MATCH
RULES
1. FIXTURES
a.
Matches are to be played on Saturdays allocated in the fixture
list or on dates agreed by the Management Committee. The
fixtures between the clubs shall take place on consecutive
Saturdays in the season commencing on the Saturday fixed by
the Management Committee.
b.
If a member Club is playing in the final of a recognised major
competition on the same weekend as League fixtures (that will
include a Friday) that weekend's fixtures involving the said
member Club may be rearranged for a date(s) not later than the
Sunday prior to the last Saturday of the League season subject
to the approval of the Management Committee. Any other
required variation of fixture dates allocated shall be subject
to the approval of the Management Committee that must be given
at least four weeks notice of such variation by both member
Clubs concerned.
c.
If a Club cancels or fails to honour a fixture for any reason,
other than the weather, that is not considered satisfactory by
the Fixtures and Results sub committee, 20 points shall be
awarded to the other side. However the non-offending side
shall only retain the 20 points providing 40% or more of the fixtures due to be played on that day in the relevant division (eg Division 6a) are completed.
The Club cancelling the fixture
shall be liable for any reasonable expenses incurred by the
opposition.
The
Club cancelling the fixture shall notify the opposition Team
Captain or Fixture Secretary and the relevant Divisional
Results Secretary immediately the decision is made that the
fixture is to be cancelled. Failure to notify such persons as
required shall render the offending Club liable to a fine of
£10. The offending side will also reimburse the offended side
all reasonable costs incurred. Any disputes as to costs to be
resolved by the Management Committee.
If
a match is so cancelled after 10pm on the Wednesday prior to a
Saturday match (or within an equivalent period prior to a
match arranged for any other day), the Club cancelling the
match shall have five points deducted at the absolute
discretion of the Management Committee.
The
offending side may be subject to disciplinary action by the
Management Committee and further points, up to the maximum
available from that fixture, may be deducted from their total.
The
Management Committee may order the match to be played under
such conditions as they see fit.
2. LAWS
The
matches shall be played according to the Laws of Cricket and
such experimental laws as from time to time may be applied to
Club Cricket or may be decided upon at a General Meeting.
The
new Laws of Cricket that came into force on 1st October 2000,
and subsequent amendments made in 2003 shall apply in all
matches with the exception that the new Laws imposing penalty
runs, other than the pre-existing penalty run Laws shall only
apply to matches in Divisions 1, 2A and 2B.
3. HOURS AND CONDITIONS OF PLAY
a. Starting Time
Matches
shall start at 1.30pm except the last four of the League
calendar, which shall start at 12.30pm. Twenty minutes shall
be allowed for tea between innings or at a time agreed by both
Captains and both Umpires.
Clubs
are expected to start matches promptly.
b. Duration of Play
The
normal duration of play shall be one hundred overs. The side
batting first shall occupy not more than 52 overs. The side
batting second shall occupy the balance of the one hundred
overs not occupied by the side batting first, an incomplete
over in the first innings being counted as a complete over.
c. Delayed or Interrupted Matches
1)
The consideration of the fitness of the prevailing conditions
for play and any adjustments to the length of a fixture shall
be strictly controlled by the application of the Laws of
Cricket.
2a)
In a match where there is a delayed start or there is an
interruption in the first innings only, up to 30 overs may be
deducted from the match (i.e. the match duration must a
minimum of 70 and a maximum of 100 overs) on the basis of one
over subtracted for every completed 3.5 minutes of overall
stoppage(s) with the proviso that the side batting first shall
in every case be entitled to receive four more overs than its
opponents.
NB
After the completion of the first innings of a match no
further reduction of the number of overs to be bowled may be
made. If the side batting second is unable for any reason to
complete the innings then the match has to be abandoned.
2b)
In conditions described in 2a above, where there has been a
delay of more than 105 minutes in total, if both Captains
agree there is sufficient time remaining to complete the 100
overs or a reduced match as described in 2a above and
providing that the Umpires are satisfied that the conditions
are fit to play in accordance with the Laws of Cricket, the
match may be played to its conclusion.
