Merger of the UKFast Cheshire Cricket League and the Cheshire Cricket Alliance PROPOSAL To a ept a re o e datio the E e utives of the UKFast Cheshire Cricket League and the Cheshire Cricket Alliance to merge both leagues with effe t fro the 7 seaso TIMETABLE 7 th November 2016 Joint meeting of the Executive committees of the Cheshire Cricket League and the Cheshire Cricket Alliance to produce an agreed merger document for presentation to all clubs - at Hartford CC with a 7:45pm start 9th November 2016 Merger proposal circulated to all clubs. 24 th November 2016 Management meeting for all CCA clubs. 8th December 2016 CCL management meeting. 12 th January 2017 CCL AGM - vote on the merger 19 th January 2017 CCA AGM - vote on the merger Week commencing 6th Feb 2017 EGM of new merged League. BACKGROUND A number of meetings have been held between representatives of the Executive committees of the Cheshire Cricket League (CCL) and the Cheshire Cricket Alliance (CCA) with a view to safeguarding the future of recreational cricket at this level.
The outcome of these meetings is to seek approval from member clubs to merge both leagues from 2017 onwards The purpose of this report is to give players, officers and volunteers a detailed explanation of the plan for the 2017 season and beyond STRUCTURE 1st XI Cricket Those clubs in the CCA currently fielding one side will be moved to the 1st X1 structure. This would allow 5 1st X1 divisions to be formed, 4x12 and 1x16 for which no more than 22 fixtures per team would be arranged Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 Division 5 The teams in each Division will be determined by the finishing positions in Divisions 1-3 of the CCL and 1-2 of the CCA after applying the usual promotion and relegation procedure. The points system in place in the CCL in 2016 will be used in the new merged league, with one amendment, batting bonus points to start at 90 runs. (Clarification to be given to the current CCA clubs) 2nd XI cricket Divs A, B East and West depending on the finishing positions in the CCL in 2016 Div C 42 teams would form this division which would be regionalised at the discretion of the Exec (3 or 4 regional divisions) All the above is subject to change as a number of clubs have some unresolved issues, they have been asked to address no later than 31st December Div A (12 teams) Div B West (12) Div B East (12) Div C Three or four regional divisions. At this level the match format will be 35 overs per side, win/lose cricket. Restrictions on bowlers (no more than 10 overs per bowler)
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION If required, a Development Division will be created to sit below the 2nd XI set up it will be made up of teams that were not, in 2016, able to fulfil a 20 or 22 week season. The Executive will compile fixtures for them. REGISTRATIONS The merged league will not require clubs to complete player registration documents, except for overseas/ordinarily resident. A new rule will be introduced simply stating all players must be bone fide members of that club (continue to allow anyone to play 2nd XI cricket) Adopt the CCA rule regarding players making their first appearance in 2nd XI cricket in the last 2 games of the season that affect promotion or relegation, page 80 of CCA handbook, rule 6d. The current CCA rule on player transfers will be implemented CONCESSIONS If a team concedes a match that clubs highest placed team will lose 5 points, if the conceding team is the only one from that club in the new league, it will have 5 points deducted. Fines relating to conceded games will remain with the league but a claim for reasonable out of pocket incurred by the club whose opponents conceded after, say 9pm on a Thursday will be considered START TIMES All games will start at 1:30pm except for all games in April and the last 4 games of the season which will start at 1pm BOWLING RESTRICTIONS These will now apply to both 1st and 2nd X1 games. a bowler will be restricted to 14 overs per innings except in Div C where the restriction is 10 overs per innings CUP COMPETITIONS One mid-week T20 straight knock out for 1st XIs, entry will not be mandatory but will be encouraged, and another for 2nd/3rd/4th/5th XIs. Early rounds will be regionalised. A plate competition, for the Bill Pollard Trophy, for 1st XIs knocked out of the first round with the early rounds being regionalised FINANCE The CCA move all remaining cash to the new league. All payments will become due on the 1st April (previously 1st Jan in the CCL). Clubs will be allowed to pay
