Frizzell Under 17 County Championship Rules
1 Title
The title of the competition shall be the Frizzell Under 17 County Championship.
2 Management
2.1 The control of the Competition shall be undertaken by the ECB Recreational Cricket Advisory Group (RCAG) and all decisions relating to these rules or to matches played in the Competition shall be final and binding on all concerned.
2.2 The ECB and RCAG may delegate any of their powers and duties.
3 Entry
3.1 Entry into any of ECB's County Competitions shall be open to those County Boards recognized by the ECB.
3.2 Counties who participated in the previous year's Competition shall automatically be included for the following season unless written notification to the contrary is given by 1st October in the year prior to the Competition. A County wishing to enter or be re-admitted to a Competition must give written notice to that effect to the ECB Cricket Department by 1st October in the year prior to the Competition.
4 Competition Structure
4.1 The competition will be organised in two Areas, North and South, with three Divisions in each Area. The winners of North Division 1 will play off against the winners of South Division 1 in a Final to decide the overall Champion County.
4.1.1 Within each Area the two Counties finishing in first and second place in each Division 2 and 3 will be promoted to Division 1 and 2 respectively for the following season, and the bottom two Counties in each Division 1 and 2 will be relegated to Division 2 and 3 respectively.
4.2 Counties shall be responsible for arranging their own fixtures by mutual consent in the Divisional matches in conjunction with the ECB Divisional Co-ordinators. In the event of disagreement, the home County should offer at least two two-day dates for each of their home matches. Counties should make every effort to ensure that the final round of matches in each Division takes place on the same two days.
The dates, fixtures and venues shall be notified to the ECB Cricket Department by the date specified by the ECB. Fixtures may only be changed after this time by mutual consent by the Counties concerned, must be played within the time scale for the Divisional matches laid down and must be sanctioned by the ECB Cricket Department. Fixtures cannot be re-arranged after the first match in the Division has been played. Fixtures cannot be re-arranged if the originally scheduled fixture is abandoned even if no play has taken place.
4.3 The Final shall be played on the dates laid down by the ECB Cricket Department at a neutral venue.
5 Qualification of Players
5.1 Regulations Governing the Qualification of Cricketers for England
Subject to the overriding discretion of the ECB, acting with the consent of the International Cricket Council, a Cricketer will only be qualified to play for England in a Test Match or in a One Day International Match if:
(a) he is either a British citizen or an Irish citizen; and
(b1) he was born within England and Wales; or
(b2) he has been resident in England and Wales for the immediately preceding four consecutive years; and
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(c) he has not during the immediately preceding four consecutive years either played cricket for any Full ICC Member Country at U17 level or above, or played First Class Cricket in any such Full Member Country except as an overseas cricketer under local rules similar to Regulation 3, or in any other circumstances approved by the ECB; and
(d) he makes, whenever requested by the ECB, a declaration in the form set out in Annex A to the ECB Regulations.
(e) In the case of a Cricketer seeking to become qualified under (b2) above he will (until he has become qualified to play for England) only be treated as having been resident within England and Wales for the relevant consecutive period if he has spent a minimum of 210 days in each year within England and Wales (for which purpose ‘year’ shall mean a year ending 1st April).
5.2 Regulations governing the qualification of Cricketers for Competitive County Cricket
Subject to the overriding discretion of the ECB and subject as provided below, a Cricketer will only be qualified to play in a Competitive County Cricket match (a Qualified Cricketer) if:
he is a European Economic Area (EEA) national or a national of a state which is a party to an agreement with the EU and its member states providing that their nationals lawfully employed within the EEA shall have employment rights equal to those of EEA nationals; and
he has not, within the 12 months leading up to April 1st immediately before the season in question, either played cricket for any Full Member Country outside the EEA at U17 level or above, or played First Class Cricket in any such Full Member Country except as an overseas cricketer under local rules similar to ECB Regulation 3 (Unqualified Cricketers), or in any other circumstances approved by the ECB; and
he makes, whenever requested by the ECB, a declaration in the form set out in Annex A to the ECB Regulations.
