Please keep in mind that these rules have been designed to both ensure continuity in a competition that relies heavily upon self-officiating and to govern a competition that is intended to increase participation for keen cricketers at a particular level in our region. We are all responsible for upholding these and ensuring both their relevance and purpose. Your club's commitment to this is vital and greatly appreciated.
Matches should be played to the standard rules of cricket with the following amendments specific to this competition:
- MRW.1a - Each MIDWEEK match will commence no later than 18:00 so as to ensure as much daylight as possible is available throughout, whilst not impacting too adversely upon the working day. Both sides should be ready to start play at this time even if one or both sides are depleted due to late arrivals. Late arriving players shall be permitted to participate as soon as they are ready to enter the field of play, but not mid-over except in between where a wicket has fallen and the next delivery.
- MRW.1b - Each SUNDAY will commence at 14:00 UNLESS the two participating sides mutually agree to an alternative start time, that must not be any later 18:00.
- MRW.2a - Apart from the Final, all matches are to be officiated through a combination of the two competing club’s members, the details of which are to be agreed upon by the two captains prior to the start of the match.
- RW.2b - Anyone acting as the Standing Umpire must have at least completed the free, online Basics Of Umpiring course from The ECB, which is available HERE. If only one team can provide someone of the requisite level then that individual shall be the Standing Umpire regardless of which team's innings is taking place at the time.
- MRW.3 - Each innings shall consist of 16 overs, which in turn shall consist of 6 deliveries. The first half of the allotted overs shall be bowled from the same end, with the 2 batsmen changing ends at the end of each other. The second half of the allotted overs shall all be bowled from the opposite end, meaning that the batsman shall not be required to change ends at the same time that the bowling changes ends. This is decided in an effort to reduce the amount of time lost to the changing of ends after each over.
- MRW.4 - For each of the first 5 matches of the competition, both teams are to provide a new Slam-provided, 5.0 oz match ball for their fielding innings. For any matches after the first 5, the ball provided by the fielding team need not be brand new, but should be in reasonable condition and agreed upon by both Captains prior to the start of the match. Teams should also, where possible, provide at least one spare, used match ball each so that where searching for a ball leads to an extensive delay, an alternate ball can be utilised whilst members of the batting team search for the missing ball. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE IN RELATION TO MATCH BALLS CAN BE FOUND HERE.
- MRW.5 - Each match will be played on an 8-a-side basis UNLESS both captains agree at least 48 hours prior to the agreed start time that more players can be used up to a maximum of 11. If agreement cannot be reached then the teams will play 8-a-side.
- MRW.6 - Batsmen are required to retire (not out) the first time the ball is declared dead after that batsman passes 40 runs. This is applicable at all stages of the competition and the batsman is only allowed to return once the remaining wickets in their team’s innings have been taken.
- MRW.7 - void.
- MRW.8 - For an innings lasting between 13 and 16 overs inclusive each bowler is limited to bowling no more than 4 overs. For an innings lasting between 9 and 12 overs inclusive each bowler is limited to bowling no more than 3 overs. For an innings lasting 8 overs or less each bowler is limited to bowling no more than 2 overs.
- MRW.9 - The judgement of a wide on the ‘off side’ should be in line with that used in other forms of cricket. A wide will NOT automatically be called if the ball passes , untouched, down the batsman's leg-side, unless it is materially wide as in line with that used in other forms of cricket.
- MRW.10 - Bowlers shall NOT be limited to a maximum distance for their ‘run-up’. However, teams should be conscious of the amount of time that can be taken by bowlers between bowling deliveries and the overall adverse affect that can have on the length of the match.
- MRW.11 - In all but the last over of each innings a wide delivery or a no ball shall incur TWO extra runs (in addition to whatever is achieved through runs following the delivery) but an extra delivery will NOT be required.
- MRW.12 - In the final over of each innings a wide delivery or a no-ball shall still incur TWO extra runs (in addition to whatever is achieved through runs following the delivery) and an extra delivery WILL be required, up to a limit of 9 total deliveries (legal or otherwise)., after which the over will be ended. This 9-ball maximum will NOT be utilised during the knockout stages, the last over will not conclude until 6 legal deliveries have been bowled.
- MRW.13 - The delivery immediately following a no ball (in whatever form it takes and at any stage in the match) shall be a ‘free hit’ whereby the batsman facing the next delivery can only be dismissed by run out, handling the ball, hitting the ball twice or obstructing the field.
- MRW.14 - Should an illegal delivery take place on the final ball of an over (except the final over of the innings) then the ‘free hit’ shall occur on the first delivery of the next over, regardless of the fact that the subsequent delivery will be made by a bowler different to that who committed the offence. Should the offence occur at any stage in the final over of the innings then an extra delivery shall be bowled by that bowler immediately.
- MRW.15 - A ‘free hit’ shall be signalled by the umpire through a one-handed, flat, circular motion above their head and the fielding team shall not be permitted to materially alter the set-up of their field to that which was set for the previous (illegal) delivery. Should the ‘free hit’ delivery be to a batsman of an alternate ‘handedness’, or should it represent the start of a new over, then the field can be materially altered.
- MRW.16 - Throughout each innings, the fielding team must have at least the following number of fielders (excluding the bowler and wicketkeeper) within the fielding circle at the moment that a ball is bowled
This ruling is to be policed by both umpires and any infringement can be called by either. In the interest of the spirit of the competition it is suggested that a warning be issued on the first occasion where it is dubious as to whether or not the fielding team is adhering to this rule rather than resort to the immediate calling of a 'no ball'. This provides the Captain with the opportunity to rectify any potential oversight and ensure clarity in his/her field setting from that point onwards.
Teams and their Captains should be mindful of the fact that matches are not independently officiated and as such this rule should be adhered to with the spirit in which the competition is intended to be played. |
- MRW.17 - For matches that are LESS than 11-a-side the same number of wickets as there are players in the side will have to be taken for the batting side to be 'all out'. The last batsman will be allowed to continue batting on their own as the LAST BATTER STANDS.
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