1 Laws of Cricket Except as varied hereunder, The Laws of Cricket (2017 Edition) shall apply These playing conditions apply only matches 1 to 6 and 18 to 22 in Band 1 played in the Win Lose format 1.1 Penalty Runs Laws 41 and 42 Where there is no League appointed Umpire (an official Umpire or a registered Club Umpire), i.e. where the Umpires are player Umpires (see Playing Regulations section 10) Penalty runs specified in the Code under Laws 41 and 42 shall not apply in matches. The processes to suspend a player from a match described in Law 42 will also not apply however all such offences shall be reported to the management committee. For avoidance of doubt 5 penalty runs can be awarded for a ball hitting a protective helmet placed on the ground this now being covered in law 28.3.3. 1.2 Wides Law 22 and Crease Markings - Law 7 Umpires have been given guidance to enable them to penalise wides consistently. The ICC recommendation for marking the wickets purposes markings at both wickets to assist the Umpire in detecting wides. It is a WCL provision that Clubs will be expected to include the markings below: A - is middle stump B - Two marks 1 foot either side of middle stump on the batting crease D- Two marks 5 feet from the batting crease 79
These two sets of markings are to show the protected area for the bowlers follow through C Two sets of marks 9 inches long on both return and batting crease 35 inches from middle stump on both sides of the wicket. These denote the extremes for off side wide deliveries 1.2.1 All balls that pass down the leg side and behind the striker shall be interpreted as negative bowling and called Wide. 1.3 No Balls Save that the delivery is not a Wide if: The balls that passes the wickets on or inside the line of Leg Stump when the striker moves towards the off side and allows the ball to pass behind him. The ball passes between the striker and leg stump. The batsman attempts a switch hit or reverse sweep; in which case the normal interpretation of a wide prevails 1.3.1 The delivery following a No ball (of any type) shall be a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it. If the delivery for a free hit is not a legitimate delivery (any kind of No ball or a Wide ball), then the next delivery will become a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it. 1.3.2 For any free hit, the striker can be dismissed only under the circumstances that apply for a No ball even if the delivery for the free hit is called Wide 1.3.3 Field changes are not permitted for free hit deliveries unless there is a change of striker or the No ball was the result of a field restriction breach in which case the field may be changed to the extent of correcting the breach. However, in all circumstances, any fielder within 15 yards of the striker may retreat to a position on the same line no more than 15 yards from the striker. The umpires will signal a free hit by (after the normal No ball signal) extending one arm straight upwards and moving it in a circular motion. 1.4 The bowling of fast short pitched balls Law 41.6 shall be supplemented by the following:- 1.4.1 A bowler shall be limited to two fast short-pitched deliveries per over. 1.4.2 A fast short pitched delivery is defined as a ball which passes or would have passed above the shoulder height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease. This ruling shall apply even if the striker may have made contact with the ball with his bat, person and equipment. 80
1.4.3 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 1.4.4 In addition, for the purposes of this regulation and subject to 1.5.5 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. 1.4.5 For the avoidance of doubt any fast short pitched delivery that is called a Wide under this playing condition shall also count as one of the allowable short pitched deliveries in that over. 1.4.6 In the event of a bowler bowling more than two fast short pitched deliveries in an over as defined in 1.5.2 above, the umpire at the bowler s end shall call and signal No ball on each occasion. A differential signal shall be used to signify a fast short pitched delivery, namely the umpire shall call and signal No ball and then tap the top of his head with the other hand. 1.4.7 If a bowler delivers a third fast short pitched ball in an over, the umpire, after the call of No ball and when the ball is dead, shall caution the bowler, inform the other umpire, the captain of the fielding side and the batsman at the wicket of what has occurred. This caution shall apply throughout the innings. 