5.3 Definitions
5.3.1 Competitive County Cricket refers to matches played in the course of:
(a) The Frizzell County Championship
(b) The C&G Trophy, the totesport League and the Twenty20 Cup
(c) The Under 17 County Championship
(d) Any other similar competition authorised by and designated as Competitive County Cricket by the ECB.
5.3.2 Qualification to play for England refers to matches played in the course of:
(a) The Minor Counties Championship.
5.3.3 England and Wales means England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
5.3.4 The EEA means the European Economic Area and includes each of its member states as from time to time applicable. Currently the EEA comprises the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Cyprus (Greek part), the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
5.3.5 Residing and resident mean the occupation of a bona fide home (i.e. the only or main home of the Cricketer concerned) and the acquisition of temporary accommodation during the season may not fulfil this requirement.
5.3.6 Full Member Country means a country which is a full member of the International Cricket Council.
5.4 Qualification Criteria for Junior Cricketers
The qualification criteria for all County Representative cricket for the Under 17 age group and below is as follows:
5.4.1 The criteria apply to girls as well as boys and any reference to he/him also refers to she/her.
5.4.2 A player may only represent one County in any one Competition in any one season.
5.4.3 A player shall be eligible to play for a County provided:-
i) He is resident within, or was born within, that County.
ii) Alternatively, he is attending an educational establishment within that County.
iii) Alternatively, he has been a bona-fide playing member of a club within that County for at least the entire preceding season.
5.4.4 County boundaries shall be as defined by ECB Cricketing County Boundaries as currently agreed.
5.4.5 A player may play for a County for whom he is not qualified only if he has not been selected by the County/Counties for whom he is otherwise qualified and has obtained the written consent of that County/those Counties. Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. There is no requirement to obtain the consent of the County of birth. In the event of a dispute the matter shall be referred to the ECB, whose decision shall be final.
5.4.6 A player who has played for a County, with a valid qualification for that County, during a season can continue to play for that County, if selected, the following season even if he no longer has a current qualification (for example following a change of school). The qualification remains valid from season to season, but lapses if the player does not represent the County during a season.
5.4.7 Age groups are defined by the player's age at midnight on 31 August in the year prior to the relevant season.
5.5 Points of Clarification
The following points are intended to answer some of the more frequently asked questions relating to the qualification criteria:
5.5.1 The ‘entire preceding season’ membership requirement means that club membership during the current season does not count and players must have become a bona fide member of the club the preceding season no later than 1st May.
5.5.2 Playing membership of a club includes membership of a Kwik Cricket or 'Junior Colts' section if the club has one, and does not imply match play against other clubs.
5.5.3 Qualification by birth is excluded from the 'consent' arrangements for the sake of simplicity.
5.5.4 Players who have multiple qualifications are free to select the County that they wish to represent. Once that selection is made it remains in force for that season, but can be changed in subsequent seasons, without requiring consent, provided that the player still has a valid qualification for the newly selected County and notifies his former County in writing.
5.5.5 A player who is registered and contracted to a First Class County (FCC) is eligible to play for the appropriate age group sides of that County. FCCs wishing to register and contract a player not otherwise qualified for that County should seek the consent of the other County/Counties involved. Such consent should not be unreasonably withheld. Registering and contracting a player does not override the restriction on playing for only one County in any one Competition in a season, so that if a player has played, as an example, for a Non First Class County's Under 17 side and subsequently signs for a FCC he cannot play in the FCC's Under 17 team that season but could play for their Under 19 team if they run one.
5.5.6 The position of First Class County Academies was raised and discussed by the ECB Schools, Junior and Youth Group in October 2003. It was generally accepted that Academy Directors should have responsibility for the cricketers in their charge, where they play and up to a point when they bowled and where they batted. Players joining a First Class Academy would not automatically
qualify for that County. The Academy Director should draw up and agree a playing programme to meet the needs of the player, which might involve him continuing to play for his Non First Class County or might mean a transfer to the First Class County (as already allowed in the case of contracted players) or a combination of both. The existing regulations preventing a player from playing for more than one County in a specific Competition during the season remain in force. It was agreed that good communication between Counties, based on the best interests of the player, was the key.