3)
In an abandoned match each team shall be awarded seven points
(as for a void fixture) or the bonus points that it has
earned, whichever is the greater.
d. Ball
One
new ball shall be used for each innings, except that the
Captain of the side fielding second may continue to use the
first ball or if he wishes to call for the new ball. Balls for
all League matches shall be supplied to the Clubs by the
Management Committee and the Clubs shall pay the League
Treasurer for such balls, receipt of such payment to be no
later than the 30th April each year. Failure to pay by this
date will render the offending Club liable to a surcharge per
ball as determined by the Management Committee.
In
the event that the Management Committee arranges a meeting of
all the member Clubs before the start of any League season for
the purpose of distributing the match balls etc., any Club
that does not send a representative to collect the match balls
etc. shall be liable to a fine of £25.
e. Last Over
Umpires
shall call the last over of each innings and ensure that the
call is understood by the batsmen in possession, the Captain
of the fielding side and by the scorers. Throughout the
innings of the side batting first the number of completed
overs received should be recorded on the scoreboard. During
the innings of the side batting second the maximum number of
complete overs remaining to be bowled should be similarly
recorded.
f. Umpires and Scorers
1)
Umpires for Division 1 and, subject to the availability of
Umpires, for Divisions 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B shall be appointed by
the League. The Management Committee reserves the right to
appoint Umpires for any other match at its sole discretion.
All panel Umpires should be members of the ACU&S.
Each
Umpire in the aforementioned Divisions, whether panel
appointed or otherwise, shall be assessed on his/her
performance by both Captains, who shall send their marks to
the Umpires Administrator to arrive by the Thursday after the
match, either on the supplied postcard or by any other medium
the Management Committee may authorise. A fine of £5 will
levied against a Club for each and every infringement of this
rule. Panel appointed Umpires shall also provide a brief match
report on the conditions and facilities at the match on the
card provided.
2)
In Divisions 1, 2A and 2B Umpires appointed by the League shall be
entitled to a match fee as determined by the Management
Committee. This fee shall be payable by the home team before
the start of the match.
In Divisions 3A, 3B and below
(i) if
Umpires are appointed at the request of a Club, then that Club
shall be responsible for paying the match fee as determined by
the Management Committee. This fee shall be payable before the
start of the match.
(ii) if Umpires are appointed by the League for
any reason other than being requested to do so by either Club,
the Umpires fee as determined by the Management Committee
shall be paid by the Management Committee as soon as possible
after the match.
3)
In the event of a match being cancelled through inclement
weather, or for any other reason, each Umpire appointed by the
League shall be notified immediately the decision to cancel is
made.
Should
an Umpire not be so informed and arrives at his allocated
venue, he shall be entitled to half of the determined match
fee payable by the Home team direct to the Umpires if possible
on the day of the match or in any event no later than seven
days after the date of the match.
4)
Each team shall provide an Umpire if one is not appointed by
the League. For matches in Divisions 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and
4B each team that fails to provide an Umpire shall be fined £10
on and each every occasion. For
matches in all Divisions of the League where Umpires are not
appointed by the League, teams are expected to make every
effort to provide an Umpire.
5)
Each team shall provide a scorer. For matches in Divisions 1,
2A and 2B, each team that fails to provide a scorer shall be
fined £5 on each and every occasion. In all Divisions teams are expected to make every effort to provide
a scorer.
g. Over Rate
Clubs shall maintain an over rate of 17
overs per hour (one over = 3.5 minutes).
An additional 10 minutes per innings shall
be allowed to account for stoppages. In exceptional
circumstances only, Umpires shall use their discretion to
increase the time allowed for stoppages.
The Umpires will agree the time taken to
complete the innings and calculate whether any excess time
applies and if so, how much.
The Umpires calculation shall be final and not subject
to appeal. Incomplete overs shall be rounded up.
In Divisions 1, 2A, and 2B, whether or not
the match is umpired by members of the TVCL panel, the
following penalties will apply for slow over rates on an
individual match basis:
1) For every one over or part of one over
but not more than 2 overs not bowled at the expiry of the time
allowance 1 point is to be deducted.
2) For more than 2 overs but not more than 4
overs not bowled at the expiry of the time allowance 2 points
are to be deducted.
3) For more than 4 overs not bowled at the
expiry of the time allowance 5 points are to be deducted.
