| 1.0 |
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In each Division, all clubs will play each other home and
away, matches shall be one innings each. |
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| 2.0 |
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The conduct of all matches will be governed by the Laws of
Cricket except as otherwise stated in these rules. |
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| 3.0 |
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The Umpires Panel will appoint umpires. The method of payment
of expenses will be determined by the League Management Committee in consultation with the
Umpires Panel. Umpires will be reimbursed their expenses centrally from the Panel, the funds
being recovered from the clubs. |
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| 4.0 |
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All clubs will appoint their own scorers. Failure to provide
a scorer will be subject to a £30 fine payable to the League (See Non payment of
Fines) |
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| 5.0 |
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TEAM SHEETS |
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Captains must pass team sheets to the umpires 30 minutes
prior to play commencing. These will be collated onto the match report sheet. Late substitutes
will only be allowed prior to the start of the game and with the consent of the opposing
captain. |
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Team sheets will contain names of players, player
registration number, category and age group if applicable (e.g. U19, U17, Helmets
etc.). |
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Note: Age group is defined (for Bowling) by the age at
midnight on the 31st August of the previous year, (for Helmets) the players' actual 18th
birthday. A copy of the ECB directives will be available at the ground. |
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| 6.0 |
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HOURS OF PLAY |
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A working match clock will be provided by the home side which
can be seen by the umpires and players from the playing square. |
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Play will commence at 11.00 a.m. (10.30 a..m, on the last
three Saturdays of the season) in Division One and at 11.30 a.m. (11.00 a..m, on the last three
Saturdays of the season) in Divisions Two East and West. |
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Subject to the laws of cricket the lunch interval will be 30
minutes commencing at 1.00 pm in Division One and 1.30 p.m. in Divisions Two East and
West. |
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A 10 minute interval will be taken between
innings. |
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Subject to the laws of cricket the tea interval will be 20
minutes, commencing at 5.00 p.m. |
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The home club will provide lunch and tea for all participants
on a reciprocal basis. |
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Unless a result is achieved earlier the game shall finish at
7.00p.m. (6.30 p.m. on the last three Saturdays of the season) or after 120 overs have been
bowled, whichever is the later. (110 overs in Divisions Two East and West) |
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The pitch will be re-marked and maintained on the direction
of the umpires during every interval. |
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No game shall be cancelled without the explicit agreement of
at least one of the appointed umpires, or an appointed local deputy. |
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In the event of extreme weather or other extenuating circumstances preventing the use of the
designated ground the League Management Committee will consider changes to the venue as follows. |
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The League Secretary (or other committee member if he is unavailable) should be informed by
telephone by noon on the Wednesday before the match that the designated venue is unfit and give details
of the proposed alternative venue. The League will arrange to inspect both venues for their suitability
for HCPCL cricket within 24 hours. If it is agreed that the designated venue is unfit and the
alternative is acceptable, the home club shall inform the away team and the umpires of the
changes. |
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| 7.0 |
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BALLS |
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a) All league fixtures will be played with a ball that has
been approved by the League Management Committee. |
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b) One new ball will be used from the commencement of each
innings. New balls are to be supplied by the home club. |
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c) Home clubs will ensure that a selection of at least six
suitable spare balls of varying ages and use and a spare new ball are available to the umpires
prior to the start of the match. The balls shall be as approved by the League. The umpires may
delay the start of a match if the spare balls are not provided. |
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| 8.0 |
|
OVERS |
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Each match will consist of a minimum of 120 6-ball overs
except where the match is affected by weather or a result is achieved sooner. Division Two will
play a minimum of 110 overs. |
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The side batting first shall face no more than 55% (66 overs)
of the overs available at the commencement of play. (55% in Division Two is defined as 60 overs).
