Reg 8 Spikes

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT

• Introduce a clear, detailed definition of "full metal spikes" to avoid arguments about "half spikes" and "plastic cleats which are like spikes".  

PROPOSAL

• To add some words and maybe a diagram or a picture to Reg 8.1.5-8.1.7 to make the spikes easier to define.

DISCUSSION

This problem arises in cases where players who want to bowl will claim that spikes can be a variety of non-metal materials or designs intended for golf or baseball.

Let's be clear. Cricket spikes are a pricey bit of gear and adapting some other shoe for use on Saturday (say) at cricket can be seen as a money saver by some people. 

Cricket spikes are rounded, blunt, made of steel. 

The rules we have do not emphasise this sufficiently.

It will help umpires enforce this rule and shape player's and captain's expectations better if there are some clear examples of what is expected and what is not permitted available.

Cricket spikes required are not rubber, are not baseball cleats, are not studs, are not fancy golf cleats. There are many other types of cleated or studded shoes for other sports such as lacrosse, cycling, football, track and field, mountaineering, logging sports, cycling.

But it would be odd to write a rule that says what cricket spikes are not.

Apart from some rewording of the regulation, I think the best way to define cricket spikes is to use a diagram or a picture to illustrate what is required. 

What is a full spike? 

Some retailers refer to full spikes as either a "5/4 or a 6/4 spike configuration". This refers to 5 or 6 spikes on the ball of the foot sole and 4 on the heel of the foot sole.

So I have selected some pictures of these patterns. 

The other difficult question is the shape and length of cricket spikes. A detailed picture has been added along with a brief definition.

 

SIDEBAR What does Premier Cricket rules say about spikes? 

• Allows a relaxation on medical grounds (an obvious concession in my view)
• Half spikes are allowed (not sure why)
• There's nothing about spikes needed for bowling only... can batters or fielders use rubber soles? 
• Can't see what is supposed to happen if any player fails to wear the correct footwear. (Do they get reported or stopped or asked to explain? Does each umpire make something up? or just say nothing? hmmm...)

It's NOT my place to suggest this but potentially this regulation could be improved.

12. Players Dress and Equipment
(a) No player shall be allowed to play in any match unless they appear in proper
cricketing attire, which shall consist of the following:
...
(iv) Boots or shoes of any material, coloured predominantly white. Spikes shall
not project from the soles of boots or shoes to a length greater than 9mm.
...
(b) No player will be allowed on the field unless wearing spiked footwear [half spiked footwear is permissible]. The Premier Cricket & Umpire Coordinator may approve a relaxation of this clause on written medical grounds. Except for the wearing of spikes, the question of player’s attire should be referred to the team captain and Club Officials.

See QC Premier Cricket Regulations & Playing Conditions, p11-12.

https://www.qcusa.com.au/_files/ugd/aa0601_6f51d11be2894c14a067626b7e2c96b5.pdf 

PROPOSAL (includes the addition of these pictures in the Diagrams Appendix)

OLD REGULATIONS	What does this mean?/Why does it need change?	PROPOSED NEW REGULATION
8 CLOTHING Applies to All Competitions ...		8 CLOTHING Applies to All Competitions ...
8.1.5 Cricket shoes		8.1.5 Cricket shoes
8.1.6 Players must wear cricket shoes with full metal spikes while bowling. Spike length will be limited to 9mm.		8.1.6 Player must wear full metal cricket spikes while bowling.
		8.1.6.1 Cricket spikes are rounded, blunted, made of steel and limited to 9mm in length.
	No golf, track, baseball etc etc	8.1.6.2 Spikes designed for sports other than cricket are not permitted.
		8.1.6.3 Full spikes means spikes on both the heel and ball areas of the shoe sole.
		8.1.6.4 See illustrations in Diagrams Appendix.
8.1.7 Any bowler with shoes that do not comply with Playing Regulation 8.1.6 will not be allowed to bowl.		8.1.7 Decisions about the compliance of shoes with Playing Regulation 8.1.6 will be made by the match umpire(s) only.
		8.1.7.1  Any bowler with shoes that do not comply with Playing Regulation 8.1.6 will not be allowed to bowl.
		Some renumbering may be required.

Diagrams Appendix

Full Metal Spikes for Cricket

6/4 spike configuration

5/4 spike configuration

Metal Cricket Spikes - Typical metal cricket spikes are round, blunt, metal. 

Some examples of Spikes which are not permitted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Andrea Pullar at QC for her input on this entry.

 

Idea suggested by Umpire Darryl Joyce. (Cheers Darryl...)

---

ABM 3-Jul-2025

(updated 7-Jul-2025) 

Back to INTRODUCTION

---

 

TO ADD YOUR COMMENT

• Click on this link for a guide on how to post a comment. https://tinyurl.com/kmkvpub 

• If you can't do a posted comment perhaps it would be easier to send me an email at a.martin at qsdca.com.au

• The email address has been 'munged' to prevent spamming.

• To use it, copy and paste into your email app and replace the " at " with a "@"   

• Comments can be entered on each discussion page. (They are subject to moderation.)

• Useful comments are appreciated.