1.4.8 If there is a second instance of the bowler being No balled in the innings for bowling more than two fast short pitched deliveries in an over, the umpire shall advise the bowler that this is his final warning for the innings. 1.4.9 Should there be any further instance by the same bowler in that innings, the umpire shall call and signal No ball when the ball is dead and direct the captain to take the bowler off immediately. If necessary, the over shall be completed by another bowler, who shall neither have bowled the previous over, or part thereof, nor be allowed to bowl the next over, or part thereof. 1.4.10 The bowler thus suspended shall not be allowed to bowl again in that innings. 1.4.11 The umpire will report the occurrence to the other umpire, scorers, the batsmen at the wicket and, as soon as possible, to the captain of the batting side. 1.4.12 At the end of the match, the umpires will then report the matter to the General Manager who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and the bowler concerned. 81
1.4.13 The above is not a substitute for Law 42.7 which umpires are able to apply at any time. 1.5 Law 41.7.1 to 41.7.3 - The bowling of high full pitched balls 1.5.1 Any high full pitched ball (regardless of its pace) which passes or would have passed above waist height of the striker standing upright at the crease shall be called and signalled No ball by the umpire at the bowler s end. In addition, if the high pitched ball is fast, it shall be deemed dangerous and unfair and the umpire at the bowler s end, in addition to the call and signal of No ball will adopt the following procedure On the first instance warn the bowler and fielding captain, such warning to remain in place for the remainder of the innings On subsequent instances invoke the process in Law 41.7 1.6 Covering the Pitch Law 10 Covers are mandated by Club standards, and will be used during an interruption to the match. The home Club will have the responsibility for covering and uncovering the pitch when requested to do so by the Umpires. 1.6.1 Should no official Umpires be present the pitch will be covered on the request of either captain and uncovered by mutual agreement between the captains 82
2 Cancellation 2.1 The captains (or their nominated representative) when in agreement may call off or abandon a match at any time on the playing day if they agree a ground is unfit for play due to climatic conditions. Irrespective of the ownership of a ground, all grounds are subject to the Rules, Regulations, Playing Conditions and Club Standards of the League. However, a Club which is a tenant of a third party will not be penalised for the independent cancellation of a match by a landlord on the basis that the pitch is unfit or otherwise unavailable through no fault of the tenant Club. As all Clubs have an obligation to ensure that every effort is made to complete all fixtures, the Club should therefore agree a service level agreement with the landlord to establish the landlord s responsibility to ensure that a suitable pitch is available wherever possible. 2.2 Either captain may demand a pitch inspection by a Panel Umpire unassociated with the particular teams at which a representative of both teams may attend. If at this inspection the match is not cancelled then both teams are required to attend the ground ready for the scheduled start time. 83
3 Pre-match Requirements 3.1 Home Club The Home Club shall ensure that following occurs: the ground and pitch are properly prepared for play, e.g. the pitch and boundaries are marked, the wickets and sightscreens are in place the match balls (see section 3.3 below), bails, run-up markers and drying cloths are ready for the Umpires in the designated changing area 3.2 Home and Away Clubs Both Clubs shall ensure that the following occurs: The fees for the Umpires are paid to the Umpires before the start of play, unless agreement to the contrary has been reached with the Umpires (see Playing Regulations section 10 Umpires) Provision of scorers (see Playing Regulations section 11 Official Scorers) The Match Report Form is completed with the players names and with the properly signed declarations about young players 3.3 Match Balls 3.3.1 Only League prescribed balls as specified below shall be used in WCL matches. The Home Club shall provide all balls for the match, as follows: 1 new Reader Readers Special County Imperial Crown, one for each innings. Balls will normally be Red. Dukes County International balls of equivalent standards purchased in 2017 may be used in lieu of the above. For all matches the Home Club shall ensure that sufficient spare balls of a similar grade and colour to the original match balls are provided to allow the match to continue, should the original match ball(s) become unavailable. The spare balls shall be of a reasonable standard Any Club proved to have transgressed the above Playing Condition shall be liable to forfeiture of 5 League points as prescribed in Playing Regulations Section 12 Penalties for Offences against Rules and Regulations. 84