(See Appendices 2 & 3 for rain interruption calculations) |
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In the event of a delayed start due to inclement weather or
other circumstances the total number of overs available shall be reduced by one for each complete
period of 3½ minutes (see Appendix 1), with 70 overs the minimum number of overs available to
constitute a match. Any match in which 70 overs have been bowled, shall be deemed a match and
abandonment after this point shall count as a drawn match. |
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If considered appropriate, in weather affected matches
revised times can be set for the lunch and tea intervals. |
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Any match that cannot start by 2.30 pm (2.00 pm on the last
three Saturdays of the season) shall be cancelled. |
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If, after a match has started, there is a weather
interruption or weather interruptions during the innings of the side batting first, the number of
overs available shall be as per the table in appendicies 2&3. |
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In the event that any interruption or interruptions is of a
duration that in calculating the overs remaining (using Appendicies 2&3) the side batting
first has received those overs (or in excess of those overs) that would normally be allowed, the
following shall apply: |
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1. The innings of the side batting first shall be regarded as
complete. |
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2. The Umpires shall calculate the time remaining from the
scheduled close of play (whether 6.30 or 7.00pm) to the time which they consider that conditions
are such that play can resume. The overs available to the side batting second shall be calculated
by allowing one over for every full 3.5minutes left for play. If such calculation, together with
the overs received by the side batting first, totals 70 overs or more, then play shall commence
at the re-scheduled start time as directed by the umpires. |
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3. If the target score is such, that in the opinion of both
captains there is insufficient overs remaining for either side to achieve a result or gain more
points, the match shall be abandoned. |
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If, after the start of the innings of the side batting
second, there is a weather interruption or interruptions the number of overs available to the
side batting second shall be reduced by 1 for each complete period of 3½ minutes of interruption
or interruptions. |
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| 9.0 |
|
COVERS |
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Before the start of play covers shall be used at the
discretion of the home club and its groundsman to protect the pitch. After play has started
covers will be used on the instructions of the umpires. |
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Clubs must make covering available throughout the match days. The minimum requirements are to cover
the pitch and the bowlers run-ups and these should be available to the full extent under instruction of
the umpires. Failure to satisfy the umpires will be reported to the League and may result in
disciplinary action being taken against the club. |
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| 10.0 |
|
MATCH POINTS |
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win - 25 points
tie - 15 points each
loss - 00 points
draw - 03 points each
abandoned - 06 points each or bonus earned whichever is the greater
cancelled - 06 points each
|
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Scores level in a drawn match :-
team batting first - 03 points
team batting second - 05 points |
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Bonus points awarded to losing team and to both teams in the
event of a drawn match will be:- |
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Batting:-
1 point for reaching 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 runs – this will only apply during the first 60 overs of a
first innings |
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Bowling:-
Team bowling first - l point each for taking 3,5,7,9,10 wickets. 5 bowling bonus points will be gained
if a side is all out, regardless of the number of wickets actually taken.
Team bowling second - one point for each wicket taken. |
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| 11.0 |
|
OVER RATE PENALTY POINTS |
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The following penalties will apply for slow over rates. The
umpires will be the sole judges of over rates in consultation with the scorers: |
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Less than 17 but greater than 16 overs per hour - 01
point
16 overs or less but greater than 15 overs per hour - 02 points
15 overs per hour or less - 05 points |
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The penalties will not apply if an innings lasts less than 2
hours allowable time. The umpires will agree timings with the scorers and calculate the over rate
taking into account the following allowances:- |
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3 mins per wicket for the fall of each wicket up to and
including the ninth wicket. |
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The actual time lost for each and any single stoppage of
greater duration than 5 minutes. This will be confirmed to the batsmen and the fielding captain
at the time of the delay and will not be subject to negotiation. |
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| 12.0 |
|
RESULTS |
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The Captain of the home side is responsible for phoning the
result of each match, including cancelled and abandoned matches, by 20.45 hours on the day of the
match to the Results Secretary. Failure to telephone the result by 20.45 hours will be subject to
a £30 fine payable to the League (See Non payment of Fines). Result sheets must be posted by last
post on the Monday following the match to the Results Secretary. Failure to post the result sheet
will be subject to a £30 fine payable to the League (See Non payment of Fines). |
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The summary match result must be posted on the play-criicket web site by 18.00 hours on the Monday
following the game. Failure to do so will be subject to a fine of £30 payable to the League. Clubs are
also encouraged to enter a full score sheet on the site. |
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| 13.0 |
|
FACILITIES MARKING |
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Facility marking cards will be completed by each Captain and
posted to the person directed by the League, by the last post on the Monday following the match.