5.5.7 Club membership during the preceding season will qualify a player to play only for the County in which the club is physically located (as per the ECB Cricketing County Boundaries as currently defined). Membership of a League that crosses County boundaries, affiliation to more than one County Board or participation in the Colts structure of another County will not alter the primary affiliation of the club to the County in which it is located and therefore the County qualification based on club membership of its players. All disputes relating to these qualification criteria should be addressed to the ECB Cricket Department initially. If necessary disputes will be referred by the Cricket Department to the ECB Registration Committee whose decision will be final.
5.6 Club Qualifications
5.6.1 A cricketer shall only be eligible to play for a club in a Competition if he is a bona-fide, fully paid-up member of that club.
5.6.2 If a club is a member of a League, a cricketer shall be deemed to be a bona-fide member of that club if he is eligible to play for that club under the rules of that League.
5.6.3 A cricketer shall only be eligible to play in a Competition for one club in any one season.
5.6.4 A cricketer shall not be eligible to play in the Competition if he receives remuneration for playing cricket and that remuneration is his main source of income (unless covered by 3.6.5.1)
5.6.5 A cricketer who is registered and contracted to a First Class County Club shall be ineligible to play in the Competition unless covered by 3.6.5.1.
5.6.5.1 Bona fide club members who are also registered and contracted with a First Class County can play provided they are uncapped, under 23 as at 30th September in the year prior to the season of the Competition and have not played for their County during the current season in the Frizzell County Championship, Twenty20 Cup, Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy or totesport League at the time of the match. If any club fields an ineligible player, they will be disqualified.
5.6.6 A cricketer whose registration and contract to a First Class County Club is cancelled after 1st April may not play in the Competition until the following season unless covered by 3.6.5.1.
5.6.7 A cricketer shall only be qualified to play in the Competition if he is qualified to play in a Competitive County Cricket Match or is registered under the provisions of 3.6.8 below as an overseas player resident in England.
5.6.8 Overseas Players Resident in England
A cricketer who is not qualified under 3.6.7 above but who is ordinarily resident in this country can qualify as an overseas player resident in England and play in ECB Recreational Club Competitions only if:
he has been resident in this country for a period of twenty four consecutive months before the date of his request for registration
he has not been out of this country for longer than 35 days consecutively or 70 days in total during the previous twenty four months
any remuneration he receives from playing cricket is not the main source of his income.
The definition of 'ordinarily resident' shall be in the absolute discretion of the body responsible for registration of the player in the relevant Competition.
Any such player MUST be properly registered with their ECB accredited Premier League or, if the club does not play in an ECB accredited Premier League, the player MUST be registered directly with the ECB Cricket Department, having completed an ECB 'Category 3 - Overseas Player' registration form. The club MUST have received the appropriate paperwork either from the League they participate in or the ECB Cricket Department showing that the player is registered PRIOR to the start of the match. No player shall be registered for the Competition after 30th June in any season.
A player, who has a home in this country and has been granted ‘Exempt’ status, who subsequently accepts a temporary work assignment, not related to cricket, in another country may apply to re-instate his previous ‘Exempt’ status immediately on his return to this country. Approval is at the discretion of the registration body and is not automatic.
5.7 Players from the Channel Islands shall be eligible to play for any County in the Competition provided that they only represent one County in the Competition in any one season.
6 Cricket Balls
6.1 The ECB will supply new Grade 1 BSI approved cricket balls with seams conforming to the specifications laid down by the ECB. The Home County will be responsible for supplying enough spare balls of equal standard. A new ball must be used at the start of each innings.
6.2 The captain of the fielding side shall have the choice of taking a new ball after 85 overs have been bowled with the old one.
7 Helmets
Any player under the age of 18 playing in any ECB Competition must wear a helmet with a faceguard when batting and when standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard ball unless prior written consent has been given by a parent or guardian. Any player who has parental consent not to wear a helmet should be identified on the signed team sheet provided to the umpires prior to the start of each match.
8 Umpires
8.1 The Home County shall appoint two umpires who shall be Full Members of ACU&S for each home match they play in their division. Both counties shall complete and sign the ECB Report on Reserve List/Local Umpires form and return it to the ECB Cricket Department for each match played in the competition. All umpires must have current CRB clearance.