4 Duration, Hours of Play 4.1 Duration Matches shall consist of a maximum of 50 overs a side. Close of play will be when either a result is reached or the number of overs above adjusted for late starts and interruptions are completed. 4.2 Scheduled Start Times 4.3 The Toss The start times shall be: Dates 21 Apr to 1 Sept inclusive 12.30pm 8 Sept 12.00pm The toss shall be made no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled start of play. A team shall be considered not ready to play unless at least seven players are present at the time of the toss. The non-offending captain may claim the toss should a team have insufficient players at the time of the toss. 5 Length of Innings 5.1 Each match shall consist of a maximum of 50 overs per innings. The captain of the batting side may not declare his innings closed at any time during the course of the match. Should the side batting first be bowled out before the overs it is entitled to have received been completed, the side batting second shall be entitled to bat for 50 overs or as reduced due to inclement weather or other cause. The fielding side in both innings shall have a maximum time of 3 hours 15 minutes to bowl 50 overs 5.2 Late Starts 5.2.1 The match will not start until both sides have at least 7 players at the ground, changed and ready to play. 5.2.2 If the start is delayed for climatic reasons or because both teams are not ready to play, the number of overs shall be arranged so that both teams have the opportunity of batting for the same number of overs (minimum of 20 overs per side). The calculation of the number of overs to be bowled shall be based on one over per side lost for each period of 8 minutes or part thereof lost. 85
e.g. 40 minutes lost equals 10 overs and each team shall receive no more than 45 overs. If time for less than 40 overs (20 each side) remain at the start of a match that match is automatically abandoned. 5.2.3 If only one team is not ready to play at the scheduled start time, the procedure in 5.2.2 will apply and the offending team will be penalised 6 penalty runs for each over lost. 5.3 Interruptions After the Match Has Started 5.3.1 The duration of the game will be reduced by one over for every 4 minutes or part lost. The revision of the number of overs should ensure, whenever possible, that both teams have the opportunity to bat the same number of overs. If an odd number of overs remain this is rounded down. The team batting second shall not bat for a greater number of overs than the team batting first unless the latter completed its innings in less than its allocated overs. If an interruption occurs in the first innings and results in a lower number of overs being available in the second innings the first innings will then conclude and less overs will be allocated to the second innings. When a side batting second is left with less than 20 overs then the result will be an abandoned game. 5.3.2 Over Loss Rates 1 hour = 15 overs; 2 hours = 30 overs; 3 hours = 45 overs; etc. 5.2.2 Late Start for climatic reasons or both teams not ready 5.2.3 Late start other than climatic reasons or 5.3 Play Interrupted after the match has started Mins Overs Mins Overs Mins Overs 1 8 1 each side 1 4 1 33-36 10 9 16 2 each side 5 8 2 37 40 11 17 24 3 each side 9-12 3 41 44 12 25 32 4 each side 13 16 4 44 48 13 33 40 5 each side 17 20 5 49 52 14 41 48 6 each side 21 24 6 53 56 15 49 56 7 each side 25 28 7 557 60 16 58 64 8 each side 29 32 8 86
6 Slow Over Rates 6.1 All sides are expected to bowl at the average rate of one over every 4 minutes. This is rounded to 3 hours 15 minutes to reach the start of the final over. If overs are reduced the target time is reduced accordingly such that, for example, 30 overs should take no more than 30 x 4 = 120 minutes. This defines an adjusted target time to start the last over of the innings in instances where the start is delayed or play interrupted. 6.2 All teams are expected to be in position to bowl the first ball of the last of their allotted overs within the target time or adjusted target time. In the event of them failing to do so, the full quota of overs will be completed, and the batting side will be credited with 6 penalty runs for every whole over yet to be bowled This will apply to both innings of the match.. If the side batting second is credited with runs in this way and this consequently takes their score past that of the side batting first then the match shall be deemed to be won by the side batting second. All penalties in this regard will be imposed immediately after the time expires and the ball first becomes dead. 6.3 If the innings is interrupted, the over-rate penalty will not apply. 