1.

COMPOSITION OF DIVISIONS:

The composition and format of each division shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

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2.

FIXTURES:

2.1 Unless weather or unforeseen circumstances intervene, each team in a division of ten or less teams shall play every other team in that division twice per season, home and away. Each team in a division of more than ten teams shall play every other team in that division once per season. Where practicable, in those divisions home and away matches shall be equal.

2.2 The league fixtures shall be arranged by the Fixture Secretary of the League. Any changes to the fixtures issued to member clubs shall be advised to the affected clubs by the Fixture Secretary. Once published in the League handbook no fixture shall be altered except by permission of the League Fixture Secretary. All league matches are to be played on Saturdays only and as far as possible will run consecutively from the first Saturday in May and to be completed by the second Saturday in September. Any league fixture outside those Saturdays may only be arranged with the consent of the Executive Committee and both clubs involved. The League Fixture Secretary will endeavour to ensure that all XIs of a club will play on the same dates.

2.3 Where a club has two teams participating in the same division, the League Fixtures Secretary will arrange for the match between the two teams to be played within the first two weeks of the season. If the teams are in a division where matches are played home and away, the first match will be arranged in the first two weeks of the season and the second will be arranged in the first two weeks of the second half of the season.

2.4 Before the scheduled start time, the decision of whether a ground is fit for play is the responsibility of the ground authority. Once the scheduled start time has been reached, the umpires shall be the judges of the fitness of conditions for play, in accordance with the Laws of Cricket as issued by the MCC.

2.5 In the event that a game is abandoned by the weather, so long as the League and both teams agreed, the game can be replayed on a future date.

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3.

ARTIFICIAL PITCHES

4.

DURATION OF THE GAME:

4.1 The duration of the game to be decided by 45 overs being bowled by each side, or until a side is dismissed whichever is sooner. No bowler may bowl more than 9 overs in a Premier Division and Division 1 game, and 10 overs in a game in the lower divisions. Any over or part over bowled by a bowler in excess of the stipulated 9 or 10 overs shall stand. If the error is discovered during the course of an over, that over shall be completed by a different bowler and shall then count as a complete over for him.

4.2 All games are subject to the following ECB fast bowling directives:

1. The captain of each side in every match shall ensure that no player under the age of 19 shall bowl more overs in a spell or in a match than is allowed by the most recent fast bowling directives published by the England and Wales Cricket Board, namely:

• Up to 13 years old – 5 overs per spell and maximum 10 overs per day

• Under 14 and under 15 – 6 overs per spell and 12 overs per day

• Under 16, under 17, under 18 and under 19 – 7 overs per spell and 18 overs per day.

2. Age groups are based on the age of the player at midnight on 31 August in the year preceding the current season.

 

3. In the event of any breach of this condition the captain of the side shall be liable to disciplinary action and his side forfeit all match and bonus points awarded in any match in which the breach(es) took place and shall suffer the additional deduction of up to 20 points for each match in which a breach occurred.

Over Rate Penalty (applicable only to Premier Division and Division 1 matches officiated by at least one League panel umpire)

4.3 Unless the match is delayed by rain or there are exceptional circumstances accepted by the umpire(s), the 45 overs shall be bowled within three hours. Should the bowling side fail to complete their overs within three hours they shall be penalised as follows:

4.4.1 If the first innings’ overs are not bowled within three hours the batting side will still face 45 overs but the bowling side will have the number of overs not bowled within the three hours deducted from their 45 overs.

4.4.2 If the second innings’ overs are not bowled within three hours the batting side will still face their full number of overs but the first innings total will be reduced by six runs for every over not bowled within the three hours.

4.5. An over in progress at the three hours time limit will count as within the three hours.

Example 1 – After three hours side B has bowled 42 overs. Side A goes on to score 200-8 in their 45 overs. Side B’s target to win is 201 in 42 overs. Example 2 – Side A scores 200-8 in their 45 overs within three hours. Side B has scored 180-7 off 42 overs after three hours. Side A’s total is reduced to 182 ie 200 – (6 runs x 3 overs). Side B needs 3 to win off their final 3 overs.

