DCL AGM - Amendments to Playing Regulations

DCL – Amendments to Playing Regulations for 2016 (in Rule order)

Proposals have been grouped together such that they can be taken with one vote.

First Proposal:  A group that together correct, clarify or reflect season 2015 practice and should be voted for “en bloc”:

2. Page 67 – Note – Amend to read: 

Note: Any reference to a “League Match” applies to all types of matches (Devon Senior Cup, Corinthian Cup, T20) taking place under the auspices of the DCL.

Proposed by DCL for clarity

6. Page 69 – Rule 12 F. The Result:

Add a new ii and renumber old ii to iii:

ii.  Premier Division 1st XI only:
When Duckworth/Lewis (DLS) is being used instead of Run Rate, it is essential that both scorers are available to make DLS decisions, as together they are responsible, even if only one scorer is able to score online via TCS.  When DLS is being used, throughout the second innings the following should be displayed:

a. The PAR score for the end of the over in progress

b. The Target Total

Proposed by DCL to reflect current practice

9. Page 70 Rule 12, page 79 Rule 13, page 89 Rule 14 Points – Amend g. vii to read:

No Result Match/Tied Match (When no result can be achieved by Duckworth/Lewis or Run Rate or the scores are level) – each team will receive 6 points plus any bonus points accrued in the match.

Proposed by DCL for clarity

22. Page 84 Rule 13n – Fielding Restrictions etc.                              Amend ix. To read:

If play is interrupted not during the Power Play overs, then on resumption, for the purposes of allocating any remaining Power Play overs, those taken to date will be deemed to have been in sequence: the first block and then the batting side’s allocation.  The nomination of any Power Play block remaining for the batting side may be made in the usual way.

&.  Page 85 Rule 13 – Fielding Restrictions etc.       

 Amend xiv to xiii and xv to xiv. Amend xiii to read:

 NB: Applicable to 2nd XI Matches only:
At the instant of delivery there must be at least 4 fielders, plus the bowler and wicket keeper, within the fielding circle throughout the innings.

&. Page 82 Rule13 – Examples                                              Amend “Third Example” to read:

Third Example, second innings starts at 4.50 p.m. and ends at 7.40 p.m.  Duration is 170 minutes.  Allowable time for rain of 49 minutes thus playing time is 170 – 49 = 121 minutes.  In this time 32 overs were bowled, (32 overs should take 32 x 3.5 minutes per over = 112 minutes + 5 + 4 = 121 minutes) thus no penalty will be applied.

Minor corrections proposed by DCL

23. Page 93 Rule 15 – Match Results                         Amend (e) and (f) to read:

(e) In the Premier, A & B 1st XI Divisions, where independent umpires are appointed by DACO, both captains must fully complete the “Umpire Performance Feedback” forms on ‘Who’s The Umpire’ (WTU) by no later than noon on the first Wednesday following the match taking place.  If either captain fails to comply then their team will be deducted 2 points for each such occurrence.

The “Umpire Performance Feedback” form provides helpful information for the development and performance of umpires.  Care and consideration in compiling these reports is requested.

(f) In the Premier, A & B 1st XI Divisions, where independent umpires are appointed by DACO, both umpires must together check the match result sheet, complete the sections on match timings, allowable time, overs bowled, overs allocated and sign in the appropriate place.

In addition, both umpires together must agree the” Facilities and Pitch Mark” form for the DCL on WTU, by no later than noon on the first Wednesday following the match taking place.  If the umpires together fail to comply then they will be fined £10.00 each for each occurrence.

In matches where only one independent umpire is appointed, it is their responsibility to ensure all forms are correctly completed and signed.