9 Scorers.
Each team shall provide their own scorer in all matches
10 Team Sheets
Each side must provide the umpires with a team sheet before the start of the match identifying any player who has not reached the age of 18 on the date of the match and showing the specific age group of any player who is in the Under 19 age group or younger. It is recommended that the ECB Team Sheet card (available from the ECB Cricket Department) is used whenever possible.
11 Match Results
At the end of each match, both scorers shall sign the official result sheet and the Home County shall return this to the ECB Cricket Department within 24 hours. It is the responsibility of the WINNING side to enter the result and full scorecard details onto the appropriate site on Play-Cricket.com within 48 hours of the match being completed. The losing side should confirm that the summary result has been correctly entered. Both sides must ensure that their squad details have been entered into Play-Cricket prior to each match they play.
Playing Conditions
The Laws of Cricket (2000 Code 2nd Edition - 2003) shall apply with the following exceptions:
1 Hours of Play
1.1 All matches shall be of two days duration and play shall normally commence at 11.00am on each day unless otherwise agreed by the two teams who can delay the start up to 12.30pm. In this case all subsequent timings will be moved on as appropriate (i.e. for an uninterrupted game starting at 11.30pm, lunch will normally be at 1.30pm, tea at 4.10pm. and Close of Play at 6.30pm.)
1.2 Lunch will be taken from 1.00pm to 1.40pm. This may be varied if, owing to the weather or state of the ground, an alteration has been agreed upon by the captains or ordered by the umpires.
1.3 A Tea interval of 20 minutes shall be taken from 3.40pm to 4.00pm. In a match where play is delayed or suspended, the tea interval may be altered or waived altogether with the agreement of both captains.
1.4 The Scheduled Close of Play on each day shall be 6.00pm. The playing time on each day shall be extended by the amount of time lost on that day up to a maximum of 1 hour.
Hours of Play - Regional Group Matches
1.5 Law 16.6 and 16.7 will apply except that a minimum of 17 six ball overs shall be bowled in the last hour of the match, on the 2nd day only, and all calculations with regard to suspensions of play or the start of a new innings shall be based on one over for each full 3 minutes 30 seconds.
1.6 Play will continue until Close of Play on the 2nd day unless the first innings contest is completed at any time after the scheduled tea interval on the 2nd day, in which case the match may be terminated by mutual agreement of the captains.
2 Divisional Matches
2.1 Duration of Innings - Divisional Matches
2.1.1 In an uninterrupted match: There will be a minimum of 102 overs in a day. The required over rate shall be 17 an hour (one over per 3 minutes 30 seconds approximately). Play will continue, subject to conditions of light, ground and weather, beyond the scheduled Close of Play until the allocated number of overs have been bowled for that day. There will be no reduction in overs for a change of innings. The side batting first will not be allowed to bat for more than 60% of the total overs available in the match (122 overs) in its first innings.
2.1.2 For innings of more than 3 hours duration, over rate penalties will apply (subject to 2.2.5):
<17 >16 overs per hour - 1 point penalty
<16 >15 overs per hour - 2 points etc.
2.1.3 In matches where the start is delayed or play suspended:-
If less than a total of an hour's play is lost on either day the minimum requirement of 102 overs in a day shall remain. Once a total of an hour's play has been lost one over per 3 minutes 30 seconds lost will be deducted from the day's minimum allocation of overs (see 1.4).
2.1.4 The follow-on figure for this 2-day cricket will be 100 runs.
2.2 The Result
2.2.1 A match can be won 'on first innings' or 'outright' on second innings. The points system below places the main emphasis on winning on first innings but provides additional reward for an outright win.
2.2.2 Points Scoring System for Regional Group Matches
2.2.3 Bonus Points for 1st Innings
2.2.4 Bonus Points for 2nd Innings in a Two Innings Match
2.2.5 Negative Points
A County cannot return a negative value in points in a match. In any such cases, the return will be 0 points.
2.3 Number of Overs per Bowler
The ECB Fast Bowling Directives will apply to all matches in this competition.
2.3.1 ECB Fast Bowling Directives
The ECB Fast Bowling Directives will apply to all matches in all ECB Competitions.
