1. START
All matches shall commence at 1:30pm. The home team must pitch the wickets at least 30 minutes before commencement time weather permitting. The toss shall take place no later than 15 minutes before the start of the match (1:15pm). Any team not ready to toss at the specified time shall have been deemed to have lost the toss.
2. SCRATCHED GAMES –
No league match may be cancelled prior to Saturday. In extreme weather conditions, league matches may be cancelled prior to 1:30pm on Saturday, providing both captains, or in their absence their nominated representative, are in agreement. Result cards with teams must be completed. If no agreement can be reached both teams must attend the match as normal. (See also Constitution 17(a))
3. LATE ARRIVALS
Should a team fail to put in an appearance for a league match by 2:00pm or scratch a league or knockout match without the permission of the Management Committee, they will be fined the sum of £25.00 and pay out any expenses incurred for the match by their opponents. The amount of these expenses, if any, shall be subject to approval by the Management Committee. The team failing to arrive will be deemed to have scratched and the match awarded to their opponents by way of a walkover.
4. INCOMPLETE TEAM
Any club fielding 9 or fewer players in any 1st XI competition while on the same date fielding a full reserve XI will, subject to Management Committee discretion, have all reserve XI points deducted for that date. In the event of a club with two teams in the league only being able to field one team, the first XI match shall take priority. The reserve XI match for that date will therefore be scratched in accordance with constitution rule 17a.
5. OVERS
(a) Each match shall consist of a maximum of 90 overs in the Premier Division, Division 1 and
Division 2 and a maximum of 85 overs in all other divisions.
(b) The team batting first shall take no more than 45 overs (all divisions)
(c) If the team batting first, for whatever reason, does not use its full allocation of overs,
then the remaining overs are automatically taken by the team batting second.
(d) No bowler shall be allowed to bowl more than 12 overs in a match. This maximum shall not be
reduced in rain affected matches. (Note the ECB Fast bowling directives must be observed in all league games)
(e) Ten minutes shall be allowed between innings.
(f) The scoreboard shall count the number of overs used, commencing at one.
6. DECLARATION
If the team batting first declares before completing 45 overs, the maximum number of overs as given in Rule 2 remains unchanged.
7. TEA
For a league match, the home team must provide a free tea for the XI visiting players, the two umpires and the two scorers. A tea interval of 30 minutes shall be taken at 4.15pm if the second innings of the match is in progress, unless both Captains agree otherwise. If the first innings is still in progress at 4:15pm, tea shall be taken at the end of that innings.
8. BALLS
In the Premier Division, Division 1 and Division 2, the home team must provide 2 new league approved balls for each match, and suitable replacement balls. The team bowling second may choose to start using the second new ball at any point during the second innings of the match. In all other divisions, the home team must provide one new League approved ball for each match, and suitable replacement balls. All balls must be handed to the umpires before tossing for choice of innings. Any club failing to provide League approved balls in accordance with the Rules of Play will be fined the sum of £10.00.
9. UMPIRES AND SCORERS
(a) Each club providing an umpire for a league match will have 3 bonus points added to those
earned during a match. Any club not providing an umpire must pay the umpire in attendance the
sum of £10. The umpire present should be requested to officiate at the bowler’s end for the duration of the match.
Where a team is given a walkover they will be awarded 3 umpires bonus points if they had an umpire
for the previous 3 games.
(b) Each club providing a scorer for a league match will have 1 bonus point added to those
earned during the match. Any club not providing a scorer must pay the scorer in attendance
the sum of £5. Persistent offenders will be disciplined by the Management Committee. Where a team is given a
walkover they will be awarded 1 scorers bonus point if they had a scorer for the previous 3 games.
(c) At the conclusion of a league match, the two umpires working as a team must jointly
complete the card provided by the league scoring the condition of the pitch; outfield;
behaviour of the home team; behaviour of the away team, together with any comments that
they wish to make about the match. These cards must then be sent to the fixture secretary.
In the event of a team not having an appointed umpire for the match, the club will not have
the opportunity to comment. Umpires are asked to indicate when penalty runs would have been
awarded for fair and unfair play even though these penalty runs have not been implemented by the league.
10. RAIN AFFECTED MATCHES
(a) The decision as to whether play is possible shall be according to the Laws of
Cricket (7.2, 3.8 and 3.9 b-d). (These laws are printed at the end of this section.
