| 1.0 |
All games shall be played in accordance with the Laws of Cricket save where the same are inconsistent with the provisions hereof. |
| 2.0 |
The League shall be divided into such number of divisions with such number of Clubs as may be decided from time to time. |
| 3.0 |
Each Club shall play such number of matches as may be decided by the Committee provided that each Club shall play every other club in its division at least once. The fixtures shall be played on such dates and at such venues as are fixed by the League Fixture Secretary unless prior approval of the Committee has been obtained. Such approval will only be given if the Committee consider that there are special circumstances and the Clubs have agreed the variation. If a Club's normal ground is not available on any specific date then that Club shall notify the League Fixture Secretary as soon as possible and in any case prior to the A.G.M. in the previous year. In the event of a breach of the above the Committee will deduct such number of points as they consider appropriate. |
| 4.0 |
Ground fitness before the start of play shall be the responsibility of the home groundsman. |
| 5.0 |
In the event of the start of the match being delayed for one hour or less owing to ground and/or weather conditions then the hours of play shall be adjusted to provide 5½ or 5 hours play as appropriate. |
| 5.1 |
If the delay is more than one hour then, unless the provisions of paragraph 5.6 apply, the length of the game shall be reduced in accordance with the time available as calculated as per 5.3 hereof. |
| 5.2 |
If play is interrupted due to ground and/or weather conditions the time lost, up to a maximum of one hour shall be added. |
| 5.3 |
Notwithstanding 5.1 and 5.2 above, the last hour of play shall commence not later than 7.30 p.m. (or 7.00 p.m. on the last two Saturdays in August, and 6.30 p.m. in September.) |
| 5.4 |
There shall be no extension of the playing time once the last hour of the match has commenced. The provisions of Law 16.6 and 16.7 shall apply. |
| 5.5 |
In the event of there being a delayed start under sub-paragraph 5.1 the maximum length of the innings of the side batting first shall be |
| 5.5.1 |
in the first division, 6/11 of the time available or the appropriate number of overs whichever is the greater. |
| 5.5.2 |
In all the other divisions 11/20 of the time available or the appropriate number of overs whichever is the greater. |
| 5.5.3 |
The appropriate number of overs shall be calculated on the basis of 19 overs per hour with fractions of an over being ignored. (NOTE: examples of the calculations are set out on page xi) |
| 5.6 |
Where play cannot start before 4.50 p.m. (4.20 p.m. in the last two weeks in August, 3.50 p.m. in September) a limited overs game will be played instead of the normal timed game. If a toss has been made on the basis of a normal timed game this toss and any decision made thereunder shall be of no effect and another toss shall take place. |
| 5.6.1 |
The limited overs game shall be of either 30 overs or 25 overs or 20 overs per side as may be agreed between the captains taking into account the time available and the weather conditions. In default of agreement the Umpires will decide. |
| 5.6.2 |
Bowlers shall be limited to 8 overs, or 7 or 5 overs respectively. |
| 5.6.3 |
The side which scores the greater number of runs shall be the winners. In the event of both sides scoring the same number of runs the side losing fewer wickets shall be the winners. In the event of the scores being level with each side losing the same number of wickets the game shall be a tie. |
| 5.6.4 |
The winning side will receive 18 points and the losing side 9 points. For a tie each side shall receive 14 points. |
| 5.6.5 |
In the event of a game not being able to be completed due to weather or light the match shall be treated as abandoned. |
| N.B. |
(i) The regulations for playing a limited overs game shall only apply if it has not been possible to start the normal timed game even if there has been a minimal amount of play.
(ii) There will be no reduction of overs if a limited over game is interrupted or unable to be completed due to weather. |
| 6.0 |
In Division 1 matches shall commence at 1.30 p.m. (or 1 p.m. on the last two Saturdays in August and 12.30 p.m. in September) and shall continue for 5½ hours playing time. The side batting first shall not bat for more than 55 overs or 3 hours whichever is the later. |
| 6.1 |
All other matches shall commence at 2 p.m. (or 1.30 p.m. on the last two Saturdays in August and 1 p.m. in September) and shall continue for 5 hours playing time. The side batting first shall not bat for more than 2¾ hours or 50 overs whichever is the later. |
| 6.2 |
Normally the tea interval shall be taken between the innings. Otherwise the time thereof shall be agreed between the Captains. However once 3 hours play has elapsed the Umpires shall have a discretion that the tea interval shall be taken immediately. |
| 6.3 |
For the purposes of this paragraph the interval between the innings shall not be counted as part of the playing time if it does not coincide with the tea interval. Any drinks interval shall be counted as part of the playing time. N.B.: The normal Law of Cricket that there should be a minimum of 20 overs in the last hour will apply. |
| 7.0 |
The following points shall be awarded:— |
| 7.1 |
20 points for a win plus bonus points under 7.4 if fielded first. 30 points for a win if batted first. |
| 7.2 |
20 points for a tie. In the event of a drawn game where the scores are level the side batting second shall score 20 points as if for a tie. |
| 7.3 |
The batting side shall receive 1 bonus point when it reaches 120 and one further point for every ten runs up to a maximum of 10 points on reaching 210. |
| 7.4 |
The fielding side shall receive1 bonus point for every wicket taken. A retirement out shall always count as a wicket for the purposes of this sub paragraph. Whenever the fielding side bowl out the opposition they will receive ten bonus points regardless of the number of players in the batting side. A batting side with less than eleven players, including sides who have nominated eleven players but where one or more of their players have not arrived at the ground at the time will not be permitted to declare their innings closed at the fall of a wicket if there are no further batsmen available. In such circumstances the batting side will be deemed to be all out and the fielding side will receive ten bonus points.
