ARMY CRICKET ASSOCIATION

RULES OF THE UK POWER NETWORKS SERVICES INTER CORPS CRICKET COMPETITION

GENERAL

1.  The Inter Corps Cricket Competition is administered by the Army Cricket Association (ACA).  In 2011 the competition will be sponsored by UK Power Networks Services EDF Energy and is to be known as the Inter Corps Cricket Power Cup.  The competition template will be similar to that of the EDF Energy Cup with 3 leagues of 4 teams; leading to a Semi Final and Final.

PLAYING CONDITIONS

2.  Except as otherwise provided in these rules hereinafter, matches shall be conducted in accordance with the MCC Laws of Cricket (2000 Code 4th Edition – Oct 2010) together with any subsequent amendments.

3.  The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Directives for junior players regarding helmets, fielding and fast bowling will apply in all matches (further details can be obtained from the ECB website).  The Captains of each side shall inform the umpires prior to the toss of any player under the age of 19. 

4.  Team Captains/Managers shall ensure completed team sheets are handed to the Umpires prior to the toss.  It is the responsibility of the home club Secretary (or appointed representative) to obtain these from the Umpires at the conclusion of the match and return them to the ACA.

ELIGIBILITY

5. The eligibility criteria for Regular and TA personnel are contained in the following documents:

• a. AGAI Volume 1 Chapter 5. Sport.

• b. 2008DIN10-015 – Territorial Army participation in Corps sport.

DURATION

6. The matches will consist of one innings per side, each innings being limited to a maximum of 50 overs.  All matches will be completed in one day.  The Captain of the batting side may not declare his innings closed at any time during the course of a match.

HOURS OF PLAY

7. Hours of play will be 1100 to 1825 hrs.  Each session will be 3 hrs 20 mins, based on 4 mins an over, and will be separated by an interval of 45 mins.  Umpires are not empowered to order extra time, but play may extend beyond 1825 hrs if the game has overs still to be bowled and playing conditions allow completion of the match. 

8.If the innings of a team batting first is completed prior to the scheduled time for the interval, the interval shall take place immediately and the innings of the team batting second will commence correspondingly earlier. There is no tea interval.

9. Up to two drinks intervals (each deemed to be 5 minutes) per innings are permitted, but no time allowance shall be provided for them.   Drinks must be agreed prior to the start of play and the Umpires informed.

GROUND AND FACILITIES

10. The home Club is responsible for provision of a suitable ground and associated facilities.  Whilst it is acknowledged that most military grounds are maintained by a third party contractor, it remains the responsibility of the home Club to ensure that suitable playing conditions are provided.

11. All matches are to be played on a grass pitch, however, in exceptional circumstances a non-turf pitch can be used.  In the event of rain the pitch should be fully covered, and if possible this should also include the bowlers’ run-ups.

CANCELLING A MATCH BEFORE THE START TIME

12.  Due to weather/ground conditions. No match shall be cancelled before the start time, on account of the weather/ground conditions, without the agreement of both Club Secretaries (or appointed representatives).  Once agreed the match shall be deemed to have been abandoned.  The home Club Secretary (or appointed representative) is to contact the appointed match Officials and inform them that the game has been cancelled.

13. Reasons other than weather/ground conditions.  Any club cancelling a fixture for reasons other than weather/ground conditions shall be deemed to have conceded the match.  In the event of a Club conceding a match, the Club Secretary (or appointed representative) is to immediately inform the following of the decision:

1. Secretary ACA.
2. Opposition Club Secretary (or appointed representative).
3. Appointed match Officials.

INTERRUPTIONS TO PLAY

14.       After the appointed start time and prior to the commencement of the match.  If for any reason a match starts up to 30 minutes late, it shall remain a match of 50 overs.  In the event that the match commences more than 30 minutes late, for any reason whatsoever, then one over shall be deducted from each innings for every 8 minutes lost.  Should the loss of time result in less than 20 overs being available per side, then the match shall be abandoned.

15.       After commencement of the match.  In the event of time being lost during the innings of the team batting first, then the team batting first shall still receive 50 overs or as reduced prior to the commencement of the match.  The team batting second will have its maximum number of overs reduced by one over for each 4 minutes of play lost during the first innings. 

16.       For play lost during the innings of the team batting second, the number of overs which that team would have been entitled to receive shall be reduced by one over for each 4 minutes of playing time lost.  Should the loss of time result in less than 20 overs being available to the side batting second, then the match shall be abandoned.

RESCHEDULING ABANDONED MATCHES

17.       All abandoned matches shall be replayed and will be rescheduled under the direction of the ACA; in consultation with the Secretary ACA.  Where a ‘spare day’ is available the match will automatically be allocated to that date, unless both clubs can agree an alternative.

