1. Hours of Play & Intervals

1.1 Scheduled start of play is 1.00 pm (save Saturday games at MF involving EC 2ndXI which will start as close after 1.00 p.m. as possible to allow for completion of a morning game), weather permitting. 

1.2 One tea interval of 20 minutes will be taken between innings. The tea interval may be reduced at the discretion of the umpires, after consultation with the team captains, in a reduced overs match but to no less than 10 minutes.

1.3 Drinks breaks to be agreed between the team captains and umpires before commencement of play.

2. Appointment of Officials

The teams shall arrange to provide their own umpires.  If a team cannot provide a non-playing umpire, then the umpires shall be provided by the batting side.  In such circumstances teams are asked to ensure that umpiring duties are carried out by senior experienced players wherever possible. 

3. Balls

A new ball shall be used at the start of each innings. The fielding side will provide a new standard Grade A four-piece ball (available from the GCA) and acceptable spares.  In a rain-affected match, old balls may be used if both Captains agree, but subject to the approval of the balls by the umpires.

4. Toss

4.1 The toss to be carried out by the captains on the field of play not less than 15 minutes before the scheduled start of play and the captain winning the toss must inform the opposing captain and the umpires of his decision not less than 10 minutes before the scheduled start of play.

4.2 Before the toss the captains shall agree the following with the umpires:-

a) Boundaries of playing area and boundary allowances.

b) Clock or watch to be followed.

c) Special conditions or local customs.

5. Team Sheets

The captains of both teams must complete a team sheet of nominated players and hand it to the umpires before the toss takes place. It is also the responsibility of both captains to ensure that only the listed players participate in the game. The umpires should be advised of the names of any missing nominated players before the match starts.

6. Overs and Target Over-Rate

6. Matches will be 40 x 6 ball overs per side and are expected to start at 1.00 pm sharp (subject to 1.1 above). It is anticipated that with games starting at 1.00 pm, each side should take no more than 2 hours 35 minutes to bowl its allocated overs, this being the responsibility of the captain.

7. Restriction on Placement of Fieldsmen

7.1 Two semi-circles shall be drawn on the field of play. The semi-circles have as their centre the middle stump at either end of the pitch. The radius of each of the semi-circles is 30 yards. The ends of each semi-circle are joined to the other by a straight line drawn or marked on the field on the same side of the pitch. The field restriction area should be marked by a continuous painted white line or dots at 5 yard intervals, each dot to be covered by a white plastic or rubber (but not metal) disc.

7.2 Throughout the whole game there must never be more than five fielders on the leg side from the instant of delivery until the striker has played at, or had the opportunity to play at, the ball. In the event of an infringement, the square leg umpire shall call No Ball.

7.3 Throughout the whole game 4 fielders plus the bowler and wicketkeeper must be inside the field restriction marking at the instant of delivery. In the event of infringement, the square leg umpire shall call No Ball.

8.1 Points shall be awarded on the following basis:

8.2 The team winning a game shall be awarded 10 points plus any bonus points earned. If a match is tied, each side shall be awarded 5 points plus any bonus points earned. If any match is deemed a No-Result, no points will be awarded to either side.

8.3 Any game which is cancelled, abandoned or unable to be completed in accordance with the above rules on the appointed day of the fixture due to weather conditions will be deemed a No-Result.

8.4 Any game, which is cancelled, abandoned or unable to be completed on the appointed date of the fixture for any other reason than the weather shall be replayed at the entire discretion of the Management Committee.

8.5 If the scores finish level, then the side having lost the fewest number of wickets shall be declared the winner. If still level, the side having scored the most amount of runs at the end of the 20th over shall be declared the winner. If still level, the side having lost the fewest number of wickets at the end of the 20th over shall be declared the winner. If still level, the match shall be declared a tie and both sides will be awarded 5 points plus any bonus points received.

8.6 Bonus points will be awarded for League Division 2 as follows:

1 batting point for each of 80, 100, 120, 140 and 160 runs.

1 bowling point for every 2 wickets taken.

In addition to the above, in the event of the side batting second winning the match and requiring less than 160 to win, batting bonus points will be awarded to the side batting second as follows:

Scoring the winning total at:

Runs per over	Batting Points
2.0	1
2.5	2
3.0	3
3.5	4
4.0	5

(Note - in the event of the side batting second losing or tying the match, then the bonus points system will be the same as for the first innings).

8.7 In the event of a rain-affected game, where the overs for both sides are reduced, then the awarding of batting bonus points will be on the basis of run rate per over as detailed immediately above for both the team batting first and the team batting second.

10. Delayed Start to Match

10.1 One over per side shall be deducted per each 8 minutes or part thereof after the scheduled start time, but the match may not be reduced to less than 20 overs per side. The latest permitted start time in the event of a reduced overs match shall be 3.30 pm unless both captains agree otherwise.

10.2 For all matches affected by a delayed start, each side will automatically be awarded the following additional bonus points (subject to the note below) to compensate for the reduced opportunity to earn bonus points (and to discourage captains from agreeing to accept Average Points in preference to a reduced overs game):

Overs	Points
36-39	1
32-35	2
28-31	3
24-27	4
20-23	5

(Note that in no circumstances can any team earn a total of more than 10 bonus points from any one match).

Matches unable to be played due to weather will not be rearranged. Matches unable to be played for any other reason will only be rearranged in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the Management Committee. Average points system to apply to No-Result matches. This is based on the total points earned by that team during the Championship programme, divided by the number of Championship matches actually completed by that team.

13. Dangerous and unfair bowling

Law 42.6 of the MCC Laws of Cricket shall be replaced by the following:

13.1 A bowler shall be limited to one fast short-pitched delivery per over.

13.2 A fast short-pitched ball is defined as a ball which passes or would have passed above the shoulder height of the striker standing upright at the crease.

13.3 The umpire at the bowler's end shall advise the bowler and the batsman on strike when each fast short-pitched delivery has been bowled.

13.4 In addition, for the purposes of this regulation and subject to 13.6 below, a ball that passes above head height of the batsman that prevents him from being able to hit it with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke shall be called a Wide.

13.5 For the avoidance of doubt any fast short-pitched delivery that is called a Wide under this playing condition shall also count as the allowable short-pitched delivery for the over.

13.6 In the event of a bowler bowling more than one fast short-pitched delivery in an over as defined in 13.2 above, the umpire at the bowler's end shall call and signal No Ball on each occasion.

13.7 A ball that passes above waist height to the batsman (irrespective of speed) standing in his usual stance having not pitched shall be deemed a no-ball

In both of the above cases the no-ball will be called by the bowlers end umpire( Strikers end umpire may indicate to the bowlers end umpire)

14. No-Balls

1 run will be awarded for a No-ball.

15. Match Results

The captain of the winning team in each match (or of the designated home side in the event of a tie) is responsible for filling in an individual scorecard and depositing it in the scorecard box at KGV by not later than 8.00 pm on the day following the match with the full result and match details.

16. Teas

Each side shall be responsible for providing its own teas, including for its own provided umpire, at its own cost.