Failure to submit the report on time will be subject to a £15 fine payable to the League (See Non
Payment of Fines). |
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| 14.0 |
|
UMPIRES’ MARKING |
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Captains will mark umpires in the manner prescribed by the
Management Committee and post to a person designated by the League by last post on the Monday
following the match. Failure to provide this report will be subject to a £30 fine payable to the
League (See Non payment of Fines). |
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Umpires will mark the quality of the pitch, team discipline
and facilities as well as reporting any instances of misconduct. The Umpires will submit a report
card provided by the League, to the Chairman of the Facilities sub-committee. |
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|
| 15.0 |
|
DISCIPLINE |
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|
Should a player, in the opinion of the umpire, commit a level
4 breach of discipline, the umpire shall immediately suspend the player from any further
participation in the game and shall inform the player and his captain of this action. A
substitute will not be allowed for this player for the remainder of the game. |
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|
| 16.0 |
|
DISCIPLINARY POINTS |
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|
Clubs whose disciplinary marking by umpires falls below 4 for
any three matches played during a season will have FIVE points deducted without appeal. Any
further mark below 4 will incur a TEN point deduction in each instance. Clubs will be notified on
each occasion they receive a mark of less than 4. |
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|
| 17.0 |
|
JUNIOR PLAYERS |
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|
Any player under the age of 12 on 31st August in the year
preceding the current season cannot play in the league with or without explicit
consent. |
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|
Any player under the age of 13 on 31st August in the year
preceding the current season can only play in the league provided “Explicit Written Consent” to
play in open age cricket has been obtained prior to play and a copy lodged with the Registration
Secretary. |
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|
| 18.0 |
|
LEAGUE POSITIONS |
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|
League positions in each Division will be determined by the
total number of points gained. In the event of two or more clubs finishing on equal points,
league position will be determined in the following order: |
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|
most wins, fewest defeats, highest total bonus points, (over
rate penalty points being deducted in this calculation). |
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|
If still level, where winning the Division, promotion or
relegation is at stake, the positions will be decided by calculating each ‘team’s average’ for
the season. The “team average” to be calculated, using the results for the season, by dividing
the runs scored by wickets lost to give a batting average. From the batting average deduct the
bowling average, calculated by dividing the runs conceded by wickets taken, to determine the
overall “team average”. The team with the highest average is placed first. |
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|
| 19.0 |
|
WITHDRAWAL OF CLUB(S) |
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|
If one or more clubs withdraws from a Division, other than
through the normal relegation process, the leagues shall be re-constituted as
follows: |
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|
The side finishing in ninth position in that Division will
not be relegated. The side finishing last will be relegated unless more than one side has
withdrawn from the Division, in which case the side finishing last will maintain its place in the
Division. |
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|
Any vacancies will be filled by promoting more sides from
Divisions Two East and West and from the ‘linked’ leagues on a basis to be determined by the
Management Committee. |
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|
| 20.0 |
|
PROMOTION AND RELEGATION |
| |
|
At the end of each season a system of promotion and
relegation will operate. |
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|
The system is that two clubs will be relegated from Division
One into their respective Division 2 East or West and one club will be offered promotion from
each of Division 2 East and Division 2 West. |
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|
Two clubs will be promoted into Division 2 East from the
Herts League and one club from the Cherwell League and one club from the Thames Valley League
into Division 2 West. A total of four clubs will be relegated from Divisions Two East and West to
the Linked Leagues. |
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|
Promotion into all Divisions is dependent on the clubs
concerned meeting the criteria for facilities, youth teams and financial security laid down by
the League |
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|
In the event of a club that qualifies for promotion not
wishing to accept it the following will apply :- |
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|
Promotion from Division 2 East and West, the Cherwell League
and the Thames Valley League – promotion will be offered to the club in second place in the
relevant league. |
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|
Promotion from the Herts League – promotion will be offered
to the club in third place in Division One of the Herts League. |
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|
Should only one club accept promotion or meet the league
criteria then the club in 9th place (8th place if three clubs are relegated) in the respective
league will not be relegated. If no clubs accept promotion or meet the league criteria no clubs
will normally be relegated. It should however be noted that in certain circumstances relegation
of one club from Division 2 East or West may be necessary when no club has been promoted into the
league in question. |
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|
Relegation rules for Divisions 2 East and West depend on the
origin of the clubs relegated from Division One. The rules are as follows :-
One club relegated to both Division 2 East and West – two clubs relegated from both leagues.
Two clubs relegated to Division 2 East and none to 2 West – three clubs relegated from Division 2 East
and one club from Division 2 West.
Two clubs relegated to Division 2 West and none to 2 East – three clubs relegated from Division 2 West
and one club from Division 2 East. |
|
Last updated: 7 May 2012
|