6.4 The Umpires shall inform the fielding team captain and the scorers whenever the target time is adjusted. The Umpire at the bowler s end will inform the fielding captain, the batsmen and the other Umpire of any time allowances as and when they arise. 7 Tea Interval 7.1 A Tea Interval of 20 minutes shall be taken at the conclusion of the innings of the team batting first. This timing shall be conditional on local circumstances (for example tea may not be ready for some reason) and subject to the agreement of the Umpires (or captains where no League appointed Umpires are present). Note - The Time of the tea interval can be varied by the Umpires and captains together using the process in Law 15. 7.2 The cost of teas shall be met by the home Club. 87
8 The Result Save as provided below a match shall be won by the team which has scored the most runs. A result can only be achieved if both teams have had the opportunity of batting for at least 20 overs, unless the team batting second has scored more runs than its opponents or has achieved its target score as defined below. 8.1 If, due to suspension of play after the start of the match, the number of overs in the innings of either team has to be revised to a lesser number than that originally allotted (minimum of 20 overs), then a revised target score should be set for the number of overs which the team batting second will have the opportunity of facing, this revised target being calculated by the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern (standard edition) method. A par score will be set for the second innings. If this is exceeded a win for the team batting second shall result. If the par score is equalled then scores are tied. 8.2 If a match is abandoned before it has been played to a conclusion and before the side batting second has received its allotted number of overs (providing that it has received not less than 20 overs) the result will be decided by the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern (standard edition) method as determined and agreed by the captains, umpires and scorers working together. 8.3 If after the event it is discovered that the wrong Duckworth/Lewis/Stern target had been set, the faulty target shall stand. In case of dispute the league appointed umpires will determine the target. 8.4 If the score of the team batting second passes the target score at any time prior to the conclusion of its innings then the match shall be won by the team batting second but if bowled out earlier the match shall be won by the team batting first. 8.5 Only league approved applications (the ECB Play-Cricket Scorer) shall be used to calculate the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern targets. The home side will ensure this is available on the match day. Whilst the league provides a 88
duty manager he cannot be relied upon to be available to set and calculate Duckworth/Lewis/ Stern targets. 8.6 A match shall be tied if the scores are equal at the end of the match. 8.7 Points allocations Win 20 points with no bonus points Loss 0 points plus bonus points Tie 10 points plus bonus points. Abandoned 4 points plus bonus points Bonus Points Bowling 3 wickets 1 point 5 wickets 2 points 7 wickets 3 points 9 wickets or all out 4 points Batting 125 149 Runs 1 point 150 174 2 points 175 199 3 points 200 4 points 89
9 Number of Overs per Bowler 9.1 No bowler may bowl more than ten (10) overs in an uninterrupted 50 over innings. 9.2 In a match where the start has been delayed and the innings of both teams are reduced prior to the commencement of the match to less than 50 overs, no bowler may bowl more than one fifth of the total overs allowed. 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 eg in a 43 over match, three bowlers may bowl nine overs and no other more than eight overs. 9.3 In the event of a reduction in overs after the commencement of the match, the maximum number of overs allowed per bowler will be calculated as in 9.2 above. 9.4 When an interruption occurs mid-over and on resumption the bowler will have found to be exceeding the revised maximum allocation, the bowler will be allowed to finish the incomplete over. 9.5 In the event of a bowler being unable to complete an over, the remaining balls will be bowled by another bowler. Such part of an over will count as a full over only so far as each bowler s limit is concerned. 9.6 It shall be the responsibility of the fielding captain to ensure that maximum bowling allocations are not exceeded. Should it be discovered that a bowler has exceeded the original or revised allocation, that bowler shall cease to bowl immediately upon discovery. Any remaining balls in that over shall be bowled by another bowler, provided the replacement shall not be exceeding his own allocation. Any runs scored or wickets taken in the balls bowled prior to the bowler s having been discovered to have exceeded the allocation shall stand. 90
