VICTORIAN COUNTRY CRICKET LEAGUE Inc. RULES & PLAYING CONDITIONS Region Under 21 Competition (updated September 2017) 1. THE UNDER 21 COMPETITION 1.1 CONTROL OF COMPETITION The competition shall be under the control of the Board of the VCCL Incorporated. For the purpose of considering any matter pertaining to the Under 21 Competition the quorum for the Board shall be three members. 1.1.1 Venues. Playing Pitch Surfaces for matches shall be TURF but a back up hard wicket should be available to ensure that in most circumstances the match can be played. 1.2 POWERS OF THE BOARD The Board is empowered to enquire into and determine all disputes, protests, reports, breaches of rules or any other matter covered or not specifically covered in these rules arising from or in connection with the administration and playing of the Under 21 Competition. The Board shall have the power to impose fines up to but not exceeding an amount of $500, or suspend any player or team from the competition in connection with the exercise of its powers under these rules. The Board may summon and interview any player or official, and/or request the presentation of any score book or other document in relation to any matter under consideration. Any decision of the Board is final. 2. CONDITIONS APPLYING TO ALL MATCHES 2.1.1 Laws of Cricket to Apply Except as varied hereinafter, The Laws of Cricket (2017 Code) shall apply in all matches. 2.1.2 Player Eligibility: (i) A maximum of (2) Two players maybe under 22 years of age the rest shall be under 21 years of age, on 1st of September in the current season (ii) All players are to be registered with an association in the region he is representing. They must have played at least one match in their association in the current season. They must not have played Premier firsts or seconds, or Sub-district firsts, in the current season. (iii) Playing an ineligible player by accident or by intention will mean a match forfeit. 2.1.3 Number of Players in a Team Twelve (12 players) maybe named in each Team, however only eleven (11) of these shall be permitted to participate as batsmen and only eleven (11) shall be permitted to bowl or keep wickets, ie: the batting 12th man and bowling 12th man maybe two (2) different players. The bowling 12th man is NOT permitted to keep wickets. The Team Declaration Form must indicate which player will not bat and which player will not Bowl or Keep wickets. Note: This rule allows free interchange of fieldsmen from the 12 players, if a 13th man is used, the Laws of Cricket then apply. 2.2 Disputes & Reports Except as provided elsewhere in these rules any dispute or report shall be determined by the VCCL as follows:-
2.2.1 INVESTIGATION OF DISPUTES & REPORTS The Board of the VCCL shall investigate all disputes and reports arising out of, or in connection with these matches, and is entitled to exercise its powers as defined in Rule 1.2. 2.2.2 NOTIFICATION OF DISPUTE Initial notification of any intended or suspected dispute should be made as early as possible by telephone to the VCCL Secretary. A formal statement, in writing, of the matter in dispute must be in the hands of the VCCL Secretary or his deputy within two hours of completion of the match in question. At the same time an additional copy of the statement must be made available for each other affected Association. 2.2.3 NOTIFICATION OF REPORT Initial notification of any intended report should be made by the reporting umpire(s) as early as possible by telephone to the VCCL Secretary. A formal statement, in writing, of the report must be in the hands of the VCCL Secretary or his deputy within two hours of completion of the match in question. 3. CONDITIONS APPLYING TO THESE MATCHES (ONE DAY MATCHES) 3.1 Principles of Play The matches will consist of one innings per team, each innings being limited to a maximum of 50 six-ball overs. For explanatory purposes in these conditions, Side A is defined as the side which bats first, and Side B is defined as the side which bats second. The innings of Side A shall be scheduled for 3 and 1/2 hours (210 minutes) this in general terms is also the innings time of Side B. 3.2 Hours of Play and Intervals The match shall be scheduled to commence at 10.00am and conclude at 5.30pm with a 30 minute luncheon interval at the conclusion of the innings of the side batting first (Side A). Subject to Rule 3.2.1 By agreement between the two participating teams these times maybe altered to allow for local circumstances in regards to each match such as travel etc. Note: A match could commence at 9.30am to allow the visitors an earlier departure for home. 3.2.1 Interval Between Innings Where play is delayed or interrupted, the Umpires will reduce the length of the interval as follows: Time Lost Interval Up to 60 minutes No change Between 60 and 120 minutes 20 minutes More than 120 minutes 10 minutes 3.2.2 Drinks Breaks Two drinks breaks per session are permitted, each one hour 15 minutes apart. In cases of extreme heat, an extra drinks break may be taken with the agreement of the Umpires. Any individual player may be given a drink either on the boundary edge or at the fall of a wicket, on the field, provided that no playing time is wasted. No other drinks shall be taken onto the field without the permission of the Umpires. Any player taking drinks onto the field shall be dressed in proper cricket attire. 3.3 Declarations Law 15 The Laws of Cricket shall not apply. The Captain of the batting team may not declare his innings closed at any time during the course of the match.
