Cheshire Cup Rules 2005

Cheshire County Cricket Knockout Cup Rules - 2005

RULES

These rules cover the eligibility of clubs and players, alteration of the date set for the game and club duties.

1. The Competition is only open to clubs who are currently affiliated to the Cheshire Cricket Board and whose subscription for the current season has been paid by 10th April. Failure to comply with this date will result in the elimination of the club concerned from the Competition.

2. No player who has previously played in the Shield Competition in the current season shall play in the Cup Competition. No player shall play in the Cup Competition for more than one club in any season.

3. Any player not qualified to play for England, must have been permanently resident in the United Kingdom for at least two years prior to the commencement of the current season.

4. If a player is required by Cheshire County Cricket Club to play either a first or second eleven game, or to travel to play in a match, on the day of a cup tie, then he is ineligible to play in the Cheshire Cup Competition.

5. If a club has two or more players required by the County on the date of a match, then it shall be allowed to request a rearrangement of the tie from the Competition Secretary. He shall liaise with the clubs concerned and direct when the re-arranged match should take place, within 14 days of the original date. No tie may be decided by a game of less than 20 overs per side.

6. All players must play Saturday league cricket on a regular basis for the club which they represent in the Competition.

7. Any club which is found to have played an ineligible player will be disqualified from the Competition for the season, including the match in which the infringement occurred. A match for the purposes of this rule shall be deemed to have been played once the toss has taken place, notwithstanding that for whatever reason the match was not subsequently played to a conclusion on the day in question.

8. A club disqualified under Rule 7 above, shall not be entitled to any awards won in the previous rounds of the Competition.

9. The club drawn at home is responsible for all match arrangements.

10. The dates for each round will be specified in the draw circulated to clubs.

11. If a club wishes to change the date of a match then the official club representative shall make a prompt application with full details to the Competition Secretary and shall notify the other club at the same time. Both clubs shall immediately provide the Competition Secretary with full details of their forthcoming fixtures in writing.

12. The Competition Sub-Committee may also request a change of the specified date and upon being notified of such a request both clubs shall immediately provide the Competition Secretary with full details of their forthcoming fixtures in writing.

13. If the Competition Sub-Committee allows a change of specified date then it shall decide the new specified date and also what procedure the clubs will adopt in the event of the game not being concluded in accordance with the playing regulations on that date.

14. Any further requests to change the specified date will be treated in accordance with the same procedure as in Rules 11, 12 and 13, above.

15. All applications to the Competition Sub Committee shall be made to the Competition Secretary. The Sub Committee shall have absolute discretion in making all its decisions and shall not be bound by precedent. The Competition Sub Committee may delegate all or any of its powers to the Competition Secretary and all decisions made by the Competition Sub-Committee or the Competition Secretary on its behalf, shall be final and binding.

16. Each club must provide an umpire and scorer for each game except in the quarter finals, semi finals and final when umpires will be appointed by the Cheshire Umpires and Scorers Association in liaison with the Competition Secretary. The Umpires appointed by the Cheshire Umpires and Scorers Association will be paid their expenses directly by the Cheshire Clubs' Cricket Committee (season 2005 expenses Ł20.00).

17. The results of all matches, even if not completed, must be telephoned by the home side, to the Competition Secretary by 8:30 pm on the day of the match. They shall also be responsible for ensuring that an official result card, reaches the Competition Secretary no later than the Thursday following the match. Failure to comply with either requirement will result in a fine of Ł10.00 for each offence. Any club refusing to settle its fines by 30th September 2005, may be excluded from the Cheshire Cup and Shield competitions for the 2006 season.

18. Failure of any club to fulfil a fixture without good reason, or sufficient notice, will render them liable for any costs incurred by their opponents and they may be excluded from the Cheshire Cup and Shield Competitions for the following season.

19. Provided the club's rules and ground tenure permits, the sponsor acting in conjunction with the Cheshire Clubs Cricket Committee shall be allowed to advertise on the ground on the occasion of any match in the Competition.

20. The administration of the Competition shall be undertaken by the Competition Secretary who will be responsible to the Competition Sub Committee.

21. The Competition SubCommittee shall be appointed by the Cheshire Clubs' Cricket Committee and shall consist of the Competition Secretary and three other members of the Cheshire Clubs' Cricket Committee.

22. The Competition Secretary shall have the power to act on behalf of the Sub Committee.

23. A complaint that the Rules have been breached by any club or individual playing for a club may be made by the Competition Secretary, a member of the Cheshire Clubs' Cricket Committee or by a club competing in the match out of which the complaint arises.

24. In the case of a complaint by a club, such a complaint must be made in writing within four days of the game and a copy of the letter must be given or sent to the other club concerned.

25. The decisions of the Sub Committee and its interpretation on all rules, regulations, disputes and other matters shall be final and binding.

26. The SubCommittee shall have the power to make and apply regulations to cover any matters not covered in these regulations.