Proposed by DCL to reflect current practice

24.  Page 94 Rule 16 – Promotion and Relegation:

Amend (b) i. to read:

(b) Promotion and Relegation:

“i. In the 1st XI League, the two teams finishing top in all Divisions except the Premier and C Divisions, will be promoted.  In the regionalised C Division, the top team from the East and the West Division will be promoted.  The team in second place in the East and West Division will take part in a play-off on the first Saturday following the end of the regular league programme, with the winning team being promoted. (This game would be hosted by the East club in even years, and by the West club in odd years.  The game is to be played on a team’s normal home ground.  Where a team forfeits home advantage due to ground unavailability the other team will host the game.  Where neither team’s home ground is available, the DCL will nominate a ground to be used).”

Amend (b) iii. To read:

“iii. In the 2nd XI League, the two teams finishing top in all Divisions except the Premier and B Divisions will be promoted.  In the regionalised B Division, the top team from the East and the West Division will be promoted.  The team in second place in the East and West Division will take part in a play-off on the first Saturday following the end of the regular league programme, with the winning team being promoted. (This game would be hosted by the East club in odd years, and by the West club in even years.  The game is to be played on a team’s normal home ground.  Where a team forfeits home advantage due to ground unavailability the other team will host the game.  Where neither team’s home ground is available, the DCL will nominate a ground to be used).”

Add new (b) vi. To read:

“The following applies for the two play-off games mentioned above in 16 (b) i and 16 (b) iii:

1.      Independent umpires will be appointed for these two games

2.      Only players that have played during the current season in a League Match at any level in the DCL up to and including the last Saturday in July or were registered to that club in the previous season and had played in at least three matches at any level in the DCL, shall be considered eligible to play.

3.      In the 2nd XI play-off match, no player that has played 3 or more 1st XI matches during the current season shall be considered eligible to play.

4.      Each team involved in a play-off match shall provide a squad of 14 players to the Registration Secretary and appropriate Results Secretary by 10 p.m. on the Monday prior to the match taking place.

5.      Any game postponed due to inclement weather should be played on the following Saturday.

6.      If no play is possible on either Saturday, the team scoring the most points during the regular league season shall be promoted.

Proposed by DCL with input from Plymouth Civil Service & Roborough CC

25. Page 94 – Rule 16 (a) (b) – Promotion and Relegation

Any Play-Offs are played on a neutral ground, with a similar travelling distance for both teams.

Proposed by Plymouth Civil Service & Roborough CC

Second proposal:  INCREASE TEA FEES – Tea fees have remained static for some years:

1. Page 66 – Rule 6 (b) Tea Fees: 

Amend to read:

“The rate charged for teas to away teams (the word ‘teams’ in this context means 11 players, a scorer and an umpire) at all matches.  For the current Season the rate shall be £42.00 per Tea.  Any additional teas should be paid for by arrangement with the home club”.

Proposed by Budleigh Salterton CC to increased fees from £33 to £42

Third proposal:  DEALING WITH GROUND UNAVAILABILITY and enabling play on a Sunday:

3. Page 67 – Rule 11 (a) The Season and Rearrangement of Fixtures:

Delete the final sentence and replace with:

“By special prior arrangement with the League Fixtures Secretary and the opposing club, a club’s lowest ranked XI (i.e. 3rd and/or 4th XI) who rent another third party ground to fulfil their home fixtures, will by agreement be permitted to play certain home fixtures on a Sunday when the ground they normally use as a venue for their home fixtures is unavailable on the Saturday that weekend (See Rule 19 (d) for player eligibility)”.

Proposed by Yelverton Bohemians CC and links to amendment 4 & 25 below

4. Page 68 – Rule 11(c) Known Unavailability of Home Ground:

Add the following to the existing Rule:

“ For club’s 3rd or 4th XI’s who use third party venues away from the parent club’s main home ground, dates when these grounds are not available, must be notified in writing to the League Fixtures Secretary by (date to be agreed).  Where there is known unavailability of a ground for a 3rd XI or 4th XI fixture, consideration will be given to permitting the fixture to be fulfilled on the Sunday of the same weekend in accordance with Rule 11 (a).

