RULES
UMPIRES
Every match shall be Umpired and scored by one of the clubs, on a rota basis.
The League Umpiring Secretary will appoint officials for all matches and the
matches not yet already allocated officials. It shall be the responsibility
of the Umpires to ensure that the Rules are properly implemented. Should a reduction
in the overs be required, the Umpires shall notify the Players and Scorer prior
the start of the final over. Once a match has been declared reduced in overs,
it shall remain so.
SCORERS, SCORESHEETS AND SCORE REPORTING
The club providing the Umpires, shall also score all matches on a rota basis,
and that club shall be responsible for returning the completed scoresheets to
the League Official present at the Centre. (See also Penalties). The Captains
of both participating teams must check the scoresheet and each should sms the
scores, wickets lost, the result and the points division, when applicable, to
Steve Isaac on either 07793 074508 or 07990 763859, immediately after the match.
PAYMENT OF DUES
Each participating Club must submit to the Treasurer the full fees due for all
their matches by the fifth day of following calendar month. Post dated cheques
for the entire season, or part thereof, will also be accepted. All teams to
pay, by 1st July each year, a registration fee of £10, reviewable each
year. All clubs by resgistering have agreed that they will abide by the League
Rules and Code of Conduct, and abide by any decisions made by the Management
Committee (See also Penalties).
QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
(a) No player shall be eligible to play in the League if he has played in First
Class cricket during the preceding season.
(b) No player shall be eligible for selection unless he is a fully paid-up member
of the club for which he is playing.
(c) No player shall play for more than one club during the season.
(d) No player can play in a Reserve team fixture if he has played in more than
50% of the First Team fixtures at that moment during the season. However, at
the start of each season until the first team has played two matches this rule
will not apply, but any player who played in more than 50% of the previous seasons
first team games will not be able to play for that teams reserve side. The same
formula also now applies between Reserve teams and 3rd teams. No player may
play for a 3rd team if he has played in two first team matches. Where the Reserve
and 3rd teams are in the same competition then no player may play for both teams.
PROMOTION, RELEGATION & MEMBERSHIP
(a) The clubs that finish in first and second places in Divisions Two, Three,
Four and Five shall be promoted to Divisions One, Two, Three and Four respectively,
for the following season. Unless any other arrangement is agreed at the preceding
Annual General Meeting.
(b) The clubs that finish in the bottom two places in Divisions One, Two, Three
and Four shall be relegated to Divisions Two, Three, Four and Five respectively,
for the following season. Unless any other arrangement is agreed at the preceding
Annual General Meeting.
(c) No Reserve side will be able to play in a higher or the same division as
their first team. In the case of the first team being relegated into the same
division as their reserve side then the reserve side shall also be relegated
irrespective of their final League position. If the first team in relegated
into Division Five then the reserve side will have to withdraw from the competition.
Promotion will be denied to any reserve side finishing in the promotion places
if it would be they would be playing in the same division as their first team
for the following season. Promotion will then be awarded to the next highest
placed team qualified for promotion. In the event of a first team and a reserve
side finishing in such positions that they would pass each other then both teams
will remain in the same division for the following season and no other side
would be promoted or relegated in their place.
(d) Only clubs whose ground is within the boundaries of the Braintree District
Council, or within 15 miles radius of Braintree town centre, can apply for membership
of the League, (or unless agreed by the General Committee). All member clubs
must also be affiliated to their local area Cricket Board. Clubs affiliated
to the North Essex Cricket Board can also apply for membership and will be given
priority.
(e) Clubs wishing to withdraw from the League must give the League Secretary
notice prior to the following Annual General Meeting.
(f) Should two or more teams finish the season with an equal total of points,
the team with most victories will be placed highest. If still equal then the
higher runs per wicket average will take precedence.
PLAYING CONDITIONS
LAWS
The Laws of Cricket shall apply together with the experimental rules and conditions
laid down by the National Cricket Association for the preceding season, with
the exception of the following regulations.
1. Teams shall consist of a maximum of six players, any team unable to field
a team of at least four players shall be deemed to have conceded the match to
their opponents and shall be liable for all fees appertaining to that match.
2. Each match shall consist of one innings each.
3. Each innings shall consist of a maximum of 12 six-ball overs, the first innings
of each match shall not exceed 26 minutes plus one over in duration. If only
11 overs or less have been bowled in the allotted time then the side bowling
second shall only have to bowl the same number of overs as their opponents.
(See also Penalties).
4. No bowler shall bowl more than three overs. (In the case of a bowler becoming
incapacitated, the over shall be completed by a player who has not bowled 3
overs even if he bowled the previous over).
5. There shall be an interval between the innings not longer than four minutes
in duration. (See also Penalties).
