MATCH RULES

 

 

1.

All Member Clubs must provide the League Secretary with a complete list of their North Devon League fixtures for the forthcoming season prior to the 1stof March each year.

All divisional fixtures will be published by the league before the start of the season

 

 

1a.

No North Devon League fixtures will be permitted to take place after the final Sun September each year. In addition those clubs who enter the leagues own League Cup competition must keep the last two Suns in September free of any league fixtures to accommodate the final and its reserve date,

 

 

2

Clubs may re-arrange fixtures, provided that:

 

 

2a

The rearrangement is made at least 7 days prior to the original date of the fixture;

 

 

2b

Both clubs agree to the rearrangement;

 

 

2c

A new date is agreed (Note: Fixtures cannot just be postponed}

 

 

2d

The League Secretary, the relevant Results Secretary and - when appropriate - the Umpires Appointments Officer are informed as soon as the clubs have agreed to the rearrangement.

If the clubs cannot agree a new date for the fixture, then it must take place on the date originally agreed.

 

 

3.

The Home Club shall be responsible for ensuring that the results of matches (this includes both cancelled and abandoned games) are delivered to the Divisional Results Secretary in full on the Result Sheet provided no later than the Wednesday following the game. Failure to comply may at the discretion of the Leagues Management Committee result in points being deducted from the responsible club.

 

 

CONCERNING PLAYER’S ELIGIBILITY, REGISTRATION and TRANSFERS

 

 

4.

Each club in membership of the League must REGISTER their players

With the League Secretary prior to them playing in a North Devon League game.

 

 

4a

Registration will be on rolling or continual basis, meaning that once initial registration has taken place a player will be deemed to be a Registered Player for a club until such times as a Transfer takes place or an official written request is received by the Secretary requesting that a player be removed from a clubs list of registered players

 

 

4b

Registration must be on the leagues prescribed form which must be completed in full and can be emailed, posted or hand delivered to the Secretary

 

 

4c

The Secretary will send to each member club by the 28th of February each year a full list of their registered players as held by the league.

 

 

4d

Additions to a clubs registered players must be made to the Secretary as described in 4b above. Applications can be made at any time however during the season they must be made by 10am on the Sunday preceding a game should you wish the player to be included in a team or teams scheduled to play that weekend. Subject to acknowledgement

 

 

4e

Match day registration of a player or players is permitted by completing in full the leagues prescribed registration form which must then be signed by both captains of the day. The registration from must be returned to the League Secretary following the match.

 

 

4f

For the sake of clarity registering a player means the official notification to the Secretary of a player who you intend to play in a league game who has NOT played for or is NOT a registered player for any other member club in the league - if they have or are, then a Transfer (see 4i) must be carried out. It is important to note that care must be taken to ensure a player was not registered with another club within the league in a previous season.

 

 

4g

It is the responsibility of each club to check and monitor their list of registered players. It is also the clubs duty to inform the Secretary immediately of any errors which may arise.

 

 

4h

The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player who is found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from participating in all games in the League

 

 

4i

Applications by a player for TRANSFER must be made on the leagues prescribed form and faxed, posted or hand delivered to the League Secretary. The form will require the consent of the club the player is leaving (this consent cannot be withheld unreasonably) and the application to be a Registered Player with the club the player wishes to join. must be made by 10am on the Sunday preceding a game

 Subject to acknowledgement

 

 

Teams guilty of breaching any of the rules in paragraphs 4j to 4n could forfeit all points gained from such matches and maximum points may be awarded to opponents

 

 

4j

Any young cricketer who is under 13* years old must have written parental consent on their Registration Form. Anyone under 12* years old may only register for the League if they are a member of a County Squad. Players under 11* must not be registered.

(* for the purposes of this rule it is their age on 1st September in the year preceding the season).

It is the clubs responsibility to comply with this rule which matches the ECB directive on young player playing in open age cricket

 

 

4k

No team may play anyone who has not been properly registered.

 

 

4l

Players shall not play for more than one Member Club in either the North Devon League or North Devon League Cup without the prior agreement of the League Management Committee.

 

 

4m

No professional cricketer may play in the League unless that player was a bona fide amateur member of a North Devon League Club(s) for a period of at least three years before turning professional and no Club may field a Player they are paying to play cricket.