Penalties shall not apply if an innings
lasts less than 2 hours allowable time.
N.B. the following table applies and
includes the 10 mins allowance. (1/2 mins have been deleted))
|
Overs
|
Time
|
Overs
|
Time
|
Overs
|
Time
|
Overs
|
Time
|
Overs
|
Time
|
Overs
|
Time
|
|
35
|
2.12
|
36
|
2.16
|
37
|
2.19
|
38
|
2.23
|
39
|
2.26
|
40
|
2.30
|
|
41
|
2.33
|
42
|
2.37
|
43
|
2.40
|
44
|
2.44
|
45
|
2.47
|
46
|
2.51
|
|
47
|
2.54
|
48
|
2.58
|
49
|
3.01
|
50
|
3.05
|
51
|
3.08
|
52
|
3.12
|
|
53
|
3.15
|
54
|
3.19
|
55
|
3.22
|
56
|
3.26
|
57
|
3.29
|
58
|
3.33
|
|
59
|
3.36
|
60
|
3.40
|
61
|
3.43
|
62
|
3.47
|
63
|
3.50
|
64
|
3.54
|
|
65
|
3.57
|
66
|
4.01
|
67
|
4.04
|
68
|
4.08
|
69
|
4.11
|
70
|
4.15
|
Time
expressed in hours.minutes
h. Teas
The
cost of the teas for both sides and the match officials is to
be borne by the Home Club.
4. POINTS AWARDED
Points
will be awarded as follows:
a.
Win
20 points
Tie
15 points each
A
match shall only be deemed a tie if the scores are level after
the side batting second has lost all its available wickets.
Draw or Loss
0 points
Abandoned,
cancelled, void matches
7
points each
Where
a result is obtained in the event of the side batted first
winning, that side shall be awarded 25 points.
In
the event of a team being unable to play a match(es) on their
home ground owing to restrictions imposed because of foot and
mouth disease for example, no points shall be awarded to
either side.
The
final League position in any Division where such a
cancellation occurs shall be determined on an average points
per match basis, by dividing the total number of points gained
by a team by the number of matches not affected by foot and
mouth restrictions (for example).
N.B.
Teams shall be permitted to rearrange, on the scheduled date,
the venue of any match that would otherwise have to be
cancelled owing to foot and mouth restrictions. The new venue
must be acceptable to both teams and any additional ground
hire costs, other than those normally incurred by the home
team shall be shared equally by both Clubs. Teams are expected
to make every effort to fulfil fixtures. No postponements
shall be permitted.
b.
Bonus Points:
Batting
Bowling
total
runs scored points
total wickets taken
points
100
1
2
1
125
2
4
2
150
3
6
3
175
4
8
4
200
5
10
5
The
above table refers to the awarding of bonus points, except
that the side fielding second shall receive a fifth bowling
point at the fall of the ninth wicket. 5 bowling points shall
be awarded to a fielding team when a batting side, with fewer
than eleven players, is bowled out. The side batting first
shall be entitled to double their achieved batting bonus
points unless they win.
The
side losing may receive batting and bowling bonus points and
both sides shall receive these in the event of a drawn match.
(NB
The winning side and those involved in tied matches do not
retain bonus points.)
Each
Club's position in the League table shall be determined by
reference to the total number of points it gains.
5. PLAYERS' ELIGIBILITY
a.
1) A player shall be entitled to play for one Club only during
any season, except that a player may transfer to another Club
provided that the conditions of paragraph (2) below are met.
2)
A player may only transfer to another Club in the League if
the Secretary of the League is notified in writing of the
request by the player and by each of the two Clubs involved,
such notification by the Clubs to stipulate that there is no
objection to the transfer taking place. Players
wishing to change Clubs, both during and between seasons, must
have discharged all financial and other obligations to their
former Club(s) and/or League(s). The Secretary shall
notify the player and each Club, in writing, of the decision
to permit the transfer. The transfer will take effect after
four league weekends have passed since the player played his
last match for his original Club. No transfer shall be granted
nor take effect after 31st July in any one season. Transfers conducted in season, not withstanding whether the transferring player has appeared for the TVCL club he is leaving in either the Home Counties Premier League or TVCL, must be confirmed by completion of the League's transfer form, which must be then sent to the League Secretary. NB- electronically is acceptable.
b.