See also constitution 14 b & c)
(b) If no play is possible or if the number of overs played is less than the minimum
allowed to obtain a result, the match shall be deemed to be a washout.
(c) When time is lost through rain during the innings of the team batting first, then one over
shall be lost from both teams’ innings for every full 7 minutes lost. When time is lost
through rain during the innings of the team batting second, then one over shall be lost
from the innings of the team batting second for every full 3 ½ minutes lost.
(d) A decision must be made by 3:30pm at the latest to start play, the match shall be
20 overs per team (minimum), irrespective of the actual time of the start, and can
only be called off subject to The Laws of Cricket.
(e) If covers are available the home team must inform the away team captain before
the start of the game of the type/nature of the covers available and what part of
the pitch/bowlers run-ups are covered. Covers may be used as long as BOTH captains
agree and notify the umpires before the start of the game.
(f) If overs are lost due to stoppage during the innings of the team batting second,
the result shall be determined as normal, IE:-
• Win for the team batting first if they get the team batting second all out for a lower score.
• Win for the team batting second if they score more runs than the team batting first.
• Washout if less than 20 overs per team and neither team has won.
• Tie if, as The Laws of Cricket, the team batting second is all out for exactly the
same score as the team batting first, regardless of wickets lost.
• Draw if none of the above.
THE CURRENT LAWS RELATING TO FITNESS TO PLAY
Law 7.2 – The umpires shall be final judges of the fitness of the pitch for play.
Law 3.8 – The umpires shall be final judges of the fitness of the ground
(which includes the pitch), weather and light for play.
Law 3.9b – If at any time the umpires TOGETHER AGREE that the condition of the ground,
weather or light is not suitable for play, they shall inform the captains and, unless
(i) in unsuitable ground or weather conditions both captains agree to continue, or to
commence, or to restart play, or
(ii) in unsuitable light the batting side wishes to
continue, or to commence, or to restart play, they shall suspend play or not allow play to commence or restart.
Law 3.9c –
(i) After agreeing to play in unsuitable ground or weather conditions,
either captain may appeal against the conditions. The umpires shall uphold the appeal
only if, in their opinion the factors taken into account previously are the same or
the conditions have further deteriorated.
(ii) After deciding to play in unsuitable light, the captain of the batting side
may appeal against the light. The umpires shall uphold the appeal only if, in
their opinion the factors taken into account previously are the same or the condition
of the light has further deteriorated.
Law 3.9d - If at any time the umpires TOGETHER AGREE that the conditions of ground,
weather or light are so bad that there is obvious and foreseeable risk to the safety
of any player or umpire then not withstanding b(i) and b(ii) above they shall suspend
play, or not allow play to commence or to restart.
11. RESULT CARDS
Result cards must be sent in fully completed even if no play has been possible. Note Constitution rules 15 and 16a. Points should not be amended on the result card for umpire or scorers.
12. POINTS
Points shall be awarded as follows:
25 Points -Win (Except where the team winning the toss elects to bat second)
25 Points -Walkover (Except when all other games in a division are washed out when 8 points will be awarded)
20 Points -Win (Where team winning the Toss elects to bat second)
15 Points -Tie
7 Points plus Bonus points - Winning Draw
3 Points Plus Bonus Points - Draw with identical run rate
Bonus Points only - Losing Draw
Bonus points only - Lose
8 Points (No bonus points) - Washout (Umpire & scorer points added if >19 overs played)
0 Points - Scratched
Winning and losing draws shall be based on the average number of runs scored per over by each team.
The team with the higher run rate shall have a winning draw and the other team a losing draw.
Part overs shall be considered to be completed for the purpose of calculating run rates.
Bonus Points shall be awarded as follows:
Batting
1 Point 75-99
2 Points 100-124
3 Points 125-149
4 points 150-174
5 Points 175+
Bowling
1 Point 2 or 3 wickets
2 points 4 or 5 wickets
3 points 6 or 7 wickets
4 points 8 or 9 wickets
5 points All Out
Umpire In Attendance 3 points (except when less than 20 overs have been played)
Scorer in attendance 1 point (except when less than 20 overs have been played)
See notes under 9(a) and (b) regarding umpires & scorers points for walkover games.