 

 

If a club believes that this rule has been breached, it should notify the Secretary in writing within 7 days identifying the player(s) concerned. The notification must include also their reason(s) for reporting it and proof of any breach. The player's status will then be determined by the League Management Committee whose decision shall be final.

 

 

4n

No team may play more than one player in a League game who is not an EU national.

 

 

 

CONCERNING MATCH PROCEDURE 

 

 

5.

In Division 1and 2 matches only, the North Devon Branch of the Devon Association of Cricket Officials will appoint Umpires. Each team will supply a Scorer. In all other divisions, each team will be expected to supply an Umpire and a Scorer (both to be in possession of a current set of League Rules).

 

 

6.

 All games shall commence no later than 1.30pm

 

 

7.

Teams must consist of a minimum of eight players. Any team unable to reach this minimum number shall be deemed to have failed to raise a side and Match Rules 10, 10a and 10b will apply. 

 

 

8.

Teams not able to commence at the stated time shall forfeit the toss.

 

 

9.

Each team shall supply a match ball stamped with the league logo.

 

 

9a

Each team must provide a spare ball in good condition; when practical the league logo should be visible on these spare balls however when this is impossible due to the age of the ball it should be confirmed that the ball is of the make and type stipulated by the league.

 

 

9b

In 1st and 2nd Division games only, there is no requirement for the away side to provide a spare ball. In these Divisions, the responsibility for spare balls rests solely with the home side, who must provide a minimum of three used balls of the requisite type and condition. The aforesaid balls will be subject to the approval of the umpires, The selection of a spare ball from this stock will, when the ball previously in use is lost or damaged, be chosen by the umpires.

 

 

9c

Each innings MUST COMMENCE with the match ball supplied by the fielding side. A Captain may request to see the match ball and spare(s) provided by his opponents when they are lodged with the umpires prior to the toss.

 

 

10.

Any Club, unable to honour a fixture through inability to raise a team shall forfeit maximum points to opponents. In addition 2 (two) percentage points will be deducted from the clubs points average for each offence. For the sake of clarity this means that should the guilty team’s point’s average for the season be 14.50, the applied penalty will mean it would become 12.50. A second offence would mean reduction to 10.50 and so on.

Any Club with more than one team in the League, if unable to honour a fixture through its inability to raise a team shall, if they have multiple games on that day, cancel the game in the lowest division. In this instance the result points awarded in the game played will be in compliance with match rule 14 however the deduction of average points will be 1 (one) percentage point from each of the teams the offending club were scheduled to play on the day.

10a

Should an away or visiting team be unable to honour a fixture due to its inability to field a team, they will be responsible for both teams teas. The amount being the rate charged by the home club for that season, which shall be paid to the home club within 14 days of the cancellation of the game. .

 

10b

During a season any team which falls to fulfil 2 (two) or more of its published league fixtures due to their inability to raise a team will automatically be require to seek re-election to the league at the next AGM

 

 

11.

The normal duration of play shall be 40 Overs per side, with an interval of 30 minutes for tea between innings. If the first innings is concluded before a 3pm, tea shall be taken at 3.30pm or after 40 minutes, whichever is the later. In games affected by weather, tea may be taken at a time agreed by both Captains and Umpires.

11a

Under no circumstances is the side batting second permitted to declare their innings closed. A side guilty of such an act will be adjudged to have forfeited the game.

 

11b

Apart from those games which have independent umpires any abandonment of a game once it has started must be with the mutual consent of both captains. Failure to agree by default means the game must be played to a natural conclusion.

 

 

12.

Cost of teas to be LIMITED to a MAXIMUM of £39 per TEAM.

 

 

13.

 

No bowler shall bowl more than 8 Overs. In the event of a bowler attempting to exceed the 8 Over limitation, the scorers shall immediately notify the umpires or captains

13a

Where two or more bowlers share an over, it will count as a complete over for each bowler concerned.

 

 

14.

Points awarded shall be:

 

 

14a

The winners will receive 20 point

 

 

14b

If the losers bat second, they will receive the following points:

2 points if they have attained 50% of the winners total score,

4 points if they have attained 60% of the winners total score,

6 points if they have attained 70% of the winners total score,

8 points if they have attained 80% of the winners total score,

10 points if they have attained 90% of the winners total score.