Proposed by Yelverton Bohemians CC to enable a fixture to be played on a Sunday

Link to amendments 3 above & 25 below

25. Page 100 – New Rule 19 (d) Eligibility for Sunday Fixtures:

“If a game is arranged to be played on a Sunday in accordance with Rules 11 (a) and (c) no eligible club player can participate in the Sunday fixture if they have already played in a DCL fixture that weekend (i.e. on the Saturday)”

Proposed by Yelverton Bohemians CC and links back to amendment 3 & 4.

Fourth proposal:  CHANGE TO TCS PROTOCOL IN PREMIER DIVISION from what the practice was in the 2015 season:

5. Page 68 – Rule 12 (a) General:

Add before final sentence:

“For Premier 1st XI Division only, the home team must provide full TCS and live transmission.  Failure to do so shall result in the forfeiture of 2 points from the home side for the match concerned.  For the away side, TCS and live transmission are recommended and requested but remain optional”

Proposed by Exeter CC & similar from Plymouth CC– Each Premier 1st XI match will be live online for the home club.  

It should be noted that in order for the Premier 1st XI Division to use DLS, the ECB requirement was that each team should score online via TCS and each scorer should have DLS.  The scorers together are responsible for producing DLS data (thus each should have their own laptop).

Fifth proposal: CHANGE TO BATTING POINTS STRUCTURE – A gentle change to the existing structure:

7. Page 69 Rule 12, page 79 Rule 13, page 88 Rule 14 g Points:

Amend ii Batting Points as follows:

Rule 12: 1 point for every 50 runs scored up to a maximum of 5 points (250 runs)

Rule 13 & 14: 1 point for every 40 runs scored up to a maximum of 5 points (200 runs)

Proposed by Exeter CC

Sixth proposal:  REMOVAL OF TEA INTERVAL – A significant change:

8. Page 70 Rule12, page 80 Rule 13, page 88 Rule 14 i Intervals:

Amend to read:

“i. There will be no tea interval.  There will be an interval of 15 minutes between innings.

Delete ii and renumber existing iii as ii

Proposed by Plymouth CC

It should be noted that if adopted there are other related adjustments to these Rules, e.g. match timings

Seventh proposal:  CHANGE TO START TIMES – Refers to Rule 13 only:

10. Page 78 Rule 13 d. Normal Hours of Play                       Amend first sentence to read:

“B Division 1st XI matches scheduled start time 1p.m. (Scheduled close of play about 7.10p.m.)”

Proposed by Abbotskerswell CC

12. Page 78 Rule 13d Normal Hours of Play                         Amend first sentence to read:

“Scheduled start time 1.00 p.m. (Scheduled close of play about 7.10 p.m.).”

Proposed by Plymouth CC

Note: 10 above is for 1st XI whilst 12 above is for 1st XI and 2nd XI – Perhaps Abbotskerswell CC and Plymouth CC could agree which to go for.

Eighth proposal:  INTRODUCING FLEXIBLE (EARLIER) START TIMES – Refers to Rule 13 and Rule 14:

11. Page 78 Rule 13 d. Normal Hours of Play

Renumber Rule 13 d. as 13 d i.  Add 13 d ii to read:

“C (East) & C (West) 1st XI Divisions and A Division 2nd XI scheduled start time no later than 1.30p.m. (Scheduled close of play about 7.40pm) although matches may start earlier if both clubs agree, with no restriction on start time.  Normal match timings still apply as do regulations for interrupted matches”

Proposed by Abbotskerswell CC

13. Page 88 Rule 14d. Normal Hours of Play                                    Amend first sentence to read:

“Scheduled start time 2.00 p.m. (Scheduled close of play about 7.55 p.m.), although matches may start earlier if both clubs agree, with no restrictions on start time. Normal match timings still apply as do regulations for interrupted matches”

Proposed by Abbotskerswell CC

Ninth proposal:  CHANGE TO START TIMES – Refers to Rule 14 only:

14. Page 88 Rule 14d. Normal Hours of Play                        Amend to same wording as Rule 13d

“Normal Hours of Play: Scheduled start time 1.30pm (Scheduled close of play about 7.40pm). If either side is not ready to take the “toss” 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of the match, the non-offending side can claim the “toss”. Furthermore, a side not ready to start at the scheduled start time shall lose one over of its innings for every 3½ minutes that they are late.”

