Laws Governing NWCL Cricket Mathces

The Laws of Cricket

The Laws of Cricket - 1980 Code, 2 nd edition (1992), published by the MCC, will be followed for all NWCL matches, except as noted in the ensuing paragraphs. All member clubs are strongly urged to have one or more copies of the Laws handy at all times.

Players

A match shall be played with a minimum of 8 players from each club, except for matches in which WSU CC is a participant. A minimum of 7 players from each club are required for matches in which WSU CC is a participant.

Substitutes

a) If one club has less than 11 players nominated for a match, the captain of this club can request the opposing Captain to take substitute fielders to make 11.

b) The opposing Captain cannot refuse this request, unless the substitute fielders requested are members of his club.

c) The fielder(s) supplied by the opposing Captain from his club, shall be picked by him, and the requesting captain shall not object to the fielder being supplied.

Umpires

a) Neutral umpires, as defined by individuals who are not members of the contesting clubs, are the most desired option to officiate NWCL matches. The captains do not have a right to refuse any particular individual from standing as a neutral umpire.

b) In the event of one of more neutral umpires not being available or present, dedicated umpires, as defined by individuals who are members of the contesting clubs, but who are not playing in that particular match, are the next desirable option.

c) In the event of both neutral and dedicated umpires not being available or present, the Captain of the batting side can assign players in his side as umpires. It is urged that the interchanging of umpires in such a case be kept to a minimum.

d) If a Captain has an objection to one or more members of the opposing side acting as an umpire, he needs to inform the opposing Captain about this before the toss for innings.

Scoring

a) Dot ball scoring is the norm for NWCL matches. Dot ball scoring is defined as the recording of every ball received by each batsman, as well as every ball bowled by each bowler.

b) First and Last names of all players shall be recorded in the score sheets with the Captain and wicketkeeper(s) of each side identified.

c) The names of players effecting a dismissal shall be recorded. This includes players taking a catch or effecting a run out dismissal.

d) All score sheets shall be mailed or taxed to the Secretary within 72 hours of the completion of the match.

Balls

a) Four piece balls shall be used.

b) The balls shall be of the following makes: Crown County, Kookaburra, Platypus.

c) ONLY new balls are to be used in NWCL matches. Used balls will not be allowed.

d) In the event a team cannot produce a new and regulation ball (as in b above), the team will deem to have conceded the match. The other team is not obliged to lend them the proper balls.

Covering the Pitch

a) After the toss for innings, pitches shall be covered only during rain showers.

Innings

a) A match shall be of one innings of each side.

b) Each innings will be of 40 overs.

c) A bowler can bowl a maximum of 8 overs. If there is a reduction in the number of overs before the match has.started (as defined by 'Play' being called by the Umpire), the maximum number of overs bowled by a bowler will be calculated by dividing the number of overs to be bowled per innings divided by 5 and rounded up to the nearest whole number.

Start of Play

a) Unless decided otherwise by the Captains, all matches shall start at 11:30 am in the months from May to August and at I 1:00 am in the months of September and October.

b) The Captains should make arrangements to be in contact with each other via telephone on the morning of the match, lest the start of the match is affected by weather or travel delays.

c) If the visiting club cannot make it to the around 15 minutes before the scheduled start of play, then the home club should be informed of this at least 30 minutes before the start of play. Failure to do this will result in the visiting club being penalized one over in their innings for every 4 minutes (or part thereof) of delay in the start of the match.

d) If the match does not start on time for reasons of ground and/or pitch not being prepared, or the home club members not being present on the ground, then the home club will be penalized one over in their innings for every 4 minutes (or part thereof) of delay in the start of the match.

e) If a match starts after 1:00 pm in the months from May to August and 12:30 pm in the months of September and October, due to reported travel delays for the visiting club or due to weather interference, one over will be deducted from each innings for every delay of 8 minutes or part thereof.

Intervals

a) There shall be an interval of 20 minutes between each innings.

b) One break of 10 minutes shall be taken after the completion of the 20th over in each innings.

c) The Captains have an option of deciding to take two breaks of 5 minutes each after the 15th and 30th over of the innings, provided this decision is made before the toss for innings and the umpires are informed of it before the start of play.

Interruptions of Play

a) If there is an interruption of play, due to weather or otherwise, overs will be deducted from one or more innings based on the following calculations.

i. If the interruption is less than the amount of minutes between the time of start of play and I pm for the months from May to August, and 12:30 pm for the months of September and October, then no overs will be deducted for the interruption '

ii. If the interruption does not meet the requirement in i. and the first innings is in progress, then one over will be deducted from the innings in progress as well as the next innings for every 8 minutes lost or part thereof. If the second innings is in proaress then one over will be deducted innings for every 4 minutes lost or part thereof.