27. All clubs will be bound by the disciplinary regulations and procedures issued by the Cheshire Clubs' Cricket Committee.

PLAYING REGULATIONS FOR CHESHIRE CUP MATCHES

These regulations cover the playing and re arrangement of the matches in the competition.

1. The Laws of Cricket will apply with the following exceptions:

2. The decision as to whether or not a ground and weather conditions are fit for play shall rest with the captains. If they are unable to agree the umpires shall decide. Every effort shall be made to enable the match to be played on the specified day.

3. Either captain can insist that both teams assemble at the venue for a ground inspection to be made prior to the commencement of a match.

4. The maximum length of an innings shall be 45 overs of six balls each. Matches shall start no later than 1:30 pm.

5. No player may bowl more than 9 overs. If a bowler is unable to complete any over, the remaining balls shall be bowled by another bowler, such part of an over being counted as a full over so far as the replacement bowler’s over limit is concerned.

6. Fielding Restrictions - At the instant of delivery a minimum of four fieldsmen (plus the bowler and wicket-keeper) must be within an area bounded by two-semi circles centred on each middle stump (each with a radius of 30 yards) and joined by a parallel line on each side of the pitch. In the event of an infringement, the square leg umpire shall call "No Ball". The fielding circle should be marked by painted white "dots" at five yard intervals, each "dot" to be covered by a plastic or rubber (not metal) disc, measuring seven inches in diameter.

7. Wide balls - Umpires are instructed to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation in regard to this Law in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket or over the batsman's head. The following criteria shall be adopted as a guide by the Umpires.

(a) If the ball passes either side of the wicket sufficiently wide to make it virtually impossible for the striker to play a normal cricket stroke, both from where he is standing and from where he should normally be standing at the crease, the Umpire should call and signal "Wide".

(b) If the ball passes over the head of the striker standing upright at the crease the Umpire should call and signal "No ball".

The above provisions do not apply if the striker makes contact with the ball or if it passes below head height between the striker and the wicket.

8. British manufactured Grade 'A' quality cricket balls must be used. The balls must be approved by the Umpires before the commencement of each innings, and their decision shall be final as to whether this rule has been complied with.

9. The captains must agree and notify the Umpires before play begins, what action is to be taken if a decision is not reached on that day.

10. If the commencement of play is delayed for any reason, the Umpires may, in liaison with the captains prior to the commencement, reduce the number of overs per innings from 45 to not less than 20. In this case the number of overs per bowler shall be proportionately reduced.

11. The side which scores the most runs shall be the winner.

12. If the scores are level, the side which lost the least wickets shall be the winner. If still equal, the winner shall be the side with the highest scoring rate over the first 25 overs of its innings, or over the first 10 overs in a match restricted by virtue of Regulation 10. If still equal, the captains will toss a coin to decide the winner.

13. In the event of weather conditions curtailing play after the commencement, if the side batting second has received not less than 15 overs, the winner shall be the side with the highest overall scoring rate throughout the innings, provided that the side batting second bat for as long as conditions (as determined by the Laws of Cricket) permit. If equal, the scoring rate of the side batting second shall be calculated from the end of the penultimate over and so on.

To help clarify this Regulation - If a side batting first has completed its allotted number of overs or lost all its wickets, the side batting second in a rain curtailed match will begin to bat not knowing how many overs less than the allotted number it may have. It must bat for as long as conditions permit and if at the time when conditions have become unfit, a result has not been obtained within the Regulations set out above, the winner shall be the side with the highest overall scoring rate throughout both innings. If the side batting second is unable to bat for 15 overs due to the weather conditions the match shall be replayed within the time limit set out in Regulation 14.

14. In the event of weather conditions preventing play on the specified date for any round, or preventing achievement of a result within the conditions of Regulation 13, the match shall be played or replayed as the case may be, EITHER AS A SUNDAY or a MID-WEEK game on or before the second Sunday after the specified date for that round (or on or before the FIRST Sunday after the specified date where the interval between the rounds is only 14 days, and NO LATER than the FOLLOWING SUNDAY in the case of semi-finals). The date for playing such a game, whether it be on a Sunday or a midweek game must be reached by agreement between the clubs in accordance with Competition Rule 12. If for any reason agreement is not or cannot be reached between the clubs, then each club shall supply to the Competition Secretary, in writing, a FULL LIST of their respective fixtures for the next fourteen days from the original specified date (except where the interval between rounds is only 14 days in which case the period of 14 days referred to above shall be 7 days) and thereupon the Competition Secretary will appoint a day or days whether mid-week or on a Sunday when the fixture MUST be fulfilled. In the event of it not being possible to secure a result by the final allowable date for whatever reason the match shall be decided by the toss of a coin except in relation to the Final.