Proposed by Sidmouth CC

15. Page 88 Rule 14d. Normal Hours of Play                        Amend to read:

“Scheduled start time 1.30 p.m. (Scheduled close of play about 7.25 p.m.). For the last four matches of the season, scheduled start time will be 1.00 p.m. (Scheduled close of play about 6.55 p.m.)”

Proposed by Stokeinteignhead CC

16. Page 88 Rule 14d. Normal Hours of Play:                       Replace first paragraph with:

“Scheduled start time 1.00 p.m. (Scheduled close of play about 6.55 p.m.)”

Proposed by Plymouth CC

Perhaps Sidmouth CC, Stokeinteignhead CC and Plymouth CC could agree a 1.30 (1.00 p.m. for last four games) or a 1.30 p.m. all through or a 1.00 p.m. all through start time.

Proposal 10, 11, 12 and 13 all refer to Rule 14, which is meant to be the least restricted form of cricket played in the DCL: 45/45, minimum of 5 bowlers, no fielding circles and normal Laws of cricket apply.  Proposal 11 introduces some fielding restrictions and free hit for foot fault no balls in 2nd XI games.  Proposals 10, 12 and 13 explore ways of reducing the length of the game whilst still retaining its “simplicity” with proposals 12 and 13 only targeted at 2nd XI games.

Tenth proposal:  CHANGE OF OVERS FROM 45/45 TO 40/40 – Refers to Rule 14:

17. Page 88 Rule 14e. Normal duration of the match:           Amend first sentence to read:

“Normal match duration will be 80 overs, with each team batting for a maximum of 40 overs”

(Please Note: If accepted, other relevant amendments will be needed: Intervals/Rates/Bowlers)

Proposed by Stokeinteignhead CC

Eleventh proposal: INTRODUCTION OF FIELDING RESTRICTIONS & FREE HIT – Neither of these currently pertain to Rule 14 cricket and if agreed would only apply to 2nd XIs.

18. Page 92 Rule 14m. Bowlers and Fielders:                        Renumber iii as iv and add new iii:

“iii.  NB: Applicable to 2nd XI Matches only: At the instant of delivery there must be at least 4 fielders, plus the bowler and wicket keeper, within the fielding circle throughout the innings.  In the event of any infringement of any of the above fielding restrictions, the square leg umpire shall call and signal “No Ball”.”

(Please Note: This is only refers to 2nd XI Divisions and, if accepted, there will need to be the inclusions of a rule for fielding circles within Rule 14 for 2nd XI matches)

Proposed by Sidmouth CC

20. Page 92 New Rule 14n: No Ball Foot Faults:                  Change 14 n to 14 o, add new 14 n:

“n. NB: Applicable to 2nd XI Matches only: No Ball Foot Fault (& resultant free hit):

i. In the event of a bowler being called ‘No Ball’ for a foot fault (MCC Law 24 paragraph 5) the umpire will call and signal ‘No Ball’ and, when the ball is dead, repeat the signal to the scorers and then signal ‘Free Hit’.

ii. The next delivery following the ‘No Ball’ shall be a free hit for whichever batsman is on strike.

iii. If the delivery for the free hit is itself not a legitimate delivery (wide ball or any kind of no ball) then the next delivery will become a free hit for whichever batsman is on strike.

iv. For any free hit, neither batsman can be dismissed under any of the Laws except Law 33 (Handled the Ball), Law 34 (Hit the ball twice), Law 37 (Obstructing the field) and Law 38 (Run out) – And this applies even if the delivery for the free hit is called wide.

v. Umpires will signal a free hit by extending one arm straight up and moving it in a circular motion.