for balls in two instalments. Readers are to be approached with a view to being paid in two instalments (75% and 25%) Keep the CCL financial year end, 31st Oct. BALLS Use Readers, negotiate directly with Readers for increased discount or sponsorship. The CCL have a contract that runs to the end of the 2017 season. The new league buys back all Duke balls held by CCA clubs. Add these to the stock held by the CCA executive (180 Dukes cricket balls) consider using these in a cup competition or one of the Division C regional divisions OFFICERS The following members of the CCA Executive are willing to serve on the new Executive: Selwyn Stephenson (vice-chairman) Phil Smith (secretarial) Kevin Jobbins (ground inspection) Nick Corless (fixtures) Tony Sayle (umpires) Jim Rafferty and Alan Rogers are leaving their current positions but will support the Executive in any way they can subject to their other commitments Alan Hampson (CCA Treasurer) will stand down if the merger is approved The following CCL officers are willing to stand on the new committee: Graham Coull, Brian Birtles, John Bone, Bob Hutton, Graham Beckett, Richard White, Bill Livesley, Chris Moore, Mike Boffey, Dave Lawson. Graham Coull is willing to act as Chairman, Selwyn Stephenson as vice-chairman. Glen Nightingale is standing down from his role at the January AGM. Formally elect new committee at Feb 2017 EGM. VOTING ARRANGEMENTS At the AGM and EGM's a 2 to 1 majority will be required to enable a motion to be carried.
FIXTURES Graham Coull can continue to prepare the fixtures and this new structure will help his task. We will need to recruit Result Secretaries, to aid the collection of all results, the input of results and scorecards to play cricket and the reduction i the u er of u sures. Consequently we are looking for several new Results secretaries for Division 4,5,A and all the regional divisions. They would be encouraged to develop contacts with the captains of the sides in their division and to have up to date tables by Saturday night or Sunday morning. The current CCL time scale for sending in match report sheets will be adopted The use of the play cricket website will be given further consideration. WEBSITES Take on the CCA Pitchero site, which is free, encourage clubs to take on Pitchero. Use play-cricket to drive the Pitchero site FINES All fines will be charged according to the current CCL levels, 10/15 DISCIPLINE A new discipline committee will be formed for the start of the 2107 season. GROUND INSPECTION Continue the inspection of grounds under the new chairman, inspect the best grounds every two years, work hard with the sub-standard grounds to help them improve. Use league cash to improve pitches, pay for PQS or ECB pitch inspectors. Some grounds will not be promoted above a certain level if the ground is not suitable MEMBERSHIP FEES 30 per team in the league with a maximum of 90 payable by clubs GRADING COMMITTEE A committee to decide in conjunction with clubs/teams the placing of teams from season to season UMPIRES The two umpires associations will continue to discuss the formation of one association. The dissemination of appointments to clubs and captains will be
revamped using the appropriate technology to ensure late changes are fully communicated to all captains. It will be a guarantee that all 1st XI games have at least one umpire. Consideration will be given in 2017 and 2018 to appointing umpires in the order of Div1,4, 2,3,5 in order to preserve the provision of 2 neutral umpires to the teams formerly in Div 1 of the CCA MEETINGS To continue at Holmes Chapel. Suggested dates: 12th Jan 2017 - CCL AGM 19th Jan 2017 - CCA AGM Feb 2017 - EGM of new league Mar 2017 Executive Apr 2017 - Captains and Umpires Apr 2017 - Executive May 2017 - Executive June 2017 - Executive July 2017 - Executive Aug 2017 - Executive Sep 2017 - Executive Oct 2017 - League dinner Oct 2017 - Executive Oct 2017- date for rule change proposals Nov 2017 - Full meeting to discuss rule change proposals Dec 2017 - No meeting Jan 2018 - AGM