Example 2 – After three hours side B has bowled 42 overs. Side A goes on to score 200-8 in their 45 overs. Side B’s target to win is 201 in 42 overs. After three hours Side B has scored 180-7 off 40 overs. Side A’s total is reduced to 188 ie 200 – (6 runs x 2 overs). Side B needs 9 to win off their final 2 overs. 4.6. Over rate penalty does not apply to any rain-affected match.

5.

START TIMES:

5.1 The normal time for the commencement of Premier Division and Division 1 matches shall be 1:00pm (12:30pm from the third Saturday in August until the end of the season). Matches in the lower divisions shall commence 1:30pm (1:00pm from the third Saturday in August until the end of the season).

5.2 Any team not at the ground 15 minutes before the scheduled start time shall forfeit the toss.

5.3 Any team not present and ready to begin the game by the scheduled start time shall forfeit two of their allotted batting overs for every further five minutes (or part of five minutes) until they are ready to begin the game. This reduction shall apply in full, even where the allotted overs are reduced in accordance with Playing Condition 7. At the toss the two captains shall confirm to each other how many players they expect to field.

5.4 Any team not present and ready to begin the game by 45 minutes after the scheduled start time shall forfeit the match. The defaulting team may be fined £150 of which £125 will be paid to the opponents.

5.5 For the purposes of this playing condition, a team shall comprise no fewer than eight players.

5.6 In Premier Division and Division 1 games, and all other games officiated by a panel umpire, before the start of the match each team shall complete an ECB Team Sheet and pass it to the umpire(s). In other games, before the start of the match each team shall complete an ECB Team Sheet and exchange with the opponents.

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6.

TEA BREAK:

6.1 The tea break shall not exceed 30 minutes duration, and shall be between innings, unless otherwise agreed by mutual consent of both captains. The home team shall bear all the expenses of the tea.

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7.

DELAYED START:

7.1 Should the start of the game be delayed or the game be interrupted because of the weather, then the criteria set out in paragraph 7.2 shall apply, with a minimum of 20 overs being substituted for 45 overs under Playing Condition 4 to decide the result of the match. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, should an innings be completed, or a target reached, within 20 overs, the match shall be completed. For example, Side A scores 86 all out in 19 overs and Side B scores 87-1 in 15 overs. Side B wins despite neither side facing 20 overs because a completed match has been played.

7.2 Fifteen overs should be deducted for every hour lost (every 4 minutes or part thereof lost = 1 over). For example, if 30 minutes play is lost at the start of the game, 8 overs are lost – 4 per side. If in this example an uneven number of overs are lost, an additional over should be lost so that each side loses the same number. If 30 minutes play is lost during the second innings, the team batting second will face 37 overs and the result will be decided on run rate. In the event of 2 sides having an unequal number of overs available, owing to interruption by weather, then the game shall be decided by their respective overall run-rates per over. In this connection:

(i) Where the side batting first is bowled out before its total allotted number of overs are completed, its total score shall be divided by its full number of allotted overs to determines its run-rate per over (see Example 2 below).

(ii) Part overs shall be counted as completed overs.

(iii) All bonus points accumulated during a match of reduced overs shall be retained.

Example 1 – Side A scores 225-6 after 45 overs when rain causes the game to be reduced to 20 overs for side B:

Side A’s run-rate per over is 5 (225÷45)

Side B’s target to beat in 20 overs is 100 (5x20)

Example 2 – Side A is bowled out for 90 runs off 30 overs when rain causes the game to be reduced to 20 overs for Side B:

Side A’s run-rate per over is 2 (90÷45)

Side B’s target to beat in 20 overs is 40 (2x20)

Or Side A is bowled out for 90 runs off 30 overs in a game already reduced to 35 overs each when rain causes the game to be reduced to 25 overs for Side B:

Side A’s run-rate is 2.57 (90÷35)

Side B’s target to beat in 25 overs is 64 (2.57x25) (ie more than 64.25)

Example 3 – Side A scores 180-7 off 45 overs. Side B has scored 135-5 off 30 overs when rain causes the game to be abandoned: Side B wins by faster run-rate per over (4.5 against 4 of Side A). Example 4 – Side A scores 200-6 in 43 overs when rain interrupts play. After 10 minutes tea is taken and the rain continues until 20 minutes after tea, thus 30 minutes play is lost (8 overs): Side A’s run rate is 4.65 (200÷43) Side B’s target to beat in 39 overs is 181 (4.65x39)

7.3 In the Premier Division and Division 1, the maximum number of overs a bowler may bowl will be reduced pro rata to that of the number of overs of that innings reduced by the weather.

