Pencil cricket originated in pre-war Britain as a simple game simulating cricket by using two dice crafted by shaving paint from the end of six-sided pencils back to bare wood and writing the game's numbers and words on each side.

Lindop's name for its implementation of pencil cricket, Owzthat, is derived from a verbal appeal to the umpire, enquiring whether a batsman is out.

The product contains the rules on a small slip of paper and two, different, six-sided long dice made of metal with text engraved on each side of each die.

The side facing up after the roll is interpreted as either runs scored (if a number) or as an appeal for a lost wicket if it shows 'owzthat', in which case the bowling side roll the bowler die to determine the result of the appeal.

Although not specifically stipulated by the rules included with the product, a cricket innings usually ends when 10 wickets have fallen.