get as many points as you possibly can.
If you hit a double, it is worth double marks. If you hit a triple, it is worth three marks. As stated above, when a person gets three marks on their number, it is closed out. If other players haven’t closed that number, you will receive more points instead of the other players getting any points, until they also close out that number.
When the first player is finished throwing all three darts, it is the other person’s turn. This keeps going until all of the numbers are closed. Whoever has the highest score at the end of the game will win.
English Cricket Darts Example Game
You and your friend decide that you want to play a nice game of English Cricket Darts with your friend. To decide who gets to be the bowler and who gets to be the batter, you can play rock, paper, scissors if you wish.
Say you are the bowler. Your friend goes first and hits a 20, 18, and 16. This is a score of 54, which is higher than 40. Since it is higher than 40, they get 14 points.
When it is your turn, you will want to aim for the bullseye and hit as many as you can. This will counter the points that your friend earned depending on where you hit. A bullseye and inner circle counter 2 marks and the outer circle counters 1 mark. This means you can score up to 50 points with a bullseye and counter your friend’s points.
Summary
English cricket is unknowingly a popular darts game because the rules, scoring, and general gameplay are exactly the same as cricket darts (the standard variation of the game). Therefore, if you are already familiar with the game cricket, you’re also essentially playing English cricket!
The key reason for playing this game is because the concept is incredibly popular and adding the “bowlers” and “batters” just adds some novelty to the game, especially for those based in the UK.
For that reason, we’d definitely recommend it for the UK players but if you’re based in the US or Canada, chances are you are already playing the same rules and won’t care for the novelty of the English variation.
Also, if you’re a fan of novelty sporting darts games you might also like:
Baseball darts
Snooker darts
Golf darts
Tennis darts