Age Maximum overs per spell Maximum overs per day
Up to U13 4 overs per spell 8 overs per day
U14, U15 5 overs per spell 10 overs per day
U16, U17 6 overs per spell 18 overs per day
U18, U19 7 overs per spell 21 overs per day
For the purposes of these Directives a fast bowler is defined as a bowler to whom a wicket keeper in the same age group would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball.
Team Managers and/or Captains are responsible for providing the umpires with a team sheet showing the ages of any player who is aged Under 19 or below before the toss for innings takes place.
Umpires are requested to ensure that this Playing Condition is strictly adhered to in all circumstances.
2.3.2 Maximum Number of Overs to be Bowled in a Day No bowler shall bowl more than 25 overs in any one day's play.
3 Divisional Placings
Points shall be awarded in accordance with 2.1.2/2.2.2/2.2.3/2.2.4/2.2.5 above. The following shall determine the positions in each Division:
3.1 The side gaining the most number of points shall be the winner.
3.2 If two or more counties have the same number of points, their positions in the Divisional table shall be based on the result of the matches between them, the one gaining most points in these matches being placed higher. If the points are equal then the team with the highest net run-rate shall be placed higher.
3.2.1 Net Run-Rate -a team's net run rate is calculated by deducting from the average runs per over scored by that team, the average runs per over scored against that team. The calculation of average runs shall be total runs scored x 100 divided by legitimate balls received.
In the event of a team being all out in less than its full quota of overs, the calculation of its net run rate shall be based on the full quota of overs to which it would have been entitled and not the number of overs in which the team was dismissed.
3.3 In the event of the sides still being equal, then a toss of a coin shall determine the positions.
4 One-Day Regulations - To apply when No Play is possible on the First Day of an Under 17 Divisional Match
4.1 Hours of Play
Start 11.00am Lunch 1.20pm
Resume 2.00pm Tea 4.30pm
Resume 4.50pm Close of Play 7.10pm
4.2 Overs
120 overs minimum requirement for the day.
Play will finish at 7.10pm or when the overs for the day have been bowled, whichever is the later.
The required over-rate is 17 overs an hour with one over deducted for each full 3 minutes 30 seconds playing time lost.
No overs should be deducted for the 10 minutes between innings as this is built into the Hours of Play (above).
Each team shall bat for 60 overs unless all out earlier. The object in matches where the start is delayed or play is suspended shall always be to re-arrange the number of overs so that both teams have the opportunity of batting for the same number of overs.
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4.3 Bowlers
4.3.1 Number of Overs per Bowler
Unless otherwise specified in the Playing Conditions for a specific Competition no bowler may bowl more than one fifth of the amount of overs scheduled for the innings. However, in a delayed start, or interrupted match, where the overs are reduced for both sides, or for the side bowling second, no bowler may bowl more than one-fifth of the total overs allowed (unless such a number has been exceeded before the interruption), except that where the total overs are not divisible by five, an additional over shall be allowed to the minimum number of bowlers necessary to make up the balance - e.g. after 16 overs, rain interrupts play and the innings is reduced to 32 overs. Both opening bowlers have bowled 8 overs. Two bowlers can bowl 7 overs and three bowlers can bowl 6 overs. Bowlers 1 and 2 have already exceeded this limit. They count as the two bowlers who were allowed the extra over (7 as opposed to 6) and so any other bowlers are limited to 6 overs.
4.3.2 When an interruption occurs mid-over and on resumption the bowler has exceeded the new maximum allocation, he will be allowed to finish the incomplete over.
4.3.3 In the event of a bowler breaking down and being unable to complete an over, another bowler will bowl the remaining balls. Such part of an over will count as a full over only in so far as each bowler's limit is concerned.
4.3.4 Where possible, the number of overs bowled by each individual bowler shall be indicated on the scoreboard, from the commencement of an innings.
4.3.5 The allocation of overs per bowler will not be reduced as a result of the deduction of any penalty overs.
4.3.6 Where possible, the number of overs bowled by each individual bowler shall be indicated on the scoreboard, from the commencement of an innings.
4.3.7 The ECB Fast Bowling Directives will apply.
4.4 Result
Winning team 10 points
(in matches of 80 or more overs)
In matches of less than 80 overs 8 points
Tie 5 points
Losing team 0 points
Draw/Abandoned Games 3 points
If a match finishes with the scores level, the side batting second score 5 points plus bonus points, and the opposing side score 3 points plus bonus points.