Result

a) 2 points shall be awarded to the winning side.

b) 1 point shall be awarded to each side if the match ends in a tie.

c) 1 point shall be awarded to each side if the match gets rained out or is abandoned before both sides have played at least 25 overs each.

d) If a match is conceded, the side being conceded the match will be awarded 2 points.

e) If, due to weather interruptions, the two innings are of un-equal overs, then the result of the match will be decided by the scoring rate per over, with the side having the laraer scoring rate being declared the winning side.

f) To discourage forfeit of matcches, teams forfeiting, shall have no benefit of run rate in case of a tie on points.

g) If both teams, having equal points, have conceded atleast one match, then the team with the least conceded matches will be given priority over the other.

e) If the number of conceded matches is the same, then the better run rate between the two will be the deciding factor.

The Over

a) Each over shall be of 6 balls.

No Ball

a) Fast Short Pitched Balls: Should a Bowler deliver a fast, short pitch delivery, either Umpire shall call and signal 'no ball'. As a guide, a fast short pitched ball is one which pitches short and passes, or would have passed, above the shoulder height of the Striker standing in a normal batting stance at the crease.

b) Fast, High Full Pitches: Should a Bowler bowl a fast high full pitched ball, either Umpire shall call and signal 'no ball'. A fast high full pitched ball shall be defined as a ball that passes, or would have passed, on the full above waist height of a Batsman standing upright at the crease.

c) As is the norm in such cases, the call and signal should be made as soon as possible after the determination is made.

Wide Ball

a) Leg Side Wide Ball: If a ball pitches outside the leg stump and passes down the leg side of the striker without touching any part of the person or equipment of the striker, and the striker has made no attempt to hit the ball, the umpire shall call and signal 'wide ball'.

b) If the striker has made an attempt to play at the ball and the ball passes under or above the Striker's bat, the umpire shall not call and signal wide ball.

c) If the striker has moved to the off side from his normal guard position when the ball passes the him, the umpire shall not call and signal 'wide ball' if in his opinion, the ball would have struck the striker's person or his equipment had he remained in the normal guard position.

The Wicket is Down

a) When Spring-back Stumps are used, it is not possible to strike the stumps out of the ground as is required by Law when both bails are off. In such a case, the decision as to when a stump is struck out of the ground is one for the umpires to decide on the facts before them.

b) When Spring-back Stumps are used, the bails are often dislodged when the ball hits the cast iron support base of the stumps. If this is so, the bails will not be considered to have been dislodged and the wicket is not down for the purposed of this Law .

Criteria For Cancellation Of Matches Due To Weather Prior to Start of the Match

a) For matches between teams in the same Metropolitan area, the Captains (or their representatives) from the two teams shall inspect the ground the day before the match. If, based on present field conditions and weather forecasts, a decision is reached at that time to abandon the match, then the Secretary shall be informed of it. If the Captains do not agree on a decision at that time to abandon the match, then the decision will be postponed to the morning of the match, one hour before its scheduled start. If a decision is reached at that time to abandon the match, then that decision is final, and the Secretary should be informed of it promptly. If, at that time the Captains' still do not agree and there are no neutral umpires present, then the Home Captain's decision is final. If neutral umpires are present, then they shall make a decision and inform the Captains.

b) For matches between teams from different Metropolitan areas (i.e., matches entailing travel of 50 miles or more), the Home Captain (or his representative) shall inspect the field on the day prior to the day of the match, make a decision based on present field conditions and weather forecasts and inform the Opposing Captain of his decision by 6 pm on that day. If the decision is to abandon the match, the Secretary should be informed promptly. If the match is not abandoned at that time, the Home Captain (or his representative) shall inspect the field in the morning of the match and if he decides to abandon the match, he shall inform the Opposing Captain immediately. The Secretary shall also be informed promptly.

c) With regard to matches for which WSU is a participating side, the Home Captain shall make a decision 24 hours before the start of the match based on present field conditions and weather forecasts, and inform the Opposing Captain of this decision. This decision is Final and shall be communicated promptly to the Secretary by the Home captain.

d) Per the Laws, after the toss of innings, the umpires are the sole judges of the weather and other conditions, and the decision to abandon a match rests with the umpires. If neutral or dedicated umpires are not present, then the Captains shall be the sole judges of the conditions. If they cannot agree then the status quo will continue.


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