QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
1. All Players must be under the appropriate age limit, as at 1st September 2021.
2. A player cannot play for more than 1 team in any age group, apart from the exception under rule (5). Any team breaking this rule will be deemed to have been bowled out 0-6. Their opponents will be awarded 24 points (or 2 points in pairs cricket).
3. Any team playing an over aged player will have 24 points (pairs cricket = 2 points) deducted. PLEASE SEE RULE 6 BELOW, FOR THE EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE.
4. Once a player has played 3 games in one age group, that player can no longer play in a lower age group. This rule applies even if a player plays for more than 1 club.
5. Where a club has 2, or more, teams in an age group, in different Divisions, once a player has played 3 games in a Division, that player can no longer play in a lower Division.
6. A player can play down an age group, on the following conditions:-
(a) The player has never been involved in, or is not currently part of, a County/Development/District squad.
(b) Any player that plays 2 games in his own age group, is no longer eligible to play down.
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LAWS
The laws of cricket will apply, with the exception of the following:
1. Teams will consist of 6 players.
2. Substitute fielders are only allowed for players that incur an injury during the game. Therefore, if a team turns up 1 player short it can only field with 5 players.
3. Matches will consist of 1 innings per team, of a maximum of 12x6 ball overs.
4. No bowler may bowl more than 3 overs. In the case of a bowler, becoming incapacitated, his over must be completed by a bowler who has not completed his quota of overs.
5. The interval between innings shall not exceed 5 minutes.
6. 2 batsmen shall be at the wicket at all times during the innings. In the event of a team losing 5 wickets, within the permitted overs, the last man shall continue batting, with the 5th batsman out remaining at the wicket as a runner.
7. When a batsman reaches 25 he shall retire, but may return to the crease on the departure of his team's last batsman. Retired batsmen return to the crease in the order of their retirement. Batsmen shall retire again when they have scored an additional 25 runs.
8. All players must wear the normal accepted cricket clothing and gear. This includes having a wicketkeeper, who shall wear gloves and pads. All batsmen and wicketkeepers must wear helmets.
9. The laws relating to wides shall be strictly interpreted, especially bowling outside the leg stump. Any ball passing the batsman, down the leg side, outside the batsman's normal stance, will be called a wide.
10. A wide shall score 3 runs, plus any runs scored. No extra ball will be awarded, except in the 12th over, when the 3 will still count and an extra ball will be bowled. The batsman can be out stumped off a wide delivery.
11. Any delivery that, in the opinion of either umpire, passes the batsman, at the crease, at shoulder height or above, after pitching, will be called 'No Ball'.
Any delivery that passes the batsman above waist height, without pitching, will be called 'No Ball', taking into account where the batsman would be positioned on the crease.
In addition, any delivery that bounces more than once (*), before the popping crease, will be called 'No Ball'.
(*) In pairs cricket, 2 bounces will be allowed.
12. No Balls will score 3 runs, plus any runs scored. No extra ball will be awarded, except in the 12th over of each innings.
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RESULTS
1. The team scoring the most runs shall be the winner and receive 12 points (Bonus points will also be awarded for batting and bowling. Please see below for details).
2. In the event of equal scores, the winner shall be the team losing less wickets.
3. If the teams are still equal, then each team shall get 6 points, plus bonus points.
4. In the event of teams finishing equal on points, in the League table, then the team with the better run rate per wicket lost shall take precedence.
5. If a match has to be cancelled through severe weather, the match will be void and the final group positions will be decided on average points per game played.
6. Any team failing to turn up or cancelling a match, shall lose the game and be deemed to have been bowled out for 0. The non-offending team will be awarded 24 points.
In addition, the offending team will be fined £5 and will have to pay their match fee. Should their opponents not wish to make use of the pitch time, the offending team will have to pay their opponents match fee as well.
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BONUS POINTS SYSTEM
1. There are a maximum of 6 Bowling Bonus Points available:
1 wicket = 1 point
2 wickets = 2 points
3 wickets = 3 points
4 wickets = 4 points
5 wickets = 5 points
6 (or all available) wickets = 6 points
2. There are a maximum of 6 Batting Bonus Points available:
80 runs = 1 point
100 runs = 2 points
120 runs = 3 points
140 runs = 4 points
160 runs = 5 points
180 runs = 6 points
For the side batting second, and winning, a point will be awarded for each wicket in hand at the close. However, maximum number of batting points a side can obtain is still 6.
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SCORING
1. A ball hitting the boundary wall direct, behind the bowler, without touching the floor (even if touched by a fielder), shall score 4 runs. If it touches the floor first, it will be 6 runs.
2. A ball struck to hit any other wall, or the ceiling, shall count 1 run, even if it goes on to hit the boundary wall.
3 additional runs shall be scored if the batsmen complete a run.
3. If the ball is struck to hit the side or back wall and the batsman is run out, then 1 run shall be scored.
4. 3 runs shall be scored if the striker plays the ball, and does not hit a wall, but a run is completed.
5. Byes and Leg Byes are scored the same as ordinary runs (see 2, 3 & 4 above).
6. The penalty for a No Ball is 3 runs, plus any runs or extras that are scored. The No Ball should be put in the extras column and any runs added to the batsman's score.
7. An overthrow hitting any wall shall count as 1 additional run to the batsman, but the batsmen shall not change ends.
8. No run is scored if the batsman is out caught.
9. Any ball lodged in the netting for more than 5 seconds (in the opinion of the umpire), shall be called dead and 1 run scored, unless it has touched the ground first, in which case any runs completed by the batsmen will count.
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METHODS OF DISMISSAL
Apart from the normal laws of cricket, the following shall apply:-
1. The batsman may be caught off any wall (except if the ball hits the the boundary wall direct), or any netting or other hazards, including the ceiling, providing the ball has not touched the floor.
2. The last batsman shall be given out if the non-striker running for him is run out.
3. The batsman, or non-striker, shall be given not out if the ball rebounds from a wall, or any obstruction, and hits the stumps without being touched by a fielder.
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GENERAL
1. The batsmen shall change ends at the end of each over.
2. Any team entering the Competition and failing to fulfill its fixtures, shall be liable to pay the whole of its own match fees and those of its opponents.
3. Teams must be ready to start at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start of their game.
4. Any team not ready to start on time shall forfeit the choice of innings.
5. In addition, any team not ready to start on time, with a minimum of 4 players, will lose 1 over of their batting innings for each 5 minutes lost.
6. Rules if a player turns up after the game has started:
(a) If the side is batting first, and the player is not present to bat at No 6, the batsman should be recorded as 'Timed Out' on the scoresheet. This player is then allowed to field, but cannot bowl.
(b) If the side is fielding first, the player can come on at the end of an over, but cannot bowl until the same number of overs are bowled as the player has missed, ie if the player comes on at the end of the 4th over, that player will have to wait until the end of the 8th over before being allowed to bowl. The player can then bat.
7. Wicketkeepers can only be changed, during an innings, in exceptional circumstances, ie injury.
10. The scorecards for each game will be put on play-cricket. This will allow teams to monitor performances and games played by each player. For this to work, it is vital that First Names and Surnames are entered on the scoresheet.