All players must be bona fide members of the Club for whom
they are playing and must:
1) have had two years
continuous residence (as defined by the Management Committee*)
in the European Union in the past four years (such four years
to have ended on the date of the first League match of the
season concerned).
For the purpose of
clarification the Management Committee defines 2 years
continuous residence in the European Union in the last 4 years
to be exactly this, with the exception that genuine
family/business visits (excluding the playing of cricket) and
vacations up to a total of 100 days per annum, commencing on 1st
May, are allowed
or,
2) have been a member of a Thames Valley
League Club or a Club merging with a Thames Valley League club for a minimum of four continuous years
except that:
i)
Any person holding a United Kingdom or European Union
passport on the date of the first League match of the season
concerned shall be an eligible player notwithstanding that
they may not have fulfilled the residence criteria in (i)
above.
ii) Any person under the age of 18 on the 31st
August in the year preceding the date of the first League
match of the season concerned will be treated as an eligible
player and once having obtained this status, will remain an
eligible player upon attaining the age of 18. Such person must
also have been resident in the UK since the 1st
January preceding the first League match of the season
concerned.
iii) Clubs may include one player per match
who does not so qualify.
No overseas player, as defined above, shall
play in any match until he has been registered with the
Secretary of the League, who will acknowledge the
registration.
No overseas player will be registered after
31st July in any one season.
c.
No player who has played first class cricket in the twelve
months preceding the start of the League season shall be
eligible to play in matches below Divisions 2A and 2B, without
the prior permission of the Management Committee.
d.
No Club may strengthen any of its teams by playing in a junior
team in the League in the last four matches of the League
season in any Division, more than two players who have each
played more than eight matches in the HCPL and other ECB
Premier League structures or a senior League (TVCL) team(s) in
that season.
e.
In Divisions 1, 2A and 2B team Lists shall be completed on
official cards provided by the TVCL and submitted to the
Umpires before the toss is made. N.B. No player may be changed
after this submission without the consent of the opposing
Captain.
f.
Any player suspended by his Club, any League or any cricketing
governing body shall not be eligible to play in TVCL matches
until such suspension is duly served.
6. NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
a.
As soon as possible after close of play, and no later than
9pm, HOME Clubs must telephone their Divisional Results
Secretaries details of the match, including any that might
have been cancelled or abandoned.
Should
the Management Committee consent to a match being played on
another day, then the result must be notified on the same
evening of the day that the match is played.
b.
ALL HOME teams must send correct results sheets, signed
by both Captains, to the respective Divisional Results
Secretary after each match so as to arrive no later than the
Thursday following the match day.
Completed
results sheets are required for all matches that are abandoned
but not for those that are cancelled altogether. (For the sake
of clarity, a CANCELLED match is one when no play whatsoever
has taken place; an ABANDONED match is where play has started
- however little - but did not finish.)
A
fine of £10 will be levied against a Club for each and every
infringement of Match Rule 6.
7. PITCH COVERS
a.
All Clubs with teams in Divisions 1, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B must
have full length pitch covers. The Management Committee or its
appointed sub committee shall have the right to visit any
Member Club with a team or teams in the aforementioned
Divisions in order to inspect the covering facilities and to
take any action that is considered appropriate.
b.
No team shall be promoted from Divisions 4A and 4B to
Divisions 3A and 3B unless they have such covers.
c.
Before the start of play the covers shall be used at the
discretion of the home Club and its groundsman to protect the
pitch. After play has
commenced full covering of the pitch may be used as and when
requested throughout any break at the request of either
Captain, and the Umpires shall be notified.
8. PITCHES
All
matches in Divisions 1 to Divisions 5A and 5B shall be played
on grass pitches. All matches below Divisions 5A and 5B shall
be played on a grass pitch unless such a pitch is unfit or
unavailable when the home team must give its opponents a
minimum of 72 hours notice, prior to the designated start time
of the match, that the match is to be played on an artificial
surface and advise if there is any restriction on the use of
normal cricket footwear. In order for a match to be played on
an artificial pitch the agreement of both Captains is
necessary.
9.
