Sandwell Cricket League Rules

Sandwell District Cricket League Rules, 18 Issue April 2004 updated 04/2009

1. League Rules
   1. The Manage Committee shall organise and administer a Sunday Cricket League.
   2. The respective Leagues shall consist of Divisions made up of 6 to 8 Clubs. This is at the discretion of the Management Committee.
   3. Matches will be arranged to be played on a Home and Away fixtures between each Member Clubs within its respective Divisions.
2. Knockout Cup/ Shield Competition
   1. This is a single tie 40 over's knockout competition. The draws will be made from Clubs of both divisions.
   2. All Clubs will compete for the Cup. Clubs knocked out in the first round will be entered into the Shield Competition. After the second round only the winning Clubs will continue with the competition.
   3. The League will provide balls, Umpires and Pitches for the each divisional final of the Knockout Cup/Shield Competition free of charge.
   4. The cup/shield competition is only open to those players who are registered to play in the league via their Clubs.
   5. All players taking part in the semi-finals of the Cup/Shield must have played in at least one of the prior rounds.
   6. All players taking part in the finals of the Cup/Shield must have play in two of the two prior rounds.
   7. Clubs taking part in the finals must submit list of all players to the league for verification against the list of registered players. No players may take part if their identification has not been checked by the League.
3. Registration
   1. All Clubs will be issued with Registration Forms on the Presentation Evening these must be completed and returned to the League Secretary by the end of December.
4. Playing Members
   1. Only bona fide members of Clubs shall be eligible to play in a League or Cup Match.
   2. Each Member Clubs shall supply to the Management Committee a list of playing members at least 7 days prior to their first league match. Subsequent players must be registered at least 7 days before playing.
   3. A Player formally suspended from any other Club or League shall be ineligible to play in any Sandwell and District Cricket League organized matches for a period of that suspension.
   4. All players taking part in any match MUST BE in full WHITES.
   5. All players are to reframe from SMOKING on the pitch after the toss.
   6. Any player caught with using or Smoking DRUGS will be banned from the league.
   7. No mobile phone are permitted on the pitch
5. Matches
   1. Sunday matches are to be 40 six ball over?s. Evening matches are to be 15 eight ball over?s.
   2. A team shall be considered not ready to commence play unless at least 7 players in the team are ready to take part in the match at scheduled start of play. Every 5 minutes lost by the offending team will forfeit an over.
   3. If a Club is not ready to start at 2.00 pm, then the offending Club shall be given up till 2.30 pm. If they are not ready to commence by 2.30 pm they shall forfeit the match. The offending Club will have to pay all expenses.
   4. Every attempt should be made by all officials and players to play a match to a finish.
   5. The Umpires fees are ?24.00 Sunday matches payable as soon as the toss has taken place. Due to inclement weather, or unsuitable pitch, providing the umpire has attended, he will receive half fee.
   6. Imaginary and parallel lines drawn down the pitch 1 foot either side of the middle stump.
6. Fixtures
   1. Each Member Club must fulfill its fixtures on such dates and at such venues determined by the Fixture Secretary.
   2. In the event of a fixture being unfulfilled for reasons other than bad weather, the Management Committee may award the match to the non-offending Club. The non-offending Club shall be allocated 20 points and the offending Club 0 points. Further, the offending Club will have to pay all out of pocket expenses of the non-offending Club and the Match Umpire.
   3. The both teams must check players? ID?s prior to the starting of the game, any player not having their ID Card will not be eligible to play.
7. Match Requirements
   1. A new ball of the grade approved by the Management Committee and supplied by the League should be provided by both teams.
   2. All Clubs to split the cost evenly irrespective of whether its a home or away game.
   3. Each team must provide a scorer. Both scorers are to sit together and com-pare scores at the end of each over.
   4. All clubs must provide some means of displaying the score which should be visible from the batting crease. Failure to comply will result in the deduction of 2 penalty points.
   5. All clubs must provide boundary markers and make sure the boundary is visible from the batting crease. Failure to do so will result in a deduction of 2 points.
   6. The maximum change over time of 15 minutes is allowed between innings during Sunday matches, 10 minutes during evening matches.
   7. All teams playing home require boundary markers. Failure to do so will result In a 10 point deduction and or a £15.00 fine.
8. Bowling
   1. No bowler may bowl more than 8 six ball overs in a 40 over game. No bowler may bowl more than 3 eight ball overs in a 15 over game.
   2. Bowlers under 16 years old may bowl 2 overs, have a break before bowling remaining over?s.
   3. Bowlers aged between 16-17 may bowl 4 overs, have a break before continuing the remaining over?s.
   4. Bowlers between 18-19 may bowl 6 overs, have a break before bowling the one over.
   5. The protected area' on the pitch, which must be protected from damage by players, shall be regarded as area contained by an imaginary line 5 feet from the popping crease and parallel to it, and within two minutes.
