All references within these Rules to the male gender are purely for brevity.
Women and girls are as welcome as men and boys as players, umpires, scorers
and administrators in the East League.
1.1 The League shall be administered by the General Committee of the East of Scotland Cricket Association, in accordance with the League Rules and within the terms of the Constitution.
2.1 The League shall be divided into Divisions. The General Committee shall determine annually the number of Divisions and the number of teams within each Division.
2.2 No club may be represented by more than one team in any one Division.
3.1 At the end of each season, subject to the provisions of Rule 2.2,
promotion and relegation will take place as follows.
(a) should two clubs be relegated from the Scottish National Cricket League
to the East League and no club be promoted from the East League to the SNCL,
then the top club in Divisions other than Division 1 of the East League
shall be promoted to the Division above and in all Divisions, other than the
bottom division, the lowest three clubs shall be relegated to the Division
below ;
(b) should two clubs be relegated from the Scottish National Cricket League
to the East League and one club be promoted from the East League to the SNCL,
then the top club in Divisions other than Division 1 of the East League
shall be promoted to the Division above and in all Divisions, other than the
bottom division, the lowest two clubs shall be relegated to the Division
below ;
(c) should one club be relegated from the Scottish National Cricket League
to the East League and no club be promoted from the East League to the SNCL,
then the top club in Divisions other than Division 1 of the East League
shall be promoted to the Division above and in all Divisions, other than the
bottom division, the lowest two clubs shall be relegated to the Division
below ;
(d) should one club be relegated from the Scottish National Cricket League
to the East League and one club be promoted from the East League to the SNCL,
then the top two clubs in Divisions other than Division 1 of the East League
shall be promoted to the Division above and in all Divisions, other than the
bottom division, the lowest two clubs shall be relegated to the Division
below ;
(e) should no club be relegated from the Scottish National Cricket League to
the East League and no club be promoted from the East League to the SNCL,
then the top two clubs in Divisions other than Division 1 of the East League
shall be promoted to the Division above and in all Divisions, other than the
bottom division, the lowest two clubs shall be relegated to the Division
below ;
(f) should no club be relegated from the Scottish National Cricket League to
the East League and one club be promoted from the East League to the SNCL,
then the top two clubs in Divisions other than Division 1 of the East League
shall be promoted to the Division above and in all Divisions, other than the
bottom division, the lowest club shall be relegated to the Division below.
3.2
(a) Any team failing to fulfil three of its fixtures during the course of a
season will be deemed to have failed to meet its obligations to the League
and shall be automatically relegated to the next lowest division.
(b) Any team failing to fulfil more than three of its fixtures during the
course of a season shall be automatically relegated to the division below
the next lowest division.
(c) Any team failing to fulfil six or more of its fixtures during the course
of a season will be deemed to have withdrawn from the League competition,
shall have all results expunged from completed and defaulted games, and
shall require to re-apply for admission to the league in accordance with 3.3
below.
(d) A fixture will only be deemed to have been fulfilled where a side
consists of seven or more players.
3.3 The team which shall be bottom of the lowest Division of the East League
and any other team in the lowest Division of the East League failing to
fulfil three or more fixtures during the course of the season shall require
to apply for readmission to the East League at the next Annual General
Meeting of the Association along with any other team seeking admission to
the East League. Where appropriate, those teams seeking admission or
readmission to the East League shall participate in a ballot for the vacant
place or places and such vacant place or places shall be allocated to the
team or teams securing the highest number of votes in the ballot. Prior to
the ballot, the General Committee shall indicate how many places in the
League competition are available.
3.4 For each team that has failed to fulfil three or more fixtures in the
season, a club must pay a £100 deposit to allow that team to compete in the
League in the following season. The deposit must be paid prior to the first
scheduled fixture of the following season, or that team will be removed from
the League. The deposit will be returned at the end of the following season,
provided that the team has fulfilled its fixtures and did not default on
more than two occasions.
4.1 The Competitions Sub-Committee shall arrange fixtures for each Division and shall notify clubs of such fixtures as soon as practicable each year. No alteration to these fixtures shall be made other than with the prior agreement of both clubs concerned and notification in writing to, and consent given by, the Competitions Sub-Committee. Fixtures in each Division, other than the lowest, will be arranged on the basis of each team playing one another twice during the season, one at home and the other away. In the lowest Division the fixtures shall be arranged so that each team shall have at least one fixture arranged with each other team. A fixture which is not played, or which is deemed to be uncompleted in terms of Rule 12.2 may be rearranged if both clubs concerned are in agreement and must be completed on the day of commencement of the rearranged fixture. No such rearrangements will be permitted if the date suggested by the clubs is after the first weekend in September. No fixture in Division 1 shall be rearranged for a date later than the last weekend in August if the result of such a fixture shall have the potential to alter the winners of the League, or the entrant for the SNCL qualification playoffs.
