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Playing Conditions for the Conference
Premier League Cup 2008
and the Readers Sovereign Trophy 2008
1.
Laws of Cricket.
The M.C.C. Code 2000 (2nd
Edition – 2003) of the Laws of Cricket will apply except where otherwise
stated herein.
2.
Duration, Hours of Play
and Interval. The matches
shall consist of one innings per side being limited to a maximum of 45
six ball overs unless all out earlier. Apart from the final, normal
hours of play will be 1:30pm to 7:40pm unless an alternative starting
time is mutually agreed:
First innings 1:30pm to 4:20pm
Interval 4:20pm to
4:50pm
Second innings 4:50pm to 7:40pm
Should there be a mutually agreed
alternative starting time, the above times should be rescheduled as
appropriate. Play may continue beyond
7:40pm subject to conditions of
ground, weather and light and subject to the over rate penalties at rule
3. The duration and time of the interval can be varied by the umpires alone in
the case of a match which starts late or is suspended.
3. Over Rate Penalties. Assuming
that the match is not suspended by weather, serious injury, frequent lost balls, slow play by
the batting side, or Acts of God, all sides are expected to be in a
position to bowl the first ball of
the last of their 45 overs within 2
hours 50 minutes allowable playing 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 runs for every whole over that has
not been 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 the ball first becomes dead after the scheduled or re-scheduled cessation time for
the innings. If the innings is terminated before the scheduled or rescheduled cut-off time, no over rate penalty shall
apply. If the innings is suspended, the over rate penalty will apply
based on the rescheduled cessation time for that innings. Over rate
penalties will not apply in an innings of less than 20 overs. In all
reduced overs innings the fielding team will be given one over’s leeway
in addition to any time that the umpires might allow for stoppages. The
umpires on the day will have sole discretion on
the interpretation and implementation of this rule.
4.
Restriction on Field Placements.
At the instant of delivery, there shall not be more than five fieldsmen on
the leg side. For the first 15 overs only of each innings, only two fieldsmen are permitted
to be outside 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 (the fielding circle). The
fielding circle should be marked by painted white “dots” at five-yard
intervals, each “dot” to be covered by a white plastic or rubber (but
not metal) disc measuring seven inches in diameter. For the remaining overs of each innings only five fieldsmen are permitted to be
outside the fielding circle at the instant of delivery. Two inner circles shall be drawn on
the field of play. The circles shall
have as their centres the centrepoint of the popping crease
at either end of the pitch. The radius of
each of the circles is 15 yards. The field restriction should be marked
by coloured “dots”. The segment of the circles reserved for the slip positions shall not be
demarcated. For the first 15 overs only of each innings
there must be a minimum of two stationary fieldsmen (excluding
the wicket-keeper) within 15 yards of
the striker at the instant of
delivery. When a fast bowler is bowling, the two stationary fieldsmen may be permitted to stand deeper than 15 yards
(in the un-demarcated area)
provided only that they are standing in slip, leg-slip and gully positions.
5.
In circumstances where
the number of overs for the team batting first is
reduced, the number of overs in regard to the above restrictions shall be reduced in ratio of 15/45. Fractions are
to be ignored in all calculations regarding
the number of overs. Where the number of overs for the team batting second is
reduced, the aim will be to retain the restrictions for the same
proportion of the second innings that they were maintained for the
first innings (fractions to be ignored).
6.
In the event of an
infringement of any of the above fielding restrictions, the umpire at the striker’s end shall
call and signal “No Ball”.
7.
Declarations. The
Captain of the batting side may not declare the innings closed at any time during
the course of the match.
8.
Delayed Start to the match.
The number of overs shall be arranged so
that both teams have the opportunity of batting for the same number of overs (minimum 10 overs each team). A result can only
be achieved in a match of less than 20 overs per side if both sides have
the opportunity to bat for the full number of overs
originally allocated. The calculation of the number of overs to be
bowled shall be based on one over for each full 3.75 minutes (3 minutes
45 seconds) in the time remaining before close of play (normally 7:40pm). Time for
the interval must be allowed for in
the calculations.
9.
Suspended matches. When
play is suspended during the first innings, the object shall
be to rearrange the number of overs so that both sides have
the opportunity of batting for the same number of overs (minimum 20 overs per side). If, owing to a
delayed start to the second innings or a suspension of play during
the second innings, there is
insufficient time for the side batting second to face the same number of overs as the side batting first, then the
number of overs to be bowled will be those that could be bowled by the
scheduled close of play assuming a rate of 16 overs per hour subject to
a minimum of 20 overs.
10. Number
of overs per bowler. No
bowler may bowl more than 9 overs. However, where an innings is reduced
in length no bowler may bowl more than one-fifth of the total overs allowed (unless such number has been exceeded before
the interruption), except that 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.
11. When
a suspension of play occurs in mid-over and on resumption the bowler has exceeded the new maximum allocation, he
will be allowed to finish the incomplete over. In the event of a bowler breaking down and being unable to complete an over,
another bowler will bowl the remaining balls. Such part of an over will count as a full over only
in so far as each bowler’s limit is concerned.
12. Wide
Ball – Judging a Wide. Umpires
are instructed to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation in
regard to this law in order to prevent negative bowling. Any offside or
legside delivery which in the opinion of the umpire does not
give the batsman a reasonable opportunity to score shall be called a wide. For
guidance purposes, a legside wide should be called if a ball passes on
the legside outside the pads of
the batsman in a normal guard position.
13. Dangerous
and Unfair Bowling. A
bowler shall be limited to a total of one fast short pitched ball per
over. The umpire will make it clear to
the bowler and the batsmen at the wicket when a
delivery within this limit is bowled. It is unfair if the limit is exceeded and the umpire shall call and signal
No ball on each such occasion. In addition the umpire will adopt the procedures
of Law 42.7. Any high full pitch 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 full 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 procedures of Law 42.7.
14.
The Result. When
there is no interruption to the
match and when both sides have had the opportunity of batting for the same agreed number of overs, the side scoring the higher number of
runs shall be the winner. If the scores are equal, the result
shall be determined by the loss of wickets with the side losing the fewer number
of wickets being declared the winner. If still equal, or if both sides were all out,
the side with the higher score at the end of
the completed penultimate over
shall be the winner, and if still equal, at the end of the previous over, and so
on until a winner can be decided.
15.
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 originally allotted (minimum 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 will be based on average run-rate of
the side batting first.
16. If
a match is abandoned before it has been played to a conclusion and
before the team batting second has received its allotted number of overs
(providing that it has received not less than 20 overs),
the result shall be decided by average
run-rate.
17.
If it is not possible
to obtain a result in the final on the original scheduled date, the Committee will make arrangements for
the match to be re-staged.
Average
Run-Rate. A
team’s average run-rate is calculated by dividing the number of runs
scored in the innings by the number of legitimate balls received during
that innings. In the case of a team batting first being dismissed in
less than the number of overs allocated for their innings, the
calculation will be based on the number of balls that the team was
scheduled to receive and not the number actually received. In the case
of the team batting second being unable to receive their allocated overs,
the calculation of their average run-rate will be based on the actual
number of legitimate deliveries received by them during their innings.
The average run-rate can be calculated to any number of decimal
positions and a tie can only be achieved if the average run-rates are
identical. |