Example 1 – Side A’s innings is reduced to 35 overs, Side B’s bowlers may only bowl a maximum of 7 overs – 35 ÷ 5 (the minimum number of bowlers required for a full 45 over game)

Example 2 – Side A’s innings is reduced to 27 overs, Side B’s bowlers may only bowl a maximum of 6 overs – 27 ÷ 5 (5.4 rounded up to 6)

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8.

FAILURE TO HONOUR A FIXTURE:

8.1 Should a team fail to honour a fixture, their opponents will be adjudged to have won and will be awarded 20 points. The team cancelling it will not receive any points.

8.2 Any club failing to honour a fixture shall be fined £25, and shall also pay £25 to its opponents. Both sums to be sent in the first instance to the League Treasurer.

8.3 Any team failing to notify their opponents that they are unable to honour a fixture by 8:00pm on the Thursday before the match shall pay a £100 surcharge, in addition to the original fine. Notification must be made by speaking to the opponents, eg messages and emails cannot be relied upon.

8.4 Any team failing to honour more than two fixtures in a season shall be expelled from the League. If a team is expelled under this playing condition (or withdraws during the course of the season) all its matches played to date shall be expunged from the League tables.

8.5 If a club is unable to honour a fixture it must concede the match which its lowest XI is due to play that day.

8.6 For the purposes of this playing condition, a team shall comprise no fewer than eight players.

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9.

POINTS SYSTEM:

9.1 Twenty points shall be awarded for a win, 5 points for a tie (a tie is recognised as both sides having equal scores regardless of wickets lost), no points for a defeat. In addition the following bonus points will be awarded to the losing or tying sides:

60 runs 1 point 2 wickets 1 point

90 runs 2 points 4 wickets 2 points

120 runs 3 points 6 wickets 3 points

150 runs 4 points 8 wickets 4 points

180 runs 5 points 10 wickets 5 points

9.2 When a side does not have its full complement of 11 players it is deemed to be all out when their last wicket falls and consequently 5 bonus bowling points are awarded to the fielding side. Full bonus bowling points are also awarded to the fielding side if a side declares its innings closed.

9.3 No points shall be awarded in the event of a game being abandoned prior to commencement or whilst in progress before a result can be obtained under Playing Condition 7.

9.4 It shall be the duty of the captain of the team batting second to ascertain between innings the total runs scored by the side batting first and to agree the batting target accordingly.

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10.

LEAGUE POSITIONS:

10.1 The league positions shall be decided by the average points per game played. The average shall be determined by dividing the number of games actually played and completed (ie excluding abandoned games) into the total points obtained from those games. In the event of two or more teams having an identical average, the league position will be determined by reference to the result of the match (or the matches) between the teams concerned, ie the winning team shall be placed higher. If this method is inconclusive (eg where both teams won one match, or where the match is tied or abandoned, or where more than two teams are concerned) the team scoring most runs per wicket throughout the season shall be placed higher.

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11.

PLAYERS ELIGIBLE TO PLAY:

11.1 A player is ineligible to play in the League if during the current season he has played first class cricket or second XI County Cricket or in the Minor Counties, or for a club’s first XI in the Premier Division of County Premier League Cricket.

11.2 A player may play for only one club in the League during any one season, unless written permission is given by the Rules/Playing Conditions Committee. Any complaint that this playing condition may have been transgressed must be made in writing to the General Secretary within 7 days of the relevant game.

11.3 Any player engaged in a League fixture, shall not participate in any other cricket match during the same playing time.

11.4 Clubs are expected to field their strongest available sides in all matches. In addition, in any case where a club’s first XI does not have a League fixture, clubs are expected to select their second (and other) XIs from players who would normally be expected to play in those particular XIs. If a complaint is received from any club within 7 days of the match alleging infringement of Playing Condition 11, the Rules/Playing Conditions Committee may call for an explanation from the club concerned and take any action it considers appropriate.