   6. Wide Ball
      1. Umpires are instructed to apply a consistent interpretation in regard to this Law in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket or over the Striker's head. If the ball passes either side of the wicket or over the striker's head, sufficiently wide to make it virtually impossible for the striker to play a 'normal cricket stroke' both from where he is standing and from where he should normally be standing at the crease, the Bowler's end Umpire shall call and signal 'Wide Ball'.
   7. Short pitched balls
      1. If a short pitched ball passes or would have passed over shoulder height of the striker standing upright at the crease, in the first instance, the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall indicate to the bowler and the striker that he is allowed one such delivery per batsman per over. If the bowler repeats the action, the Umpire shall call and signal 'No Ball' and invoke the procedure as laid down in Law 42.7. Law 42.6 (a) (ii) shall not apply.
      2. If either batsman causes avoidable damage to the protected area, the umpire at the bowlers end shall caution the batsman, inform his colleague and the fielding captain. If this caution is ineffective, the umpire shall give the batsman a final warning and repeat the above procedure. Should these warnings be ineffective, the umpire shall intervene without appeal by calling a 'Dead Ball' as soon as he considers that there is no chance of a dismissal, disallow any runs from the delivery and return the batsman to their original end. At the next interval, the batting captain shall be informed of the action taken. A report shall be made to the executive of the batting side and to the Administer. Law 42.14 shall not apply.
9. Infringement of Rules
   1. A member Club which, in the opinion of the Management Committee, infringes any of the Rules of the League or the Laws of Cricket (including the spirit thereof) shall have such points deducted, be fined, expelled or otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee shall determine.
10. Alteration of Rules
    1. These Rules shall only be amended by an Extraordinary resolution Passed By the management committee.
11. Awards and Presentations
    1. Best batting and bowling awards apply to League games only.
    2. Batting award for most runs scored.
    3. The Annual Award for the most sporting team will be voted for by the Umpires (each division).
    4. Annual presentation, a minimum of 11 tickets, price to be decided by the Committee must be paid for by all the clubs whether used or not.
    5. All Clubs are to be represented at the presentation evening.
    6. All Clubs to be awarded trophies for their performances must be represented in full.
    7. All Clubs will be expected to participate on presentation evening.
12. Abandoned and Interrupted Matches
    1. If a match is not started due to unfavorable weather or an unsuitable pitch and in the absence of a neutral umpire the Captains confer, if the game is mutually abandoned 10 points shall be awarded to both teams. If however a match is not played due to a Parks Department error, it may be rearranged ONLY at the discretion of the League and provided proof of the error has been obtained.
    2. In the event of inclement weather Sunday matches must be 20 six ball overs minimum.This must be mutually agreed by both Captains and Umpire before the game commences.
    3. In the event of bad weather after the commencement of the game, once the club batting second has reached 20 overs the average of that many overs will be used to determine the winning club. Below 20 overs regardless of runs or overs bowled both clubs will be awarded 10 points plus cured bonus points. In the event of cup/shield matches a result must be reached, be it on run rate of multiples of 10 and plus overs. This will be determined by the club batting second, a compression of their runs and overs to be taken into account, when working out a result. In the event of a non start, the result will be placing one stump and both clubs bowel alternately, the club with most hits will win or if that?s not possible the result will be determined on a toss of a coin (best of three)
    4. In matches with delayed or interrupted start due to bad weather, Each period of 7 minutes or part thereof lost during each stoppage of the innings of the side batting first shall count as 1 over per side to be deducted from the allowed 40 overs. The deduction of 1 over for each 31/2 minutes period or part thereof lost time shall be made in the second innings and at the end of any interruption either side may elect to continue the match regardless of weather there is time 20 overs to be bowled or not, but having elected to continue cannot subsequently change its decisions or its innings.
    5. Persistent time wasting by any team should be reported to the League for necessary action.
    6. A player can only play for one club affiliated to the League each season.
    7. All fixtures to be arranged pre-season, confirmed by the League Secretary, and played on the agreed date.
13. Umpires
    1. Umpiring arrangement shall be agreed by the Management Committee and each Club informed when their details are available. Umpires appointed by the Management Committee shall receive and attendance fee the amount of which shall be settled by the Management Committee before the start of the season. The fee shall be paid equally by both Clubs on completion of toss.
    2. Neutral Umpires, when available are in sole charge of the game.
    3. Due to inclement weather, or unsuitable pitch, providing the umpire has attended, he will receive half fee.
    4. Where a team is not ready to take the field by 2.00 pm for league and cup games the choice of innings will be awarded to the opposing club.
