Devon Cricket Board - Newton Abbot T20 rules & regulations

THE NEWTON ABBOT & DISTRICT TWENTY/20 CUP COMPETITION

1. TITLE. The title of the competition shall be: THE NEWTON ABBOT & DISTRICT TWENTY/20 CUP COMPETITION

2. COMPETITION STRUCTURE & FIXTURES.

The competition will be organized on a League basis, with 6 teams in the league. The teams will play each other once either home or away.

For 2010, the first two rounds of matches will take place on Wednesdays May 19^th & 26^th .

Wednesday June 2^nd will be used for any matches not played ONLY DUE TO RAIN!

The last 3 rounds will be played on Wednesdays June 9^th, 16^th & 23^rd June 30^th or even July 7^th will be used for any matches not played ONLY DUE TO RAIN.

Sunday (Mornings) have been mentioned as a possibility by a couple of teams as to a possibility of playing some matches. This is an option, however, any matches not played on the Wednesday can be played on any evening & Sunday morning following the initial date set for the match and MUST be completed before the next week's round of matches. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE WITH THE MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF BOTH TEAMS.

The competition Secretary must be advised by both teams involved in any changes of day prior to the match day/date originally Scheduled.

Should the match be unable to be played either on the original day/date or the reserve day/date because of bad weather, then each team will receive 1 point each.

Should any Club be unable to raise a team to play then their opponents will receive two points.

The top team in the league will be the Champions.

The Champions of the Newton Abbot Competition will represent the Competition in the Devon Finals.

3. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS.

A cricketer shall only be eligible to play for a Club in the competition if he is a bona-fide member of that Club.

4. CLUB CONTACT Should you need to contact your opponents it is suggested that contact should be made using the Devon Cricket League handbook.

5. CRICKET BALLS.

The Home side shall provide one new Grade ‘A’ Special League.

6. NON-TURF PITCHES: The use of artificial pitches will not be permitted in this Competition.

7. UMPIRES: The Competition Secretary will arrange with the local DACO co-ordinator on the appointment of all umpires for all matches.

Each team will be responsible for the payment of umpires before the commencement of each match. (currently £15 per Umpire)

A team sheet should also be presented to the umpires before the commencement of the match.

8. SCORER: Each Club must provide a scorer for the match.

9. THE SCORE BOARD.

(a) It is preferred that the passage of overs be indicated by a reducing number.

(b) The total number of runs scored must be updated on a ball-by-ball basis.

10. THE RESULT. The result will be determined strictly in accordance with the Playing Regulations item.3.

(See below), with which the Captains and Umpires must be fully conversant.

11. FINAL STANDINGS IN THE LEAGUE

The top team of the League with the highest aggregate of points gained will be the “Champions” Should the top two sides in the League be equal on points, their final positions will be decided by:

(a) Most wins

(b) If still equal, the result of the match between the two top teams shall decide the winner.

12. THE RESULT. The winning side shall be responsible for notifying the result within 48 hours of the match taking place – failure to do so will result in the winning club being disqualified from the competition. The result should be E-mailed (with significant scores/wickets etc) to the competition organizer within 24 hours of the completion of the match. This is most important as the local press wish to publicise this information and report on how the competition is progressing

13. THE PLAYING REGULATIONS.

The playing regulations for the competition shall apply without exception. (See below)

14. CODE OF CONDUCT AND SPIRIT OF CRICKET

1 The ECB is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct. This Code of Conduct incorporates the Spirit of

Cricket, as set out below. It applies to all matches played under the auspices of the ECB and may be applied to cricket in general.

2 The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket as well as within the Laws.

3 Players and team officials must at all times accept the umpire’s decision. Players must not show dissent at the umpire’s decision or react

in a provocative or disapproving manner towards an umpire at any time.

4 Players and team officials shall not intimidate, assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an umpire, another player or a spectator.

5 Players and team officials shall not use crude and/or abusive language (known as “sledging”) nor make offensive gestures or hand

signals nor deliberately distract an opponent.

6 Players and team officials shall not make racially abusive comments nor indulge in racially abusive actions against fellow players,

officials, members and supporters. Clubs must operate an active open door membership policy whilst respecting player qualification

regulations and welcome players/members irrespective of ethnic origin.

7 Players and team officials shall not use or in any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal drugs.

8 Clubs must take adequate steps to ensure the good behaviour of their members and supporters towards players and umpires.

The Spirit of Cricket

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws, but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.

There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team’s conduct firmly on the captain.

Responsibility of captains

The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.

Player’s conduct

In the event that any player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decisions of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player’s captain, and instruct the latter to take action.

2 Fair and unfair play

According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play. The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.

