RULES FOR THE LEAGUE KNOCK-OUT COMPETITIONS

FOR 1st AND 2nd ELEVENS

 

1. The League shall organise Knock-out Competitions for both First and

Second XIs of all member-Clubs, irrespective of their Divisional League

status.

 

2. A player having played in League Knock-out Competitions in any one

season for one Club cannot play for another Club in the Competitions

during that season and will therefore become "Cup-tied".

 

3. A player representing a Club in the League Knock-out Competitions must

be duly registered with the League for that Club in accordance with Rules

17,18 and 19 of the Rules for 1st and 2nd Division League Championship

Competitions for both 1st and 2nd Elevens. In the event of a Club playing

an unregistered or ineligible (see Rule 4) player they will forfeit the tie.

 

4. In the case of the Second XI Knock-out Competition - a player who has

played more than 50% of his games for his Club in the First XI League

Championship up to any round, shall not be eligible for participation in the

round in question.

 

5. If either competing team is unable to field eleven players they shall be

reported to the League Management Committee or Executive Committee

at their monthly meetings by the Fixtures and Results Secretary. On

receiving a report the Committee may at their discretion fine the offending

Clubs up to a maximum of £10.00 for each offence in 1st XI matches.

 

6. The Club with home advantage will be responsible for ensuring the Club's

facilities are available to play the tie on the scheduled date(s). They shall

also contact their opponents to state a reasonable starting time before each

tie. (No later than 6.30 p.m. in the case of evening matches).

 

7. For all rounds the League Umpires Association shall where possible

appoint umpires to matches. Participating team must pay these umpires

prior to the match at the current rate for match expenses. In the later

rounds the League may repay these expenses at the discretion of the

Executive Committee.

In all matches each team must appoint a scorer for the match. Failure to

do so will incur whatever penalty the League Management Committee

have agreed for the season.

 

8. All rounds up to the semi-finals of the competitions shall be regionalised.

The Management Committee shall set the dates on which each Round shall

be played and will notify all participating Clubs of the dates at the start of

the season. However in the case of semi-final ties the participating Clubs

shall be allowed by mutual agreement to rearrange the tie(s) for the Sunday

before, or the Sunday after, the scheduled date but on no alternative

date(s). The League must be informed on any re-arrangements and in the

case of any dispute between the Clubs concerned the match shall be played

on the set date.

If any match other than the final cannot be played on the set date due to

inclement weather the Clubs concerned may by mutual agreement play the

tie on any date up to seven days before the date set for the following round.

If agreement cannot be reached the tie shall without exception be played

seven days after the original set date. If any tie is not completed (subject

to conditions in Rule 16) by seven days before the following round the

winner shall be decided by the toss of a coin or by a bowl out (ECB rules

will apply) in the case of all players and umpires being present. In the case

of inclement weather the final shall be rearranged by mutual agreement as

many times as is necessary to ensure a result under the conditions in Rule

16.

 

9. The final tie of each Competition shall be played on the same day on a

ground chosen by the Executive Committee.

 

10. Club Secretaries shall be responsible for:-

(a) Receiving notification of the initial draw for the Competitions and the

scheduled dates for the playing of each tie.

(b) If drawn with home advantage, arranging the starting times for each

tie with their opponents. (No later than 6.30 p.m. in the case of

evening matches).

(c) Arranging, when drawn at HOME, the complete fully an Official

Result Sheet, which should be posted to the League Fixtures and

Results Secretary after any match, to arrive no later than the Monday

following the scheduled date of the fixture. Failure to comply will

result in the offending Club being fined the sum of £10.00 for each

offence. Result Sheets must be submitted by "Home Clubs" even if

matches are cancelled, abandoned or if "walk-overs" are offered.

(d) If successful in any tie, ascertaining and then notifying their next

round opponents, with 48 hours of the completed match in order that

arrangements can be made for the subsequent tie to be played.

 

11. The draw for the Competitions shall be made once, at the commencement

of the season by the Management Committee. The draws shall then be

circularised to Club Secretaries together with the scheduled dates. There

shall be no independent draw for subsequent rounds as Clubs shall meet in

subsequent rounds on the basis of the first round draw with venues decided

in the accepted way to be fair to all participating clubs.

 

12. Subject to special conditions incorporated in these rules, all matches must

be played under the 'Laws of Cricket' as laid down by the M.C.C. at the

time. In addition, the League has, for all matches played under its auspices,

adopted the ECB Fast Bowling Directive, the ECB Safety Guidance on the

Wearing of Cricket Helmets by Young Players and ECB Guidelines for

Junior Players in Open Age Cricket.

 

13. All matches in the competition to be 20 overs each side, unless bowled out

earlier. Bowlers may bowl a maximum of four overs. In the event of a

bowler breaking down and being unable to complete an over, the

remaining balls shall be bowled by another bowler. Such parts of an over

shall count as a full over only in as far as the bowlers’ limits are concerned.

