CYPRUS CRICKET ASSOCIATION
2021 40-OVER LEAGUE – PLAYING CONDITIONS
SUMMARY OF RULES
The official name of the competition is the 2021 CCA#BAOFinancial 40 Over Cup presented by Abbeygate Insurance.
All teams play each other in round robin– top two meet in final.
Maximum 8 overs per bowler.
Fielding restrictions (max. 2 outside circle) for first 10 overs – batting side chooses powerplay of 5 overs (with max. 3 outside circle).
Outside powerplays max. 5 fielders outside circle.
Any ball down the leg side is a wide ball.
Free hit for all no-balls.
No more than 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 25) 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 40 overs.
b) All sides are expected to complete the bowling of their allocated overs within the time allowed of 4 minutes per over, that is 160 minutes per innings (plus allowance for drinks breaks or 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 and Finish 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 30 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
Drinks breaks are allowed after 15 and 30 overs in the first innings, and after 10, 20 and 30 overs in the second innings, or more frequently by agreement in hot conditions. However 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 and drink breaks should be taken on the field of play and players require permission to leave the field of play.
2.3 General Playing Conditions
a) All teams must submit their list of up to 25 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.
b) - Play shall not commence until at least 7 registered players from each team are present.
c) – The scheduled start time of any game is the time shown on the CCA website.
d) - However if the late attending team is not ready to start play within 30 minutes of the scheduled start time the match will be abandoned and full win points (30) awarded to the attending side.
e) - The offending team is liable for all the umpiring and scorer costs.
f) - 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.
g) Batsmen and wicketkeepers standing up to the stumps must wear helmets.
h) - An incoming batsman must pass the outgoing batsman on the field of play.
i) - All matches should be played in traditional cricket clothing. Teams will wear whites or sports clothing of a uniform colour (tops and bottoms). Umpires have discretion not to allow inappropriately dressed persons on the field of play.
j) - Before the first ball of the last over of each innings, the umpire(s) shall call ‘last over’ clearly so that both sides understand.
k) - 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.
l) - The law ‘Protected area’ will be enforced by the umpires.
m) - 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.
n) – 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.
o) It is the responsibility of both captains to ensure that a properly completed scoresheet is submitted to the CCA league secretary without delay after each match.
3. LENGTH OF INNINGS
General regulations for uninterrupted matches
3.1 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.
3.2 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 10 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 a further 5 over period at the choice of the batting team (the “powerplay”), no more than 3 fielders are permitted to be outside the fielding restriction area. If the batting team has not already taken its powerplay, the last five overs of the innings will automatically be the powerplay.
d) For the remaining overs - no more than 5 fielders are permitted outside this fielding restriction area.
e) 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 8 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 there is an off-side wide mark, this is a guide for the umpire only.
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 pitch 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 for No-balls
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 (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) Cyprus Cricket Association will provide two new balls for each innings.
b) Two new balls will be used at the start of each innings, one from each end.
c) A white ball will be used for this competition.
d) The umpires will decide if and when a ball becomes unfit for use and obtain a replacement.
e) The used ball remains the property of CCA and must be handed to the umpire at the end of the innings.
8. POINTS AWARDED
8.1 The winning side is awarded 30 points.
8.2 The losing side is awarded bonus points for batting and bowling to a maximum of 20 points.
Batting Points
8.3 Batting Bonus Points are 1 point for 50 runs, 2 points for 75 runs, 3 points for 100 runs, 4 points for 125 runs, 5 points for 150 runs, 8 points for 175 runs and 10 points for 200 runs.
8.4 If the losing side bats out its full scheduled overs allocation even in reduced overs allocation (either 1st or 2nd innings) they are awarded an extra 5 batting bonus points.
Bowling Points
8.5 1 point for 2 wickets, 2 points for 4 wickets, 3 points for 6 wickets, 4 points for 8 wickets and 5 points for 10 wickets.
8.6 When a side does not have its full complement of 11 players it is deemed to be all out when their last wicket falls and consequently 5 bonus bowling points are awarded to the fielding side.
8.7 Full bonus bowling points (5) are also awarded to the fielding side if a side declares its innings closed.
8.8 It shall be the duty of the captains of the teams and the umpires to ascertain between innings the total runs scored by the side batting first and to agree the batting target accordingly.
8.9 In the case of a “no result” each side is awarded 15 points and no bonus points to either side.
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.
9.3 If both teams can not receive at least 15 overs the match is a “no result”.
9.4 Bowlers’ limits and powerplay overs will be re-calculated by the umpires pro rata.
10. TEAM SCORERS AND UMPIRES
10.1 Scorers
Each team must supply their own scorer. 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 will appoint umpires for matches. Teams are expected to supply umpires to officiate at games as required by CCA. Umpires should be neutral and not participating in the game as players.
11. PENALTY POINTS FOR BREACH OF RULES.
11.1 Scorers
Failure to have a dedicated scorer for a match: 2 Penalty Points deducted
11.2 Failure to provide umpires; umpires late
Teams that fail to supply umpires when required are liable to a 5-penalty point deduction; if the umpires arrive late or fail to complete the match – 2 penalty points.
11.3 Playing an unregistered player
Teams that field an unregistered player will be deducted 1 penalty point and lose any points gained in the match.
11.4 The amount of penalty points accrued by a team and deducted will not be more than the points achieved (either win or bonus) by the same team.
12. THE RESULT
a) The team scoring the highest number of runs will be deemed the winner
b) In the event of a tie, the following will apply: The team losing the lesser number of wickets shall be the winner, if the result cannot be decided in this way, the winner shall be the team with the higher score (irrespective of wickets lost) after 15 overs, or if still equal, after 14 overs, etc.
13. WINNERS OF THE LEAGUE
13.1 The positions in the round robin stage of the league will be based on the number of points won.
13.2 However in the event of equal points, the result of the match between the teams which are level will determine their positions.
13.3 The top two teams in the league will play each other in the final.
13.4 The winners of the final will be the league champions.