SECTION RULES AND REGULATIONS
For UNDER FIFTEEN (U15) CRICKET

(To be read and applied in conjunction with General Rules and Regulations)
The text shown in red indicates the rule is being introduced in 2008 for the first time

                                                                                                                                                                             
1.Competition Procedure.

a)  Clubs entering a team in the U15 age group shall compete for
The Gordon S. Cooper U15 Championship Shield.
b)   The Executive Committee to determine the format of the League when the number of teams participating is known. Teams, where possible, will be grouped to form two or more sections taking due account of their geographical location.

c)  When clubs are divided into two sections the top two teams in each section will take part in two Semi-Finals; the winners of those matches shall meet in the Final of the competition. The section leaders will be “seeded” not to play each other in the Semi-Finals. If two or more teams finish level on points (either in first or second position) the team to be placed highest in the league table will be determined by the result of the match(s) played between them e.g. either by straight win or by the greater aggregated score.

If the teams cannot be separated by this method, the following “tie breaker” formula shall be used in respect of all completed league matches: -
    Total runs scored divided by the total number of wickets lost = A
    Total runs conceded divided by the total number of wickets taken = B
     Subtract B from A to determine the team with the highest average run differential
In the event of the League comprising three or four sections the top team in each section will automatically secure a place in the Semi-Finals and in the case of the former be joined by the highest performing second placed team, of the three sections, having the greater average run differential.
d)  All arrangements for the Semi-Finals and the Final of the competition to be made by the Executive Committee, including the appointment of neutral umpires and selection of the ground for the Final.
e)  Unless specially approved by the League no player may play in the Semi-Finals, or Final who has:-
            
i)  not played in at least two (2) matches for the club during the season.
            ii)  not  previously been registered as per requirements of the league.

f)  Clubs are required to nominate a squad of twelve players to the Results Secretary, by FAX or E-Mail, no later than six days prior to the date of the Semi- Finals or Final, as the case maybe

 

2.Conduct of play

a)  Play to start promptly at 6.30pm (earlier if mutually agreed) and shall finish no later than sunset. 
A team not ready to start at the scheduled or agreed time will forfeit the toss and their opponents will have the choice of innings  
T
he interval between innings to be a maximum 5 minutes duration with no requirement to re-mark, sweep or roll the pitch

b)  The pitch shall measure 22 yards in length. A non-turf pitch may be used in the event of the designated turf pitch being declared unfit by the umpires provided both Team Managers agree to play the match on the artificial surface
c) The ball need not be new but shall be quartered and weigh 5½ oz.

d)  A match to be one innings per team, each innings to be of twenty (20) overs maximum.

Each team will use a minimum of six (6) bowlers. No bowler shall bowl more than four (4) overs in total. Batsmen shall retire after scoring thirty-five (35) runs, with their last scoring stroke counting in full, and shall  not resume their innings.
e) The match over allocation referred to in (d) above may, by agreement, be reduced by a maximum of 4 overs per innings if the scheduled start time is delayed or in an endeavour to provide reasonable “light” during the last hour of play The revised arrangements shall make provision for at least five (5) bowlers being used per side. Team Managers shall agree the revised arrangement before the toss and the result sheet shall record details of the agreement reached.

f)  Each team shall comprise a maximum of eleven (11) players who are under the age of 15 years at midnight on the 31st August of the year preceding the current season EXCEPT girl members of the team may be allowed to play until the end of the season in which their 17th birthday falls. RECOMMENDATION-: - Players of U11 age group status and below should NOT be included in a team.

g) A match will be valid, provided a team has a minimum of seven (7) players.
The inclusion of a late arriving player in a team must be declared to their opponents manager before the toss. A substitute fielder, if   available, shall be allowed during the player’s absence. However, a player shall not take part in a match at which he has not appeared by the time half the agreed number of overs have been bowled in the first innings. Prior to the “cut off” point being reached the player who arrives late may bat or bowl as normal.
After the “cut off” point is reached the substitute may be upgraded to the status of player

h) A bowler who may appear to have an unfair, or unusual, bowling arm action shall not be “no balled” on account of this nor shall he/she receive any official warning or be subjected to any humiliating comments or gestures. The umpire making the observation(s) shall bring the matter to the immediate attention of his/her colleague. There is no requirement to involve the captains of either side. The bowler’s Manager shall be informed, at the first convenient break in play, and the matter shall be referred to the League by comment on the result sheet.

i)  The matches in the Semi Final and Final “play-off” stage shall comprise forty (40) overs per side. Bowlers shall bowl no more than eight (8) overs in the match and fast bowlers, as defined by the relative ECB directive, shall be restricted to a maximum of four (4) overs per bowling spell. A batsman’s innings shall have no restriction placed on it.

j)If the total scores in a Semi Final or Final play-off are equal, the winners will be the team losing the least number of wickets. If inconclusive, the side with the highest score at the end of 39 overs shall be the winner, if still equal, at the end of 38 overs and so on.

k) In the event of the start of a Semi Final or Final being delayed, the number of overs to be played  per innings may be reduced, in which case the bowler’s maximum allocation to be reduced pro rata.      Incomplete matches must be continued on the earliest date available, as agreed by both clubs

  THE MARSDIN TROPHY (U15) COMPETITION RULES

1. Clubs in the U15 age group shall compete for the Marsdin Trophy, which is organised on a “knock out” basis. The Semi-finals and Final of the competitions will normally be played on a Sunday .
The losing finalist in the Marsden Cup competition will be presented with the “Leslie Ruddlesden Cup”.

2.
The Under 15 Section rules 1 (d) (e) & (f), 2. (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) (g) and (h) shall apply.
3.
No player can play for more than one club in any year of competition.
4. Cup rounds, which are postponed due to fitness of ground, weather or light, must be re-arranged on the earliest date available, as agreed by both clubs.
Incomplete matches must be
continued on the earliest date available, as agreed by both clubs, provided the venue/pitch location is not changed.
A result shall be determined before the date of the next round and failing this, a six (6) player “bowl out” shall be arranged . Each team shall bowl one (1) ball, alternately, from one end. The team with most hits, from fair delivery’s, shall win. If inconclusive a second round of “sudden death” bowling to decide. The toss of a coin to decide which team bowls first.
5.The team scoring the most runs in a completed match shall be the winner irrespective of the number of wickets lost.
Should any match end in a “tie”, the team who has lost the fewer wickets will be declared the winner. If still equal, the side with the highest score at the end of 19 overs shall be the winner, if still equal, at the end of 18 overs and so on.

6. Should a semi-final not be completed on the scheduled fixture date, the match is to be played or replayed on the following Sunday commencing at 2.30pm to permit league fixtures arranged for that date to go-ahead as planned. The semi-final concerned will be hosted by the club “first out of the hat” as determined by the published cup draw, however, if their ground is not available, for any reason, it may be played on the ground of their opponents. If both grounds are unavailable the match to be staged earlier on the first available weekday.
The final of the competition, thereafter, will be played on the Sunday immediately following completion of the semi-final in the same manner. Every effort will be made to appoint neutral umpires but a contingency shall be in place to provide club officials if this is not possible

7.  T
he winner of this competition will represent HWDJCL in the relevant ECB National Club competition provided the outcome is settled on the original fixture date, as published in the league Handbook, otherwise the club to go forward to the ECB competition will be decided by one of the following methods:
(a) a “bowl out” between the undefeated finalists, if conditions allow
(b) the undefeated finalist with the highest “net average run rate” achieved in completed league matches