LIMITATION OF OVERS BY ANY ONE PLAYER

18. No bowler shall bowl more than one fifth of the total number of overs available at the beginning of an innings.  Where the total overs are not divisible by 5, an additional over shall be allowed to the minimum number of bowlers necessary to make up the remaining overs – e.g. in a 33 over match (33/5 = 6 + 3 remaining overs), 3 bowlers may bowl a maximum of 7 overs and no other bowler more than 6 overs.

19. Both Umpires and the Scorers from the commencement of an innings shall maintain a record of the number of overs bowled by each individual bowler.

WIDE BALL

20. 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.  The following criteria should be adopted as a guide to 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 ball’.

b. For guidance purposes, a leg side wide shall be called if a ball passes on the leg side outside the pads of the batsman standing in a normal guard position.

RESTRICTION ON PLACEMENT OF FIELDERS

21. At the instant of delivery there may be no more than 5 fieldsmen on the leg side.  In the event of an infringement the umpire at the striker’s end shall call and signal “No Ball”.  This restriction shall apply throughout the duration of both innings.

22. 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 umpire at the striker’s end shall call and signal ‘No Ball’.  This restriction will apply throughout the duration of both innings.

23. The fielding circle should, where possible be marked by painted white “dots” at 5 yard intervals, each “dot” to be covered by a white plastic or rubber (but not metal) disc measuring 7 inches in diameter.  The Umpires and Captains are to agree before the toss a suitable method of policing this rule should the discs be unavailable.

MATCH BALLS

24.  Each team shall provide a new ball for their fielding innings.  The home team are also to provide sufficient suitable spare balls for the duration of the match as required.  All balls shall be given to the Umpires before the toss for approval and shall remain under their control throughout the match.

OFFICIALS

25. Umpires.  Umpires shall be appointed by the ACOA for all Inter Corps Cricket Competition matches.  In the unlikely event that the ACOA are unable to appoint an umpire, it is the responsibility of the home Club to appoint an appropriate umpire and advise the away Club of the appointment.

26. Scorers.  It is the responsibility of each team to provide a Scorer.

27. Payment of expenses.  The Home Club Secretary (or appointed representative) shall pay the Officials on the day of the match.  The rates are set annually by the ACA.

RESULTS

28. Uninterrupted match.  When there is no interruption after the commencement of the match, and both sides have had the opportunity of batting for the same agreed number of overs, the team scoring the higher number of runs shall be the winner.

29. Interrupted Match.  Where the side batting first has had its innings closed, the side batting second shall have a target score which they must exceed to win the match.  It shall be calculated by multiplying the number of overs available to the team batting second (minimum 20 overs), by the run rate of the side batting first, rounded up to a whole number:

Target score = 1st innings run rate x number of overs available to the team batting 2nd

Where:

1st innings run rate = 1st Innings Score / Number of overs allocated to the team batting 1st

30. Tie.  If the scores are level at the end of a match, the team losing the lesser number of wickets shall be the winner.  If the scores are level and both teams have lost the same number of wickets, the result shall be a tie.

31. Notification.  The home team is to notify the ACA of the result within 3 working days of the match, using the results sheet at Annex A.

32. Group Stage.  At the end of the group stage, should 2 or more sides have equal points the positions shall be decided by:

1. Group games won (this includes conceded group games).
2. The points gained during the match(es) between them. 
3. Should this still be level, the higher run rate (runs scored / completed overs faced) over all the group matches.

POINTS

33. Win.  10 points will be awarded to the winner of a match. 

34. Lose.  0 points will be awarded to the loser of a match. 

35. Tie.  5 points will be awarded to both sides for a tie.

36. Bonus points.  Up to a further 6 bonus points may be awarded as follows (except in conceded matches):

a.  Batting (maximum 3 points).  A batting point is earned at the triggers of 150, 175 and 200 runs.  Should the side batting second win the match they may earn a batting point for every 3 wickets left intact at the end of the innings.  If the total required by the side batting second is reduced and falls below a batting point trigger, then no bonus points will be forfeited.

b. Bowling (maximum 3 points).  A bowling point is earned for every 3 wickets taken.  To gain maximum bowling points against a side with less than 9 wickets, the opposition must take all of the available wickets e.g. 9 players, 8 wickets available, 8 wickets taken (all out) = 3 bowling points to the opposition.

37.Batting Bonus Points – Reduced Target Table.  On the rare occasions that a match is reduced from 50 overs, revised triggers for batting bonus points will be agreed by the Match officials in accordance with the Table at Annex B.

38.Conceded match.  13 points will be awarded to the opponents of a team who concede a match.

39.Notification of result.  Any home team failing to notify the ACA of a result within 3 working days shall receive an official warning.  If the ACA are not notified within a further 3 working days then the team shall be deducted 3 points from the relevant fixture.

UMPIRE REPORT FORMS

40. Both Clubs/Captains are to ensure that after every match a report form for each umpire is completed.  Forms are to be returned to the ACOA Appointments Secretary within 6 working days of the match. Failure to do so will result in 1 point deducted from the relevant fixture.  A copy of the Umpire report form is available here.

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