3 The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:

• Time wasting

• Damaging the pitch

• Dangerous or unfair bowling

• Tampering with the ball

• Any other action that they consider to be unfair

4 The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:

• Your opponents

• Your own captain and team

• The role of the umpires

• The game’s traditional values

5 It is against the Spirit of the Game:

• To dispute an umpire’s decision by word, action or gesture

• To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire

• To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:

(a) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out

(b) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing

(c) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the

guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side

6 Violence

There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.

7 Players

Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important

contribution to this.

TWENTY/20 CUP PLAYING REGULATIONS

The Current Official MCC Laws of Cricket shall apply, with the following exceptions

COMMENCEMENT OF MATCH All matches to commence at 6.00pm and not later than 6.15pm

2. LENGTH OF INNINGS. Each side shall bat for twenty 6 – ball overs unless all out earlier

2.1. If, during the first innings, weather or light delays or causes suspension of play for six minutes or more, two overs shall be deducted from the match total for every complete six minutes play lost. The side batting first may use no more than 50% of the revised total of overs available, including those already bowled. The umpires shall be solely responsible for calculating the revised number of overs to be played and for notifying the decision immediately to all concerned.

No match may start after 7.00 p.m.

2.2. The side batting second shall have the opportunity to bat for the same number of overs as were

available to the side batting first, irrespective of interruption of play for whatever reason.

Ideally the length of innings should not exceed one hour 15 minutes, however as some clubs have small grounds, umpires are asked to show

discretion and common sense with this rule.

3. THE RESULT. Each side must have faced (or had the opportunity to face) 5 overs in order to constitute a match In matches in which both teams have had an opportunity of batting the team scoring the higher number of runs shall be the winner. If the scores are level the following procedure will apply:

i. The side losing the least number of wickets shall be the winner:

ii. If these are equal, the side hitting the most sixes will be the winner:

iii. If again these are equal, the side hitting the most fours will be the winner:

iv. If this fails to produce a clear result, the match will be decided by a “bowl out”

v. If, through abandonment of the match for whatever reason, then providing at least five overs have been completed by each side the side scoring the most number of runs. If the scores are then level i. to iv. apply.

2 Points for a win, 1 Point for a match not played due to bad weather. (the 1 point is only awarded if the match cannot be played on the days & dates specified* and only DUE TO BAD WEATHER!!)

4. NUMBER OF OVERS PER BOWLER.

No bowler shall bowl more than 4 overs in an innings. 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 part of an over will count as a full over only in so far as each bowler’s limit is concerned.

The bowlers run up to be no more than 15 metres. To assist the umpires this is to be marked on the ground by some method. A bowler will be penalized for taking more than 15 metres, as a run-up to the wicket, and the square leg umpire shall call and signal ‘no-ball’.

5. LAW.14 - DECLARATIONS.

The captain of the batting side may not declare his innings closed at any time during the course of the match.

6. WIDES. Umpires are instructed to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation in regard to these Laws in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket. Criteria to be used shall be those determined by the DCL and published in the current League Handbook. Short pitched bowling One short pitched ball is allowed per over, but must pass below the head of the batsman in normal stance.

7. FREE HIT This will apply for front foot no balls only, however, no field changes maybe made for the free hit. Even if batters crossed and a left hand/right hand combination means that there are too many fielders on the leg side. This is to keep the game moving

8. INCOMING BATSMAN: “The incoming batsman is expected to be ready to make his way to the wicket immediately a wicket falls,

and is expected to pass the outgoing batsman on the field of play”

9. RESTRICTION ON PLACEMENT OF FIELDSMEN. For the first six overs at the instant of delivery a minimum of 7 fielders (plus the bowler and the wicketkeeper) must be within an area bounded by two semi-circles centered on each middle stump (each with a radius of 30 yards) and joined by a parallel line on each side of the pitch. For the remaining 14 overs at the instant of delivery a minimum of four fieldsmen (plus the bowler and the wicket-keeper) must be within an area bounded by two semi-circles n the event of an infringement, the square leg Umpire shall call and signal ‘No Ball’. The fielding circle should be marked by painted white ‘dots’ at 5-yard intervals, each ‘dot’ to be covered by a plastic or rubber (not metal) disc measuring seven inches in diameter.

10. AWARDS. The Twenty/20 Cup will be presented to the winning captain, at the end of the last round of matches. Individual awards will also be made to all the players and scorer of the winning team. (incl.12th man). The cost of individual awards MAY be shared between the 6 participating Clubs

The responsibility for engraving the Twenty/20 Cup is with the winning Club and the cost of engraving to be borne by that Club

11. Disciplinary Rules & Procedures. Those used by the Devon Cricket League will be used for any disciplinary matters. (please refer to the DCL Handbook) No player may participate in the

competition if banned by a suspension.