(Please Note: This proposal only refers to 2nd XI Divisions cricket)

Proposed by Sidmouth CC

Twelfth proposal:  CHANGE TO OVER ALLOCATION

19. Page 92 Rule 14m. Bowlers and Fielders:                        Amend whole rule as follows:

i. A minimum of 5 bowlers will be required, other than for Second XI teams in D Division and below (see ii below). No bowler may bowl more than 9 overs in a 45 over innings. Where circumstances reduce the overall number of overs of the match, no bowler may bowl more than 20% of the revised allocated overs (unless this has already been exceeded before the interruption). Where the total number of overs is not divisible by 5, one additional over shall be allowed to the maximum number per bowler necessary to make up the balance. (In a match reduced to 37 overs, 3 bowlers bowl 7 overs and 2 bowlers bowl 8 overs). ii. In the event of a bowler breaking down mid-over then that over may be completed by another player but the parts thereof of the over will count as whole overs against the original bowler and his replacement.

ii. Second XI teams D Division and below:  No bowler may bowl more than 25% of the available overs in any innings (11 overs in a 45 over match). Where circumstances reduce the overall number of overs of the match, no bowler may bowl more than 25% of the revised allocated overs (unless this has already been exceeded before the interruption). Where the total number of overs is not divisible by 4, one additional over shall be allowed to the maximum number per bowler necessary to make up the balance.

iii. In the event of a bowler breaking down mid-over then that over may be completed by another player but the parts thereof of the over will count as whole overs against the original bowler and his replacement.

iv. There are no specific fielding restrictions.  The normal MCC Laws of Cricket are to be followed with respect to fielders.

(Plese Note: This proposal only refers to 2nd XIDE Division matches and below AND only refers to bowlers and the overs they may bowl.  Sub para iv. has been added for completeness.

Proposed by Dartington & Totnes CC

Thirteenth proposal:  NO EXTRA DELIVERY FOR WIDE BALL OR NO BALL

21. Page 88 Rule 14b: – Conduct of matches                        Add b. ii to read:

“ii. NB: Applicable to 2nd XI Matches only: Wide Ball & No Ball (foot faults only): In the event of a Wide Ball or No Ball (foot fault) being delivered a penalty of TWO runs shall be awarded, in addition to any other runs scored, any boundary allowance and any other runs awarded for penalties, AND there will be no extra delivery except in the final over of an innings. (Examples: Wide Ball delivered, missed by wicketkeeper and the batsmen run one run.  Score goes up by 3 (2 for the wide, 1 for the wide run). There is no extra delivery.  Final over of the innings: No Ball (foot fault) delivered, batsman hits the ball and scores a boundary 4.  Score goes up by 6 (2 no ball extras, 4 runs to the batsman. There is an extra delivery.)

Proposed by Exwick CC

Fourteenth proposal:  INTRODUCING “TEMPORARY MEMBERS” – To enable players from one club to play for another club:

26. New Rule 19d – ‘Temporary Members’                           Add new paragraph:

“In the 2nd XI Competition only, from the regionalised B Divisions and below, a player may, regardless of whether he is registered with or has already played for another DCL club in that current season, play for a different team as a ‘Loan Player’ without penalty.

The player shall be considered a ‘Temporary Member’ of that club for the duration of the match.

There is no limit set on how many times a player may act as a ‘Loan Player’ or how often a club may use the ‘Loan’ facility during any one season.

The DCL do not require prior notification although any ‘loaned’ player must be indicated as such on the Official Results Sheet.

Clubs with only one team in the DCL shall also be permitted to use the ‘Loan’ facility if required.

Notes: clubs may need to create a new category of ‘temporary member’ within their Constitution to ensure their insurance covers such players.

Proposed by DCL

Other Changes that will be required – These do not need AGM approval:

a. Page 101 Rule 21 – Amend to read: Refresh rule on young players playing in open age cricket?

b. Page 115 (DACO) – Amend to read:  To come from DACO

c. Umpires Expenses 2016 Season – Assume no change

d. Page 116 DCL Umpires Panel – Amend to read:  To come from DACO  


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