6. Two batsmen shall be at the wicket at all times during the innings. In the
event of a team losing five wickets within the permitted 12 overs, the last
man shall continue batting with the fifth man out remaining at the wicket as
a runner.
7. When a batsman reaches a personal score of 25, he shall retire but may return
to the crease in the event of his side being dismissed within the 12 overs.
Retired batsmen must return in the order of their retirement. A batsman scoring
a second set of 25 runs shall retire again.
8. If in the opinion of the Umpire, negative, or short-pitched bowling becomes
persistent he shall call and signal “No Ball”. Any ball that pitches
off the mat but in front of the wicket, or any ball that pitches on the edge
of the mat in front of the wicket, shall be deemed a “No-Ball”.
So shall any delivery that reaches the batsman, in his normal guard, above waist
height without first hitting the floor, regardless of the pace of the ball.
It shall be the responsibility of the Umpire at the bowlers end to call “No-Ball”
in this instance.
9. The Laws relating to “Wides” shall be strictly interpreted by
the Umpires.
10. All batsmen and wicketkeepers must wear two leg-guards and wear two gloves
respective to their duties at all times. In the event of a wicketkeeper taking
the field without them, the Umpire shall ask him to leave the field until such
time as he is correctly attired. No fielder may wear the wicketkeeping gloves
in his absence. In the event of a batsman being incorrectly attired, the Umpire
shall ask him to leave the field and get attired correctly. The time taken shall
form part of their allotted 26 minutes, and in the event of the batsman coming
to the wicket upon the fall of a wicket, then the two minute ruling shall still
apply until such time as he takes the field correctly attired.
11. All players must wear whites. Umpires shall have the powers to dismiss from
the field any player not dressed accordingly. (Under some exceptional circumstances,
players will be permitted on the field not in whites). Only predominantly white
rubber-soled footwear shall be worn by the Players and Umpires.
12. All sides must hand a list of their players to the Scorer prior to the start
of each match. No changes will be permitted from that moment.
13. A maximum of one substitute fielder will be permitted if agreed by the opposing
captain. The substitute fielder must be the player nominated on the team sheet.
RESULTS
The team scoring the most run in its innings will be awarded 10 points, if the
scores of both teams are equal then each team will be awarded 7 points. In all
Championship matches there will be 5 bonus points available. They shall be determined
by the margin of victory. A side winning by 51 runs or more or by 6 wickets
shall receive all 5 bonus points. A side winning by 41-50 runs or by 5 wickets
shall receive 4 bonus points. A side winning by 31-40 runs or by 4 wickets shall
receive 3 bonus points. A side winning by 21-30 runs or by 3 wickets shall receive
2 bonus points. A side winning by 11-20 runs or by 2 wickets shall receive 1
bonus point. A side winning by 1-10 runs or by 1 wicket shall not receive any
bonus points. In each case the losing side shall receive the remaining bonus
points. If the scores of both teams are equal in a Cup-tie, then the team that
has lost least wickets shall be deemed to be the winner. If both scores and
wickets lost are equal then each member of the two sides shall bowl one ball
at the stumps. The side that has most players hit the stumps shall be the winners.
If still equal after six deliveries, then one player from each side shall continue
until a lead has been established from equal deliveries.
SCORING
1. A ball struck to hit the boundary wall behind the bowler without touching
the floor, ceiling, or any other wall shall count as 6 runs. If however, the
ball touches the floor but does not touch any of the other walls or ceiling
and hits the boundary wall, then it shall count as 4 runs.
2. A ball struck to hit the ceiling or one or more of the side or back walls
shall count as 1 run, even it the ball subsequently hits the boundary wall.
Two additional runs shall be scored if the batsmen complete a run. (If the ball
is struck to hit the ceiling, side or back walls and a batsman is then run out,
1 run shall be scored).
3. Two runs shall be scored of the striker plays the ball and it does not hit
a wall direct and the batsmen complete a run.
4. A bye shall be scored as 1 run if the ball hits a wall, a leg-bye shall count
as 1 run if the ball hits a wall. In each case if the batsmen complete a run,
2 additional runs shall be scored. (In the event of 3 byes or leg byes being
scored, the batsmen shall remain at the end to which they have run.)
5. Two byes or two leg-byes shall be scored if the batsmen complete a run without
the ball hitting any wall.
6. A Wide or No-Ball shall count as 1 run. A Wide delivery or No-Ball that hits
the back wall shall be called as 2 runs. Additionally in each case, if the batsmen
complete a run, 2 runs shall be scored. Any runs scored off a No-Ball shall
count to the batsman in the ordinary way.
7. An overthrow hitting any wall shall count as 1 run. An overthrow shall count
only if an attempt has been made, in the opinion of the Umpire, to run out a
batsman.