In a reduced overs match, or an innings that has been reduced, the number

of overs to be bowled by each bowler shall be reduced accordingly. In the

event of an innings being reduced after the start, the bowling limits shall

remain the same as when the innings commenced. A chart shall be

produced to aid umpires and captains.

 

14. Matches to start at 6.30 p.m. or at agreed earlier time. If, in the umpires

opinion either team is not ready to start at the agreed time the opposing

captain shall have the choice of batting or bowling. In the event of a late

start, the number of overs remaining shall be calculated as specified in

Rule 17. The interval between innings shall be no more than 10 minutes.

The umpires shall be the sole judges of the fitness of light for play.

 

15. If the team bowling first do not complete their 20 overs within the

stipulated time of 75 minutes, the innings shall be completed but they will

forfeit from their reply the number of overs not completed at the cut-off

time. Any over in progress when the limit time is reached shall count as

completed for calculation purposes. This rule applies in matches with

reduced overs. A chart outlining the cut-off times will be produced to aid

umpires and captains.

 

16. If the team bowling second do not complete their 20 overs within the same

stipulated time of 75 minutes, 10 runs shall be added to the total of the

team batting second for every over not completed at the cut-off time. Any

over in progress when the limit time is reached shall count as completed

for calculation purposes.

 

17. In matches where the start of play is delayed, a match of shorter duration

may be played but not less than 12 overs per side. The match must be

reduced by one over per side for every 7 minutes of delay and the cut-off

times determined with reference to Chart 2.

 

18. In matches where play is suspended the following rules shall apply:

• Where the innings of the side batting first is suspended they shall be

entitled to bat for the full number of overs available at the start of the

innings.

• If, owing to suspension(s) of play it is not possible for the side batting

second to have the opportunity to bat for the same number of overs as

the side batting first, they will bat for as many overs as are deemed

possible by the umpires provided the minimum of 12 overs are bowled

in the innings. For the purposes of this calculation umpires will

deduct one over for every 3.5 minutes of delay and adjust the time

allowed with reference to Chart 2.

• In matches curtailed by this rule and providing a natural result has not

been achieved the winners shall be the team with the higher overall

scoring rate throughout their innings.

 

19. The winners of a match not curtailed by suspensions in play shall be the

team scoring the higher number of runs or, if the scores are level, the team

that has taken most wickets. If the sides still cannot be separated the

winners shall be the team striking the most boundaries (4s and 6s) or if still

equal the side hitting most 6s or if still equal the side conceding fewest

extras (excluding leg byes) shall be the winners.

 

20. NO BALL: In the event of a foot-fault no ball a free hit shall be awarded

for the next delivery. If any type of no ball is bowled or wide called during

the delivery of the free hit, one run shall be added to the total for the

no ball or wide and another free hit shall be bowled next delivery. A

batsman may only be out off a free hit in the same ways as off a no ball

even if the free hit is called a wide.

 

21. WIDE BALL: Umpires are required to a very strict and consistent

interpretation of a wide ball in order to prevent negative bowling wide of

the wicket.

 

22. FIELDING CIRCLES: Normal fielding circles at a radius of 30 yards

centred on the two middle stumps must be clearly marked out prior to the

match. At the instant of delivery, a minimum of four fielders plus the

bowler and wicket keeper must be within the fielding circle. In the event

of an infringement the striker’s end umpire shall call and signal no ball.

 

23. Incoming and outgoing batsmen must cross on the field of play.

 

24. All difficulties or disputes arising from the operation or interpretation of

these Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee and their

decision shall be final and binding.

CHART 1 TO AID UMPIRES AND CAPTAINS

MAX OVERS PER BOWLER MAX TIME PERMITTED

(see Rule 13) TO BOWL OVERS

20 overs: 4-4-4-4-4 75 mins

19 overs: 4-4-4-4-3 71 mins

18 overs: 4-4-4-3-3 68 mins

17 overs: 4-4-3-3-3 64 mins

16 overs: 4-3-3-3-3 60 mins

15 overs: 3-3-3-3-3 56 mins

14 overs: 3-3-3-3-2 53 mins

13 overs: 3-3-3-2-2 49 mins

12 overs: 3-3-2-2-2 45 mins

 

25. BOWL-OUT RULES (see Rule 8): Five players from each side will bowl

two overarm deliveries each at a wicket (conforming to Law 8) from a

wicket pitched at a distance of 22 yards with, if practicable, bowling,

popping and return creases marked (conforming to Law 9). The side,

which bowls down the wicket (as defined in Law 28.1a) the most times,

shall be the winner. If the scores are equal, the same players will bowl one

ball each alternately to achieve a result on a ‘sudden death’ basis.

The following shall also apply in respect of bowl-outs:

• The same suitably acceptable ball (not a new one) will be used by both

teams. If this ball becomes wet, it may be changed subject to the

umpires’ approval.

• If a bowler bowls a No Ball it will count as one of the two deliveries