 

 

14c

If the losers field second, they will receive the following points:

1 point for each wicket taken, with an additional point for taking the 9th wicket (e.g. 8 wickets = 8 points, 9 wickets = 10 points).

 

 

14d

In a match which is tied, both sides receive 15 points irrespective of the number of wickets that have fallen

 

 

14e

Since all points awarded are “result points”, it follows that no points can be awarded for cancelled or abandoned games

 

 

14f

In abandoned games, all cricket played prior to the abandonment must be returned on the score sheets in full and shall count for the purposes of batting and bowling averages, record totals, highest wicket partnerships, etc

 

 

14g

Promotion and Relegation shall be decided on an “average points per Match” basis (as will the league tables throughout the season). This is calculated by dividing the total points obtained by the number of completed matches, expressed to two decimal points.

 

 

      CONCERNING INTERRUPTIONS BY WEATHER

 

 

15.

If weather or bad light interrupts play during the first innings, one over shall be deducted from each team’s maximum possible Over for each complete seven minutes lost. Thus, if 19 minutes were lost on first innings, 37 Over would become each team’s maximum. 

 

 

16.

If weather or bad light interrupts play during the second innings, every effort shall be made to recommence play and complete the match. If this is impossible, captains may agree to abandon the match or Rule 11b shall apply

 

 

 

17.

The minimum possible number of Over which can constitute a match shall be 15 Over per side.

 

 

18

 

The judges of the fitness of the ground, weather and light shall be the Umpires where appointed by the League. If at any time the umpires together agree that the conditions of ground, weather or light, or any other circumstances are dangerous or unreasonable, they shall immediately suspend play, or not allow play to start or to recommence.

 

 

18a

No game shall commence later than three hours after the scheduled starting time.

 

 

18b

No fixture shall on account of weather or condition of ground, be cancelled before 10.30am on the day of the game. Should the away team be unhappy with a proposal from the home team to cancel, they retain the right to travel in order to reconsider the fitness of the ground at the allotted start time. Should the away team invoke the right to travel, and the game ultimately be cancelled without any play, they will be responsible for any costs incurred by the home team, including the home team’s payment to officials at the rate set by the league for that season.

 

 

18c

Covering of Wickets: Where covers are available, pitches may be covered before all matches at the discretion of the home team. They should also be used under the supervision of the Umpires, where conditions have interfered with play during a game.

 

 

 

CONCERNING WIDES

 

 

19.

Wide Ball: If the ball passes either side of the wicket sufficiently wide to make it virtually impossible for the striker to play a normal stroke from where he is standing and from where he should normally be standing at the crease, the Umpire shall call and signal a wide. The exception being in Division 1and 2, where Umpires should be instructed to apply a much stricter approach to leg – side wides: All balls passing down leg side outside the batsman shall be called `wide’. 

 

 

       CONCERNING  DISCIPLINE and STANDARDS

 

 

20.

All disciplinary matters, in any way connected with the League or the Conduct of matches or tournaments played under the auspices of the League shall be dealt with in accordance with the Devon Cricket Board Disciplinary Group Rules which shall be deemed to be part of these Rules and which shall prevail over any of the League’s Rules. 

 

 

20a

The ECB Disciplinary Rules provide that the banning of player for a period of more than four weeks has to be notified to the ECB, details of such bans being circulated to all Member Boards thus preventing the player(s) concerned from playing in any cricket under the auspices of the ECB.

 

 

21.

All member clubs of the North Devon Cricket League (whatever division) are expected to provide both playing and changing facilities which are fit for purpose and in particular that:

a) The pitch is correctly prepared and safe.

b) The outfield is cut to reasonable standards.

c) The pitch and Boundaries are correctly marked.

d) The changing facilities for players are both accessible and clean.

e) The facilities provided for umpires in Division One and Two matches are also accessible and clean.

f) The means of displaying the score is provided.

The League appreciate that grounds and facilities will vary from club to club and it does not apply any criteria for them – however the above are a minimum standard of playing conditions under which all games should be played and to which all clubs are expected to adhere.

 

 

22.

Apart from any special regulations contained in these rules, the MCC Laws of Cricket Code 2000 – 5th Edition 2013 and the Current Code shall apply.