|
| 7.5 |
9 points or bonus points obtained whichever is the greater for an abandoned match. |
| 7.6 |
In the event of a side being unable to fulfil a fixture its opponents shall receive 25 points and the side unable to fulfil the fixture shall be deducted 5 points. |
| 8.0 |
Each side shall provide a competent Umpire and Scorer unless an umpire is appointed by the committee in which case the Club to which such umpire is allocated shall be responsible for paying that umpire's fees and expenses as fixed by the committee. |
| 9.0 |
For each game each club shall provide a ball as approved by the League Committee. The Club playing at home shall be responsible for providing any spare or replacement balls. |
| 9.1 |
The team bowling first shall use a new ball provided as in 9.0 |
| 9.2 |
The team fielding second may use a new ball as in 9.0 at any time |
| 10.0 |
The League tables shall be drawn up in accordance with the
scoring system in paragraph 7 hereof. In the event of an equality of points the side winning the most matches will take precedence. If still equal, precedence shall be decided by the side gaining the more points in the match(es) between the sides and if still equal by the side losing the fewer matches.
|
| 11.0 |
Any club proposing to increase or decrease the number of its teams participating in the League shall give the Hon. Secretary written notice (including all the necessary details) to reach him prior to the Annual General Meeting the previous year. |
| 11.1 |
11.1 Subject to sub-paragraphs 2 to 5 hereof the bottom two teams in Divisions 1,2 & 3 and the bottom three teams in Divisions 4 and below will be relegated. The top two teams in Divisions 2,3 & 4 and the top three teams in Divisions 5 and below will be promoted.
|
| 11.2 |
11.2 In the case of any club being accepted as a member of the League the PCSC shall decide in which Division its team(s) shall play and may as a consequence of that decision resolve that, in order to maintain the number of teams in any Division at ten, a team shall not be promoted despite finishing second or third as appropriate. |
| 11.3 |
Only first XIs of clubs with at least two teams in the League shall be eligible to play in Division 1. |
| 11.4 |
Save in the bottom Division in no circumstances shall a club have more than one team in the same Division or its 2nd/3rd/4th XI in a higher Division than its 1st/2nd/3rd XI respectively. |
| 11.5 |
Where a 2nd/3rd/4th XI respectively was due to be relegated to a Division in which that club's 2nd/3rd/4th XI respectively was playing the 2nd/3rd/4th XI would also be relegated as appropriate in order to comply with paragraph 12.7 irrespective of its position. |
| 12.0 |
An individual must be a bona fide member of the Club for whom he plays and no individual may play for more than one Club in the League or any competition organised by the League in any season without the consent of the Committee and this applies irrespective of whether the team or teams of the Club for which he has first played competes in the League. |
| 12.1 |
An overseas player cannot play for any club in the League or in any competition organised by the League unless the club has registered that player with the Hon. Secretary by April 10th in any year. However, an overseas player joining a club after that date may be registered with the Hon. Secretary by the club of which he is a member but cannot play in the League or in any competition organised by the League until he is so registered. No such overseas player shall be registered after July 31st except with the consent of the Committee. |
| 12.2 |
No team in the League shall have more than one overseas player in any match. |
| 12.3 |
For the purposes of this paragraph "overseas player" shall mean a person who is not qualified to play for England in accordance with the criteria laid down or approved for the time being by the England and Wales Cricket Board. |
| 12.4 |
No person who is subject to a current suspension imposed by any recognised cricketing authority, whether in this country or abroad, shall be eligible to play in the league or any competition organised by the league. |
| 13.0 |
Results and details of all League matches must be notified to the Sports Editor of the Sussex Express and the Hon Fix Secretary in accordance with regulations for the time being in force laid down by the Committee. (NOTE: The current regulations are:
(a) A club whose 1st XI is playing at home shall forward whether by telephone, letter, card, fax or e-mail the results and details of both its 1st XI and 2nd XI games (and where appropriate its 3rd XI games) so that this information is in the hands of the Sports Editor of the Sussex Express by 2 p.m. on the Monday following the game. This includes abandoned and cancelled games.
(b) In the event of a 2nd Xl/3rd Xl/4th XI game not being covered by the above then the club whose 2nd XI is playing at home shall be responsible for following the above procedure.
(c) In the event of a game involving a 3rd XI or 4th XI or two 3rd Xls not covered by the above then the home club shall be responsible for the above procedure.
(d) IN ADDITION in all cases including cancelled or abandoned games ALL SIDES are responsible for reporting the result by e-mail to the Hon Fixture Secretary so that it reaches him by 7.00 p.m. on the Sunday immediately after the game, (either using the reporting facilities on the web-site or to: dave@mountview.vispa.com).
NOTE: it is the responsibility of both clubs that the information,
league points and details are correct, that both cards tally and both cards calculate correctly the number of league points earned by both sides. |
| 14.0 |
Where a club is unable to fulfil all its fixtures on a particular day then the higher rated team(s) must take preference. |
| 15.0 |
The ECB Directives as set out in the directory shall apply to all league matches and in all the other competitions organised by the League. |
| 16.0 |
Any dispute or query under this Appendix shall be referred to the Committee whose decision shall be final. |
ESCL PLAYING REGULATIONS