8. No runs shall be scored if a batsman is out caught off the wall or ceiling.
9. A ball lodging in netting or on any side or back wall and any ball crossing
the wall or striking the netting by the spectator galleries shall be called
a “Dead Ball”. A ball striking the ceiling or any walls and not
subsequently touched by a fielder before rebounding onto the stumps at the strikers
end shall be called a “Dead Ball”. 1 run shall be scored if a “Dead
Ball” is called in these circumstances. (The batsmen return to their original
position before the “Dead Ball” was called).
10. The Umpires decisions shall be final, but a General Committee member may
be called upon to resolve any disputes of the Rules.
11. The Penalty Run laws, introduced in the 2000 Code, shall not apply to any
match.
METHODS OF DISMISSAL
Apart from the normal methods of dismissal contained in the Laws of Cricket,
the following variations shall also apply:-
a) The batsman shall be caught out by a fielder after the ball has hit the ceiling,
the netting, or any wall except directly from the boundary wall, provided the
ball has not touched the floor.
b) The last not out batsman shall be given out if the non-striker running with
him is run out, handles the ball, or obstructs the field.
PENALTIES
1. A side contravening any of the Qualification of Players rules shall have
15 points deducted from the number of points they have accumulated.
2. A side not arriving at the appointed time for their match shall be deemed
to have conceded the match to their opponents, who shall be awarded 15 points.
Also that side shall have to bear the full cost of both sides match fees for
that match. (In the event of extremely bad weather making travelling to the
Sports Centres impossible, the Captain of that side should notify the League
Secretary as soon as possible so that alternative arrangements can be made for
the game).
3. The Umpires shall have the power to report to the League’s Committee,
clubs that they consider are deliberately time wasting or contravening Laws
3 & 5. The Committee shall have the power to fine clubs found consistently
guilty of time-wasting. The Umpires shall also have the power to report to the
League Disciplinary Committee any player warned for foul and abusive language.
The Umpires shall inform the player and the Captain of his team of this at the
time of the offence. The League Disciplinary Committee shall have the power
to suspend the player concerned for a minimum of one match, or more for persistent
offenders, from the team for which he was playing.
4. Any team failing to provide Umpires and Scorers when appointed so to do shall
have 5 points deducted from their sides total of points for each absent official.
5 Any team failing to fulfil their financial obligations to the League for the
preceding month by the 5th of the following month shall automatically have 10
points deducted from their current total.
6. All member clubs must be represented by a member of their club at the Annual
General Meeting and any Extraordinary General Meeting that may be called. No
individual may represent more than one club. Any club not represented at the
Annual General Meeting or any Extraordinary General Meeting will be fined £25,
if they cannot satisfactorily explain their absence.
CODE OF CONDUCT
1. The captains are responsible, at
all times, for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket
(as set out in the preamble to the Laws of Cricket) as well as within the Laws.
Examples of Unfair Play, which can be defined as actions taken outside the spirit
of the rules of the game to create an unfair advantage over an opponent are:-
• A fielder pretending to have the ball in order for the wicketkeeper
to run out a batter who may stray outside his crease.
• Undue noise and movement during a bowlers' delivery.
• Unnecessarily slowing down play.
2. Players and team officials must at all times accept the Umpires' decision.
Players must not show dissent at the Umpires' decision or react in a provocative
or disapproving manner towards another player or spectator.
3 Players and team officials shall not intimidate, assault or attempt to intimidate
or assault an umpire, another player or a spectator.
4. Players and team officials shall not use crude and/or abusive language (known
as "sledging") not make offensive gestures or hand signals nor deliberately
distract an opponent.
DISCIPLINARY RULES AND PROCEDURE
1. Any alleged breach of the code of conduct which a club or an umpire wishes
to bring to the attention of the League, shall be notified in writing to the
League Secretary within seven days of the incident or event occurring.
2. Upon receipt of such complaint, and as soon as reasonably practicable, the
League Committee shall consider the complaint and resolve to (i) take no action;
(ii) determine suitable disciplinary action; or (iii) refer the matter for a
disciplinary hearing, which may require a sub-committee to be convened, and
chaired by the League Chairman.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the Braintree District Indoor Cricket League shall
take place in the Clubhouse of Braintree Cricket Club on the first Friday after
the final Sunday of the Indoor Cricket League season, except when that Friday
is Good Friday, when the Annual General Meeting shall take place on the following
Tuesday. The Annual General Meeting shall start at 8.15pm. Any propositions
for membership, rule changes, or any other matter must be given to the League
Secretary at least one calendar month prior to the meeting. The Secretary shall
inform each club of the Agenda two weeks prior to the meeting. The next Annual
General Meeting shall take place on FRIDAY, 18th APRIL 2008 unless changed nearer
the time.