11.5 On a complaint being received within 7 days of the match the Rules/Playing Conditions Committee may investigate an allegation that a team has played a player of a notably higher standard than the normal level of that division, and that player has had an undue influence on the result of the match, and take any action it considers appropriate.

12..

UMPIRES:

12.1 Subject to availability, two independent umpires shall be appointed to each match in the Premier Division and Division 1. If only one umpire is appointed he shall stand at the bowler’s end for the full match and the batting side must provide an umpire at the striker’s end. Should an independent umpire not be available, both teams must provide a non-playing umpire for the full match.

12.2 Each team shall pay one umpire his/her fee of £35 before the match commences. If there is only one umpire each team shall pay him/her £25 before the match commences.

12.3 Teams in the lower divisions should provide a non-playing umpire who is entitled to stand in both innings. If this is not possible the umpire arrangements must be agreed by the captains prior to the commencement of play.

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13.

NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS:

13.1 The HOME team shall enter the result and scores on the Play-Cricket website by 5:00pm on the day following the match. This shall apply whether the game is abandoned, incomplete or conceded.

13.2 The HOME team shall complete the scorecards on the Play-Cricket website by the Monday following the match. The AWAY team shall verify the result and scorecards by the Wednesday following the match. The result includes matches which are abandoned or conceded. Any falsification of scorecards or match cards shall be considered a serious breach of playing conditions. The Rules/Playing Conditions Committee may investigate and take any action it considers appropriate.

13.3 With the exception of teams in the Premier Division and Division 1, each team must complete and submit the League’s marking form within 2 days of the match. Marking shall be on a scale of: 5 = Very Good, 4 = Good, 3 = Satisfactory, 2 = Poor, 1 = Very Poor. The HOME team shall mark the opponents’ sportsmanship and the performance of the match ball. The AWAY team shall mark the opponents’ sportsmanship, pitch batting surface, outfield, teas and the performance of the match ball. Any marking of 2 or 1 must be supported with detailed reasons. If a team is marked 2 or 1 for a frivolous reason, the Executive Committee will amend the mark as appropriate.

13.4 Teams in the Premier Division and Division 1 shall be marked by the League appointed umpires only. If no appointed umpire officiated then paragraph 13.3 shall apply.

13.5 Late submission or failure to comply with the requirements of this Playing Condition, will incur fines as per Rule 10.

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14.

CRICKET BALL:

14.1 In the Premier Division and Division 1 each side must provide one new ball, to be used in each innings. In the remaining divisions, the home side is responsible for providing a new ball for the whole game. It shall be of the type specified by the League.

14.2 Clubs playing more than two-thirds of their matches away from home shall provide a match ball for each game.

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15.

LEAGUE CUP:

Currently suspended

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16.

TWENTY20 CUP AND TROPHY:

Currently suspended

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17.

NO BALL/WIDE BALL:

No Ball – bowling of high full pitched balls

17.1 Any delivery which passes or would have passed on the full above waist height of the striker standing upright at the crease is to be deemed dangerous and unfair, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker, and shall be called No Ball.

Wide Ball

17.2 If the bowler bowls a ball, not being a No ball, the umpire shall adjudge it a Wide if according to the definition in

17.3 below, in his opinion, the ball passes wide of him standing in a normal guard position. 17.3 The ball will be considered as passing wide of the striker unless it is sufficiently within his reach for him to be able to hit it with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke.

17.4 In the Premier Division and Division 1, umpires are instructed to apply very strict and consistent interpretation in regard to this law in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket. Any offside delivery shall be judged in accordance with 17.2 and 17.3 above. Any legside delivery which passes legside of the striker and misses leg stump shall be called a Wide.

17.5 The umpire shall not adjudge a delivery as being a Wide: (a) If the striker by moving, either (i) causes the ball to pass wide of him, as defined in (b) 17.3 above, or (ii) brings the ball sufficiently within his reach to be able to hit it with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke. (b) If the ball touches the striker’s bat or person.

17.6 The ball does not become dead on the call of Wide Ball.

17.7 A penalty of one run shall be awarded instantly on the call of Wide Ball.

17.8 A Wide shall not count as one of the over.

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