10 Restriction on Placement of Fieldsmen 10.1 At the instant of delivery, there may not be more than five fielders on the leg side. 10.2 The following additional restrictions apply in certain overs of each innings 10.2.1 A Fielding circle shall be drawn so; Two semi-circles shall be drawn on the field of play. The semicircles 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. 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 five yard intervals, each dot to be covered by a white plastic or rubber (but not metal) disc. 10.2.2 At the instant of delivery: a) Powerplay 1 no more than two fieldsmen shall be permitted outside this fielding restriction area. In an innings of 50 overs, these are overs 1 to 10 inclusive. b) Powerplay 2 no more than four fieldsmen shall be permitted outside this fielding restriction area. In an innings of 50 overs, these are overs 11 to 40 inclusive. c) Powerplay 3 no more than five fieldsmen shall be permitted outside this fielding restriction area. In an innings of 50 overs, these are overs 41 to 50 inclusive. 10.3 In circumstances when the number of overs of the batting team is reduced, the number of overs within each phase of the innings shall be reduced as follows 91
Innings Duration Powerplay 1 Powerplay 3 Powerplay 3 20 4 12 4 21 4 13 4 22 5 13 4 23 5 14 4 24 5 14 5 25 5 15 5 26 5 16 5 27 6 16 5 28 6 17 5 29 6 17 6 30 6 18 6 31 6 19 6 32 7 19 6 33 7 20 6 34 7 20 7 35 7 21 7 36 7 22 7 37 8 22 7 38 8 23 7 39 8 23 8 40 8 24 8 41 8 25 8 42 9 25 8 43 9 26 8 44 9 26 9 45 9 27 9 46 9 28 9 47 10 28 9 48 10 29 9 49 10 29 10 For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that the table shall apply to both the 1st and 2nd innings of the match. 10.4 If play is interrupted during an innings and the table in 10.3 applies, the Powerplay takes immediate effect. For the avoidance of doubt this applies even if the interruption has occurred mid-over Illustrations of 10.4 92
A 50 over innings is interrupted after 8.3 overs and reduced to 32 overs. The new phases are 7+19+6. Therefore, the middle phase fielding restrictions take immediate effect when play resumes and last for a further 17.3 overs. The final phase begins after 26 overs have been bowled. A 40 over innings is interrupted after 18.5 overs and reduced to 22 overs. The new phases are 5+13+4. When play resumes, the final phase fielding restrictions apply for the remaining 3.1 overs. 10.5 At the commencement of the middle and final phases of an innings, the umpire shall signal such commencement to the scorers by rotating his arm in a large circle. 10.6 In the event of an infringement of any of the above fielding restrictions, the square leg umpire shall call and signal No ball. 93
11 ECB Conditions 11.1 All member Clubs are expected to abide by ECB directives including but not limited to ECB Fast bowling directives The wearing of helmets by players under 18 on the day of the match Fielding restrictions for U18 players The procedure for registering players Under 13 to play in adult cricket 11.2 Unfair Play -Suspect Bowling Actions 11.2.1 Where League appointed officials stand the following shall apply. If a bowler s action is brought into question then stage 1 of the ECB guidelines will be invoked. The Club of the player involved will be informed and asked to take action. If on a subsequent occasion, the bowler is again reported by a League appointed official, then stage 2, a ban from bowling and a review by a Level III coach, will be invoked. No right of appeal. 11.2.2 Where no League appointed officials stand the following shall apply. If on two occasions a bowler s action is brought into question by two independent reports in two different matches involving different opposing Clubs, then stage 1 of the ECB guidelines will be invoked. The Club of the player involved will be informed and asked to take action. If on a subsequent occasion, the bowler is again reported by a third independent source, then stage 2, a ban from bowling and a review by a Level III coach, will be invoked. No right of appeal. 11.3 Failure to adhere to these directives will be viewed as a disciplinary offence. 94