TEAM PRECEDENCE
In
the event of a Club being unable to fulfil all fixtures on any
day, the playing of the senior match(es) shall take
precedence. If this rule is breached points may be deducted
from more than one team of the Club involved.
10. ECB YOUTH MANDATES AND DIRECTIVES AND GUIDANCE
The League requires all Member Clubs to observe all youth mandates, directives and guidance issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board (in particular those listed below) and requires all Umpires, Scorers, Captains and Officials to ensure that they are enforced:
10.1 The wearing of cricket helmets/protective equipment by young players.
All young players up who have not reached their 18th birthday must wear a helmet with a faceguard when batting and when standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket. Parental consent not to wear a helmet should not be accepted in adult matches.
A young player acting as a runner must also wear a helmet even if the player he is running for is not doing so.
Players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item of protective equipment when batting together with pads and gloves and, for boys, an abdominal
Protector (box).
10.2 Fielding regulations.
The fielding regulations below must be adhered to and enforced by the umpires and captain. The umpires are empowered by these fielding regulations to stop the game immediately if a young player comes within the restricted distance.
No young player under the age of 15 years or younger shall be allowed to field closer
Than 8 yards (7.3m) from the middle stump, except behind the wicket on the offside, until the batsman has played the ball.
For players under the age of 13 years the distance is 11 yards (10m).
These minimum distances apply even if the player is wearing a helmet.
If a young player comes within the restricted distances the umpire must stop the match immediately and instruct the fielder to move back.
In addition any young player aged 16 to 18 years must wear a helmet, and for boys, an abdominal protector (box) when fielding within 6 yards (5.5m) of the bat, except behind the wicket on the offside. Players should wear the appropriate protective equipment whenever they are fielding in a position were they feel at risk.
10.3 Fast bowling directives.
Age Group Max. overs Max. overs
per spell per day
U13 4 8
U15 5 10
U17 6 18
U19 7 21
A fast bowler is defined as a bowler to whom a wicket keeper of the same age
Would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball.
Having completed a spell the bowler cannot bowl again from either end until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled from the same
end. If play is interrupted for any reason for less than 40 minutes, any spell in progress at the time of the interruption can be continued after the interruption up to the maximum number of overs per spell for the appropriate age. If the spell is not
Continued after the interruption, the bowler cannot bowl again from either end until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell before the interruption has been bowled from the same end. If the interruption is of 40 minutes or more, whether
scheduled or not, the bowler can commence a new spell immediately.
Once a bowler covered by these directives has bowled in a match he cannot exceed the maximum number of overs per day for his age even if he subsequently bowls spin. He can exceed the maximum overs per spell if bowling spin, but he can not revert to bowling fast until an equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell
have been bowled from the same end. If he bowls spin without exceeding the maximum number of overs in a spell the maximum will apply as soon as he reverts
to bowling fast
For the purposes of all of the above the age of the young player is to be based on the
age of the player at midnight on 31st August in the year preceding the current season.
10.4 Notification of Youth Players playing in adult matches
The umpires and the opposing captain must be notified of the age
Group of all players participating in an adult match who are in the
under 19 age group or younger even if the player is not a fast bowler.
This requirement also covers any young player taking the field as a substitute fielder.
10.5 Parental Consent.
Any player in the under 13 age group and younger must have explicit written consent
from a parent or guardian before participating in adult matches (all TVCL matches).
10.6 Parental and League Consent.
In addition to the parental consent described in 10.5 above Any player in the under 11 age group or younger must have their participation in adult matches (all TVCL matches) approved in writing-electronically is acceptable- by the League Management Committee or its appointed Sub Committee before they can play.
Such approval shall only be given to exceptionally talented players-normally of District standard at minimum. The League Management Committee or its appointed Sub Committee’s decision on whether to grant approval shall be final and not subject to appeal.
Last minute acquisition of under 11 or younger colts to make up numbers is not allowed.
N.B. - It is strongly recommended that a parent, guardian or other responsible adult is present whenever a player in the under 13 age group or younger plays in adult matches (all TVCL matches). This could include the captain or other identified adult player taking responsibility for the young player.
10.7 Changing and showering.
The guidance related to changing and showering (see “Safe hands-Cricket’s policy for safeguarding young people,”) must be adhered to.”
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