4.5 Bonus Points
1 for reaching 100, 150, 200, 250 runs (available for the 1st 60 overs or 50% of the available overs).
1 for taking 3, 5, 7, 9 (or all available if less than 9) wickets (available throughout the innings).
4.6 Delayed Start
When the match does not commence until there are 80 overs or less remaining, the match will become a limited over contest with the aim for the two sides to bat for the same number of overs. No additional fielding restrictions will apply but the bowlers are limited to one-fifth of the overs, rounded-up as necessary.
Bonus points will still be available as outlined above.
The side batting second must face at least 20 overs to constitute a match.
4.7 Law 25.1 - Wide Ball - Judging a Wide
Delayed Start Matches only
In addition to Law 25 the following will apply:
Umpires are instructed to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation in regard to this Law in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket.
Any offside or legside delivery which in the opinion of the umpire does not give the batsmen a reasonable opportunity to score shall be called a wide. For guidance purposes, in adult cricket a legside wide should be called if a ball passes on the legside outside the pads of the batsman standing in a normal guard position.
4.8 Law 24 - No Ball - Delayed Start Matches
In addition to the normal provisions of Law 24 the following will apply in matches that become limited over matches as a result of a delayed start (see 4.6):
If the ball passes or would have passed above the shoulder height of the batsman standing upright at the crease the umpire at the bowler's end shall call and signal 'No Ball'.
6 General Provisions
6.1 Junior Fielding Restrictions
6.1.1 No young player in the Under 15 age group or younger shall be allowed to field closer than 8 yards (7.3 metres) from the middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side, until the batsman has played at the ball. A fielder shall be allowed to move into the restricted area to make a catch or field the ball provided that they were outside the area when the stroke was made.
6.1.2 For players in the Under 13 age group and below the distance is 11 yards (10 metres).
6.1.3 These minimum distances apply even if the player is wearing a helmet.
6.1.4 Should a young player in these age groups come within the restricted distance the umpire must stop the game immediately and instruct the fielder to move back.
6.1.5 In addition any young player in the Under 16 to Under 18 age groups, who has not reached the age of 18, must wear a helmet when fielding within 6 yards (5.5 metres) of the bat, except behind the wicket on the off side. Players should wear appropriate protective equipment whenever they are fielding in a position where they feel at risk.
6.2 Law 24.1- Mode of Delivery
6.2.1 A bowler shall be limited to one fast, short-pitched ball per over per batsman (the umpire at the bowler's end shall make it clear to both the bowler and the batsman when the 'one for the over' has been bowled). A fast, short pitched ball is defined as a ball which passes or would have passed above the shoulder of the batsman standing upright at the crease. If this limit is exceeded, the umpire at the bowler's end shall call and signal 'No Ball' on each occasion.
6.2.2 This provision will not apply in matches that become limited over matches under Playing Conditions 4.6 and 5.3 above, when 4.8 will apply.
6.3 Number of Players
Each team can consist of up to 12 players. No more than 11 players can bat or be on the field at any time. All players must be nominated to the umpires in writing before the toss is made. There is no requirement to nominate which 11 players will bat. Any replacement/substitution of a member of the fielding side can only be made with the approval of the umpires and only at the end of an over, the fall of a wicket or during an interval. Once a player has taken the field he can play a full part in the match, subject to the provisions of Law 22.6 (Bowler changing ends).
6.4 Covering of the Pitch
6.4.1 The pitch and run-ups must be covered as below except in exceptional circumstances, which must be notified to the umpires, the opposing team and the ECB Cricket Department.
6.4.2 The whole pitch, plus ten yards behind the stumps at each end, shall be covered as follows:
6.4.3 The night before the match and, if necessary, until the first ball is bowled, and whenever necessary at any time prior to that during the preparation of the pitch.
6.4.4 At any time when play is suspended due to rain or conditions of light during the hours of play, and on the night of the first day.
6.4.5 The covers to be a minimum of 12 feet wide.
6.5 Law 40.2 Wicket-Keeping Gloves
Law 40.2 will apply in all ECB Competitions.