15. Applicable to the Final only. Two dates are provided for the playing of the final, the later date becoming operative if a playing result cannot be achieved within these Regulations on the earlier date. If on the later date, the weather conditions curtail play to such an extent that at 6:00 pm the Umpires form the opinion that a result cannot be achieved under Regulation 13 (ie that the side batting second will be unable to receive 15 overs) any scores in the match up to that point will be disregarded and a new match of 10 overs for each side will be played, regardless of weather conditions, if at all possible. In this event no bowler shall bowl more than 2 overs and Regulation 5 will apply to any over which a bowler is unable to complete. If the scores are level, the side which lost the fewest wickets shall be the winner. If still equal the Trophy shall be shared.

If it is not possible to decide the winner of the final under the above Regulations then the Trophy shall be shared.

DISCIPLINARY REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR CHESHIRE CUP MATCHES.

All clubs and players taking part in the Cheshire Cup Competition must agree to be bound by the disciplinary regulations and procedures issued by the Cheshire Clubs' Cricket Committee, as follows:

Conduct and Behaviour

1.1 The Committee is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct of those subject to its jurisdiction. In pursuance of these standards the following rules of conduct shall be complied with by all persons and Clubs subject to the Committee's jurisdiction. For the purposes of these regulations, the expression 'the Player', shall throughout be deemed to mean and include, not only any player but also club member or official.

1.2 Each such person shall at all times conduct himself or herself fairly and properly on the field, which for the purposes of this sub-paragraph shall include any part of the cricket ground and not merely the field of play. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing the following shall be regarded as conduct which is not fair or proper:

(a) Verbal or physical abuse or hostility towards any person or member of the public.

(b) Disputing the umpire's decision or reacting in a provocative or disapproving manner towards an umpire at any time.

Procedure

2.1 Any alleged breach of Paragraph 1 above shall be notified in writing (to be known as a complaint) to the Secretary of the Cheshire Clubs’ Cricket Committee within 7 days of its occurrence. He in turn shall notify the Competition Secretary in writing within 7 days of the receipt of the complaint.

2.2 Where a complaint is intended to be made by an umpire he shall inform the captains of both relevant teams of his intention to do so.

2.3 Any complaint so initiated must be referred to the Competition Sub Committee within 7 days of the incident. The Sub Committee shall as soon as reasonably practical consider the complaint and resolve either:

(a) To take no action except to record the complaint and to notify the club or person who has made the complaint, as the case may be.

(b) To endorse any disciplinary action taken by a relevant club.

Disciplinary Hearing

3.1 In any case which is referred to a Disciplinary Hearing, at least 7 days notice in writing of the hearing and of the offence(s) alleged, shall be given to the player, or in the case of a club, its secretary.

3.2 The player and/or club shall be entitled to attend the hearing (in the case of a club by its nominated official) and to be supported by a club colleague and to call witnesses.

3.3 The Competition Sub Committee shall act as a Disciplinary Sub Committee for the purposes of a Disciplinary Hearing.

Penalties

4.1 If at the hearing the Disciplinary Sub Committee finds the alleged offence(s) proved, it shall have the power to impose one or more of the following penalties:

4.2 In the case of a player:

(a) To require the player to submit appropriate letter(s) of apology within 14 days, provided that if the player fails to do so, such failure in itself shall constitute a disciplinary offence.

(b) To record a reprimand and to give warning as to future conduct and report the findings to his appropriate League Committee.

(d) To expel the player from the Competition for the current season, or for a given number of cup matches.

4.3 In the case of a club:

(a) To require the club to submit appropriate letter(s) of apology within 14 days, provided that if the club fails to do so, such failure shall in itself constitute a disciplinary offence.

(b) To record a reprimand and to give a warning as to future conduct and report the findings to the appropriate League Committee.

(d) To expel the club from the Competition for the current season or future seasons.

4.4 The Disciplinary Sub Committee shall have the power to suspend the operation of any part, or all, of the penalty it imposes for such a period and subject to such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate.

4.5 Decisions of the Disciplinary Sub Committee shall be by majority vote and where necessary the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

Appeal Procedure

5.1 A player or club shall have the rights of appeal to the Appeals Sub Committee. Notice of appeal setting out the grounds must be given in writing to the Secretary of the Appeals Sub-Committee within 7 days of the decision of the Disciplinary Sub-Committee, together with a deposit of Ł30.00.

5.2 The Appeals Sub Committee shall be appointed by the Cheshire Clubs' Cricket Committee at the start of each season and shall consist of three members of the Committee who are not members of the Competition Sub Committee.

5.3 If notice of appeal is given the penalty shall not take effect pending the hearing of the appeal. The appeal shall be by way of a rehearing. The player or club shall have the same rights of attendance and representation as in 3.2 above.

5.4 The Appeals Sub Committee may confirm, or vary in any way the decision of the Disciplinary Sub Committee. Decisions shall be taken as in 4.5 above.

5.5 The Appeals Sub Committee shall have the power where they consider an appeal to be without merit, to order the deposit to be forfeited to the Cheshire Clubs' Cricket Committee.

5.6 The decision(s) of the Appeals Sub Committee, or if there is no appeal the Disciplinary Sub Committee, shall be final and binding.