3.4 Conditions of Play 3.4.1 In an Uninterrupted Match or Interrupted by 30 minutes or less (i) Each team, subject to the provisions of 3.4.1 (ii) & (iii), shall bat for 50 (sixball) overs unless previously dismissed. (ii) If Side B fails to bowl the required number of overs by the scheduled time for cessation of the first session (innings of Side A), play shall continue until the required number of overs has been bowled or dismissal of Side A whichever occurs first. The innings of Side B shall be limited to the same number of overs bowled by it at the scheduled time for cessation of the innings of Side A. The over in progress at the scheduled cessation time shall count as a completed over. Note: The innings of Side B shall commence at the scheduled time, and the interval shortened accordingly. (iii) If Side A is dismissed in less than 50 overs, but before 210 minutes, Side B shall be entitled to bat for 50 overs. ie: except as provided in (ii) above. (iv) If Side A fails to bowl 50 overs or the number of overs as provided in 3.4.1 (ii), (iii) by the scheduled cessation time, the hours of play shall be extended until the required number of overs has been bowled or a result has been achieved. (v) If for wholly acceptable reasons the umpires determine that there has been delays, stoppages or interruptions to play in the innings of the side batting first (Side A) which were not the fault of the side bowling first (Side B) and this lost time is LESS THAN 30 MINUTES, then a new time for the scheduled conclusion of the side batting first Side A should be set at the time of the said wholly acceptable reason/s. 3.4.2 In Matches where Play is Delayed or Interrupted for more than 30 minutes (i) The object shall always be to rearrange the number of overs so that both teams have the opportunity of batting for the same number of overs, provided that a minimum of 20 overs remains available to each team. The calculation of the number of overs to be bowled shall be based on a rate of 15 overs per hour for the total scheduled time remaining for play. (ii) If the number of overs to be bowled to Side A is reduced, a fixed time shall be specified for the completion of Side A s innings, and shall be calculated according to Rules 3.2.1 and 3.4.2 (i). (ii) If Side B fails to bowl the required number of overs by the scheduled time for cessation of the first session (innings of Side A), play shall continue until the required number of overs has been bowled or dismissal of Side A whichever occurs first. The innings of Side B shall be limited to the same number of overs bowled by it at the scheduled time for cessation of the innings of Side A. The over in progress at the scheduled cessation time shall be count as a completed over. Note: The innings of Side B shall commence at the scheduled time, and the interval shortened accordingly. (iii) If Side A fails to bowl the reduced number of overs by the scheduled cessation time, the hours of play shall be extended until the required number of overs has been bowled or a result has been achieved. (iv) If the innings of Side B is delayed or interrupted and it is not possible for Side B to have the opportunity of batting for the same number of overs as Side A, then the match shall be declared a "DRAW".refer 3.7 (v) Side B shall not bat for a greater number of overs than Side A unless Side A has been dismissed in less than the required number of overs.
3.5 Determination of Result 3.5.1 Determination of Winner (i) A result can be achieved only if both teams have batted for at least 20 overs, unless one team has been all out in less than 20 overs or unless the team batting second scores enough runs to win in less than 20 overs. All matches in which both teams have not had an opportunity of batting for a minimum of 20 overs, shall be declared "DRAW".refer 3.7 (ii) In matches in which both teams have had the opportunity of batting for the agreed number of overs (ie 50 overs each in an uninterrupted match, or a lesser number of overs in an interrupted match), the team scoring the higher number of runs shall be the winner. If the scores are equal, the result shall be a tie. 3.6 Special Conditions Applying to One-Day Matches 3.6.1 Fielding Restrictions In addition to the Laws of Cricket the following fielding restrictions shall apply: Two semi-circles shall be drawn on the field of play. The semi-circles shall have as their centre the middle stump at either end of the pitch. The radius of each of the semi-circles shall be 30 yards (27.43 metres). The semi-circles shall be linked by two parallel straight lines drawn on the field. The fielding restriction areas should be marked by continuous painted white lines or dots at 5 yard (4.57 metres) intervals, each dot maybe covered by a white plastic or rubber (but not metal) disc measuring 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter. At the instant of delivery: a) Powerplay 1 - no more than four (4) fieldsmen shall be permitted outside this fielding restriction area. In an innings of 50 overs, these are overs 1 to 25 inclusive. (subject to section c) following) b) Powerplay 2 - no more than six (6) fieldsmen shall be permitted outside this fielding restriction area. In an innings of 50 overs, these are overs 26 to 50 inclusive (subject to section c) following) c) If the length of any match innings is/ are reduced then the above sections a) and b) shall apply for the first 50% and the second 50% of the overs respectively 3.6.2 Bowlers Over Limit (a) In a 50 over match, no bowler may bowl more than 10 six-ball overs in an innings. (b) In a delayed or interrupted match where the overs are reduced for both teams or for the team bowling second, no bowler shall bowl more than one fifth of the total overs available. Note 1: Where the total number of overs available is not exactly divisible by five, one additional over shall be allowed to each of the minimum number of bowlers necessary to make up the balance. eg: In a 33 over match, three bowlers may bow a maximum of seven overs and no other bowler more than six. Note 2 : In the event of a bowler breaking down and being unable to complete an over, the remaining balls must be bowled by another bowler. In these circumstances each bowler will be regarded as having bowled a complete over in so far as each individual s limit is concerned, but only one over will be counted towards the team s total.
3.6.3 Wides Wide Bowling Judging a Wide Umpires are instructed to apply a very consistent interpretation in regard to this Law in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket, but with an understanding that the players are NOT Professional cricketers. Any off side or leg side delivery which in the opinion of the Umpire does not give the batsman a reasonable opportunity to score shall be called a wide. As a guide, on the leg side a ball landing clearly outside the leg stump going further away should be called wide. The above provisions do not apply if the striker makes contact with the ball. or the ball makes contact with the striker or the ball passes between the striker and the stumps. 3.7 Match Points: POINTS. The results of matches shall be recorded on the points system as follows:- First innings win... 6 points Tie on first innings...each... 3 points Draw due to weather conditions...each...3 points Forfeit..... refer bye Bye: Maximum points obtained in respective round in same grade / section / group to be allocated to team with bye. This will include Percentage and this percentage will be that of the highest which may not be that of the side which wins. Note: Should a team withdraw from the competition following the commencement of the season, then that shall be treated as a bye for points. Further: In regards to the Draw Due to Weather, If there is NO PLAY, both teams in this match get BYE POINTS. end.