    5. If an Umpire has cause for complaint, he or she must do so within 72 hours in writing to the league secretary and under NO circumstances the Umpire should conifer with any of the clubs other than the league secretary.
    6. Umpire must ensure that both scores sit together.
    7. In cup rounds please note the score at the end of 10 overs and every 10th over thereafter.
    8. Score books must be checked at the end of each innings and score books must be signed by the Umpire. Both batting and bowling analysis must be checked. Any mistakes must be put right by the Captain in full view of the Umpire before the next innings.
    9. Players should be aware that umpires will suspend play if condition become dangerous, and that they have authority in Law to do so.
    10. An Umpire has the power to order a player off the field for misconduct.
14. Promotion and Relegation
    1. At the conclusion of the season the top two teams of the each Division shall be promoted to the next highest Division. The two teams at the bottom of the each Division will be relegated to the next lower Division.
15. Disciplinary Committee
    1. For all areas of the League activities, the Disciplinary Committee shall have full power to inflict such penalties on both Clubs and Players as they shall see fit. Their decision shall be final and by way of example, and not definition, such penalties may either be a fine, deduction of points, suspension or expulsion from the League or any combination of them, and the amount of any fine, the number of points deducted or period of suspension shall be final.
    2. The Player and/or the Secretary of the club against whom any complaint has been made shall be notified in writing of the complaint and shall be advised that in the event of the complaint being sustained the Committee may act in reliance of its power as contained in this rule:-
    3. Shall be notified of the date, place and the time when the Committee shall consider the complaint and shall be entitled to attend and listen to all evidence given in support of the complaint, to question any person giving any such evidence, to call evidence on behalf of and to address the Committee and comment on all points raised. Any team having a complaint or grievance must notify the League Secretary and the other team concerned in writing at least seven days prior to the next League meeting, so that the matter can be discussed and the Committee will decide the issue.
16. Match Results
    1. The results of each League/Cup Match are to be telephoned/text or email by the winning team to the League Secretary between 8.30 pm -10.30 pm on day of match, failure to comply will result in 10 points deducted and fined £5.00.
17. Fines
    1. Non attendance at AGM ::: £15.00
    2. Non attendance to general league Meetings ::: £10.00
    3. Non attendance at fixture Meeting ::: £15.00
    4. Failure to phone in results ::: £5.00
    5. Failure to submit match report form on time ::: £5.00
    6. Failure to complete match report properly ::: £5.00
    7. Failure to fulfill a fixture deduction of 10 points plus pitch and umpire cost ::: £30.00
    8. Walking off or refusing to complete a match ::: (Unlimited)
    9. Abusing umpire or another player verbally or physically ::: (Unlimited)
    10. Failure to attend Disciplinary Hearing ::: (Unlimited)
18. Point Scheme
    1. Points will be awarded as follows
       1. Win 20 points plus extra bonus points ( See 1C)
       2. Tie 10 points plus a accrued bonus batting / bowling points ( See 1a and 1b)
       3. Loss no points plus accrued bonus batting / bowling points (See 1a and 1b)
    2. Bonus Batting Points
       1. One batting point will be awarded for each completed 25 runs over and above 50 runs scored in any innings. e.g. 75 runs - 1 pt, 100 - 2 pts, 125 - 3 pts, 150 - 4 pts, 175 - 5 pts a maximum of 10 points will be awarded to any club scoring 200 plus runs.
       2. The team batting second can claim the 10 bonus points if they are able to score the runs at 6 runs per over. Eg; team batting first scores 125 runs. Team batting second must chase the score in 125 balls or 20.5 over's.
    3. Bonus Bowling Points
       1. One bowling point will be awarded for every 2 wicket taken; a maximum of 5 points will be awarded for 10 wickets taken. In the case of bowling points, where Clubs batting are below strength, the maximum bowling points will be awarded to the bowling side when the batting side is all out.
    4. EXTRA BONUS POINTS
       1. An extra 5 bonus points will be awarded for any team who bowl out the opposition for under 50 runs. This will be an addition to the 20 pts given for winning the match.
19. Match Rules
    1. Each team must provide scorer. Both scorers are to sit together and compare scores at the end of each over.
    2. All clubs must provide some means of displaying the score which should be visible from the batting crease. Failure to comply should be reported to the Committee for any necessary action to be taken.
    3. One neutral umpire for all league and cup matches will be required, the cost to be shared by both teams except for the final of the Cup/Shield which will be covered by the League.
    4. The League Champions shall be the Club with the highest number of points; the Club with the highest number of wins shall be champions. Failing a definite decision the team with the greatest number of runs per wicket throughout the season will be the winner. The same principle applies to determine relegation.
20. Disputes
    1. In all disputes the decision of the Management Committee shall be final provided that in its discretion the Management Committee May refer any dispute to the Sandwell and District League's Disciplinary committee.