CYPRUS CRICKET ASSOCIATION
PLAYING CONDITIONS AND RULES FOR 2021 20-OVER LEAGUE
SUMMARY OF RULES
· The official name of the competition is the 2021 CCA #BAOGroup T20 Cup
· Teams play each other in two groups. Group winners play runners-up of other group in semi-finals; winners of semi-finals meet in final
· 10 points for a win; 5 points each for abandoned or cancelled match
· Tied matches settled by super over
· Penalty points for various offences [see para. 11]
· Maximum 4 overs per bowler
· Fielding restrictions (max. 2 outside circle) for first 6 overs. Then max. 5 fielders outside circle. Fielding penalties for slow over rate
· Any ball down the leg side is a wide ball.
· Free hit for all no balls.
· One 'bouncer' (shoulder high) per over allowed.
· No more than 5 fielders on the leg side at any time.
· Helmets must be worn.
· List of players (maximum 20) to be registered with CCA at start of competition, and no others may play during season.
RULES IN FULL
1. DURATION OF MATCHES
a) Matches will consist of one innings per side and each innings will be limited to 20 overs.
b) All sides are expected to complete the bowling of their allocated overs within the time allowed of 90 minutes per innings (plus allowance for unavoidable delays).
2. HOURS OF PLAY AND INTERVALS AND CONDITIONS OF PLAY
All games will be played under the MCC Laws of Cricket - https://www.lords.org/mcc/the-laws-of-cricket - and the Spirit of Cricket guidelines. In case of conflicting rules, these playing conditions will prevail.
2.1 Start Times
a) Scheduled start of play will be the time shown on the CCA Website.
b) 10-minute interval between innings
c) The toss will be done 15 minutes before the normal start of play between the two captains or their representatives. In the event of a team not being able to comply, the opposing team is awarded the toss.
2.2 Drink Breaks
No drinks breaks are normally allowed. However during games played over the midday period drinks breaks will be taken every five overs. In addition players may be allowed drinks in natural breaks in the game (for example, when a wicket falls, an injury occurs or the ball is lost), this is at the umpires’ discretion and permission.
Drinks should be taken on the field of play and players require permission to leave the field of play.
2.3 General Playing Conditions
a) - Play shall not commence until at least 7 registered players from each team are present.
b) – Late starts will be penalised by one over being deducted from the offending team’s batting innings for every 4 minutes’ delayed start. Note: Start of play is when the umpire calls PLAY before the first ball is bowled (and not when the team arrives at the ground). If both teams are late, overs will be deducted from both teams’ batting innings.
c) - If the late attending team is not ready to start play within 30 minutes after the scheduled start time the match will be abandoned and full win points awarded to the attending side.
d) - The offending team is liable for all the umpiring and scorer costs.
e) - A completed CCA Team Sheet must be handed to the umpires before the start of the game, this sheet must show the ages of any players under the age of 19 years on the day of the match. The ECB safety rules and fast bowling directives for young players will be adhered to.
f) – Batsmen and wicketkeepers standing up to the stumps must wear helmets.
g) - An incoming batsman must pass the outgoing batsman on the field of play.
h) - All matches should be played in team clothing. Umpires have discretion not to allow inappropriately dressed persons on the field of play.
i) - Before the first ball of the last over of each innings, the umpire(s) shall call ‘last over’ clearly so that both sides understand.
j) - In matches that are played on artificial pitches no spikes will be worn by either batsmen or bowlers and if in the opinion of the umpires the type of footwear is likely to damage or is damaging the surface in any way, they will be asked to change. If the player refuses the player will not be allowed to bat or bowl in that footwear.
k) - The law ‘Protected area’ will be enforced by the umpires.
l) - Mobile phones are not allowed on the field of play and if a player has one and is seen using or it 'ringing' a 5 run penalty will be awarded to the opposing team. It is not acceptable to arrive on the field of play and hand it to the umpire to retain.
m) – Discarded clothing/bottles or items that are hit by the ball on the field of play whilst the ball is in play will invoke a 5 run Penalty as in helmet rules to the non-offending team.
n) It is the responsibility of both captains to ensure that a properly completed scoresheet is submitted to the CCA league secretary within 3 days after each match.
o) All teams must submit their list of up to 20 players to CCA before the commencement of the season, and no other players may play for that team during the season, without special dispensation from CCA in exceptional circumstances.
3. LENGTH OF INNINGS
General regulations for uninterrupted matches
a) Each team shall have the opportunity to bat for their full allocated overs. If they are dismissed before the completion of these allocated overs or a result is reached, the remaining overs will not be bowled. If the team batting first are dismissed before the completion of their allocated overs the team batting second are entitled to have the opportunity to bat for their own allocated overs.
b) In the event of overs not being bowled within the scheduled time limit (90 minutes), the number of fielders allowed outside the circle is reduced by one for each 4 minutes over the 90.
c) It is the fielding team's Captain’s responsibility to monitor the time taken to bowl the overs but he should seek advice from the umpires about this. However umpires will take into account any circumstances that are outside the control of the fielding side when making this judgement (e.g. delays caused by the batting side, extended time taken to retrieve the ball, delays caused by serious injury).
4. FIELDING RESTRICTIONS
4.1 For the entire length of the innings: at the instant of delivery, there may not be more than five fielders on the leg side.
4.2 Inner Circles
a) Two semi-circles shall be drawn on the field of play. The semi-circles have as their centre the middle stump at either end of the pitch. The radius of each of the semi-circles is 27.5m. The ends of each semi-circle are joined to the other by a straight line drawn on the field on the same side of the pitch.
b) For the first 6 overs of each innings at the instant of delivery, no more than 2 fielders are permitted to be outside the fielding restriction area.
c) For the remaining overs - no more than 5 fielders are permitted outside this fielding restriction area – subject to 3(b) above in the event of a team failing to bowl the allotted overs inside the 90-minute limit.
d) In the event of infringement of any of the above fielding restrictions, the striker’s end umpire will call and signal “No Ball”.
5. NUMBER OF OVERS PER BOWLER
No bowler may bowl more than 4 overs in an innings.
6. WIDES AND NO BALLS
6.1 Law 25.1 Wide Ball - Judging a Wide
No delivery will be called Wide if it
a) comes into contact with the striker’s bat or person or
b) is called as a No ball
For all other deliveries the following interpretation will apply:
6.2 Off side Wides
The normal laws of cricket apply. If “wide lines” are marked on the pitch, these are a guide only for umpires.
6.3 Leg side Wides
Any ball passing down the leg side - behind the batsman and missing the leg stump and not being hit by or hitting the batsman - is deemed a wide ball even if the batsman steps inside the line.
6.4 No Balls - Bouncers/Short Pitched Balls
a) One 'bouncer' ball per over is allowed. A short pitched ball is defined as any ball that passes or would have passed over the shoulder of the batsman in his normal standing position. It is immaterial whether he hits it or not.
b) If that short pitched ball is deemed a wide on grounds of height or direction or is a no ball anyway it counts as the one for the over.
c) The Bowlers End Umpire will inform the bowler, the batsman and the fielding captain that the one per over has been bowled.
d) Should there be a second 'bouncer' in the same over it will be called No Ball by the umpire.
6.5 Free hits
a) In the event of a no ball being called the next ball will be a 'free hit'.
b) This means that the batsman can only be out in the same manner as on a normal no ball i.e. run out etc.
c) The fielders must remain in the same position and not be moved for the free hit ball apart from the change of stance between a left/right hand batsman.
d) Should the free hit ball be a no ball or a wide the free hit is transferred to the next legal delivery.
6.6 Bowling of high full pitch balls
a) Any delivery (irrespective of its speed or direction) which passes or would have passed on the full above waist height of the batsman standing upright at the crease is to be deemed dangerous and unfair, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker.
b) The umpires will ensure that no such deliveries go unpunished.
c) It is immaterial whether the batsman hits the ball or not.
d) Any such delivery will be called 'No Ball' by the bowler’s end umpire.
6.7 Bowler breaking the Non-Striker’s Wicket during Delivery
Where a bowler breaks the non-striker’s wicket during his delivery any umpire shall call ‘No Ball’.
7. THE BALL
a) The fielding team will provide the ball(s) for each innings.
b) A new ball will be used at the start of each innings.
c) In this competition a white ball will be used.
d) The umpires will decide if and when a ball becomes unfit for use and obtain a replacement.
8. POINTS AWARDED
8.1 The winning side is awarded 10 points.
8.2 The losing side is awarded 0 points.
8.3 For an abandoned or cancelled match each side receives 5 points.
9. INTERRUPTED GAMES
9.1 Delays of up to 30 minutes – game continues as normal.
9.2 After 30 minutes play has been lost, the DLS method will be used to recalculate the remaining overs and runs required, on the basis of one over “lost” per 4 minutes of delay. If scoring is being done on the CricHQ App, the DLS function on the App will be used. Otherwise the umpires and captains may utilise any available mobile technology to source a DLS calculation.
10. TEAM SCORERS AND UMPIRES
10.1 Scorers
Each team must supply a scorer as required by CCA. This person should not be a person playing in the game and should be fully dedicated to scoring in both innings and must be competent at scoring.
10.2 Umpires
CCA may appoint umpires for matches. Teams are expected to supply umpires to officiate at games as required by CCA. Umpires should ideally be neutral and not participating in the game as players.
11. PENALTY POINTS FOR BREACH OF RULES.
Teams that commit the following offences will be liable to a penalty of deduction of league points:-
11.1 Failure to provide umpires or scorers for the whole game when required – 1 penalty point
11.2 Late payment of league fees – 1 penalty point per week
11.3 Failure to submit a properly completed scoresheet (or record the result directly on CricHQ) within 3 days after a match – 1 penalty point
11.4 Playing an unregistered player – 1 penalty point plus loss of any points gained in the match
12. THE RESULT
a) The team scoring the higher number of runs will be deemed the winner.
b) In the event of a tie, a “Super Over” will be played – one over per side, bowled by one bowler; three batsmen allowed – if 2 wickets fall the innings is ended. If the super over is also tied, another will be played, until there is a result. The team batting second in the main match will bat first in the super over.
13. WINNERS OF THE LEAGUE
13.1 The positions in the league groups will be based on the number of points won less penalty points deducted.
13.2 However in the event of teams having equal number of points, the result of the match between the teams which are level will determine their positions. If more than two teams are equal on points, their positions will be decided on the basis of net run rate over the whole season.
13.3 The team finishing first in group 1 will play the second-placed team in group 2 in the first semi-final; the winners of group 2 will play the runners-up of group 1 in the other semi-final. The winners of the semi-finals will play each other in the final, where the winners will be league champions.