4.2 As the League fixtures are published in the fixtures booklet, no
alteration to the fixtures so arranged shall occur other than with the prior
consent of the Competitions Sub-Committee. The Competitions sub-committee
shall refuse such consent if they are notified of the alteration on or after
the originally scheduled date of the fixture. Any club which wishes to
change the date of a notified fixture should aim to seek the necessary
consent in time for the change to be reflected in the fixtures
booklet.
5.1 The General Committee may award trophies or other prizes for team or individual performance in any Division of the East League. No trophy or prize for individual performance may be awarded to a paid or overseas player.
6.1 All matches shall be played in accordance with the current MCC Laws of Cricket.
6.2 Clubs participating in the East League shall take steps to maintain or
improve the standard of their grounds in keeping with the League’s status as
a feeder league to the Scottish National Cricket League.
6.3 Clubs playing in the First Division of the East League must recognise
their responsibilities for producing a satisfactory playing surface as well
as ensuring that their grounds and facilities are up to an appropriate
standard as shall be determined by the Competitions Sub-Committee in its
sole discretion.
6.4 The home club in any fixture shall be responsible for the provision of a
pitch (and notification of the venue to opponents not less than 48 hours
before the fixture), regulation stumps and bails and for the proper marking
of the pitch and boundary. Each team shall otherwise provide its own
equipment, including a ball of a type approved by the General Committee.
Each team shall bowl with its own ball. [See also Rule 18.9]
6.5 The General Committee shall prescribe from time to time the type or
types of ball which may be used for East League matches and may prescribe
different balls for use in different Divisions.
7.1 It is a further requirement of membership of the East League that all clubs should be committed to providing opportunities for young players to play the game of cricket.
7.2 Those clubs playing in Division 1 of the East League will, in
particular, recognise their responsibilities for introducing and
implementing a junior coaching programme and should aim to operate at least
two teams in recognised youth competitions.
8.1 All players must be Bona Fide members of the clubs for which they play.
8.2 No player may play East League cricket for more than one club in the
League in any one cricket season without first obtaining the permission to
do so from the Competitions Sub-Committee. Such permission will only be
given where the player’s previous club has provided a written statement
confirming that it has no objection to the change of club.
8.3 No club may play more than one Overseas Player in any East League match.
An Overseas Player is any player not qualifying as a domestic player as per
8.4 below.
No player registered with the Scottish National Cricket League as a paid
player or equivalent may play in any East League match. In the event that
the rules of the SNCL change with regard to paid players, the Competitions
sub-committee shall issue clarification and an official interpretation of
this rule prior to the season.
8.4 A player shall be defined as a domestic player provided he meets at
least one of the following criteria.
He has been in the European Union for at least a total of at least 169 out of the 183 days immediately prior to the first Saturday of the League season.
He has been in the European Union for a total of at least 323 days in each of the three calendar years prior to the current season (i.e. for the 2006 season, the player must have been in the EU for all but 6 weeks of 2003, 2004, and 2005)
He has received special permission from the Competitions sub-committee. Such permission shall only be granted where the player has a demonstrable, long-term connection to Scotland, but for cricketing or other reasons meets neither of the criteria above.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is the responsibility of clubs to ensure that their players comply with the above requirements. Requests for special permission should be made in sufficient time to allow the committee to make enquiries regarding the circumstances. No player may play while a request for special permission is pending.
8.5 No special permission shall be granted by the sub-Committee under 8.4
above in regard of any player who in the last 3 years has been registered as
either an overseas amateur, paid player, or overseas player in the East
League or SNCL.
8.6 No Overseas Player who has played 1st Class or List “A” cricket as
defined by the Association of Cricket Statisticians, may play in any match
below Division 2 of the East League.
8.7 If an Overseas player is to be paid for playing cricket, or employed by
the cricket club in any capacity, the club must ensure that work permits and
other immigration documentation are in order. The Competitions sub-committee
shall have the right to refuse any registration until sight of such
documents, or written confirmation that they are not required has been
received.
8.8 No club which has more than one team in the East League or any other
League shall be entitled to play any player in different teams engaged in a
League fixture in the same weekend, unless specific permission has been
granted in advance by the Competitions sub-committee.
8.9 No player who has been selected for a representative squad or team at
district level or above, at any age group, shall play in any match in any
ESCA competition on the day of the scheduled representative match without
the written permission of the manager of the relevant representative side.
8.10 If a club chooses not to register an overseas player, it may employ one
Domestic player as a paid player or coach. Apart from this, no player, other
than an overseas player as defined above may be paid or receive any monetary
or other inducement to play cricket, or to facilitate playing cricket in
matches under the jurisdiction of ESCA. Expenses as permitted under Rule 10
shall not be deemed to breach this stipulation.
9.1 In order that the Competitions Sub-Committee may administer the rules
relating to player eligibility, all players must be registered before
playing in any East League match. The Competitions Sub-Committee will
provide clubs with facility to register domestic players, overseas players,
and paid players. Registration of all players should ordinarily be made at
least 7 days prior to the first match of the East League season.
Exceptionally, clubs may register players during the course of the season by
completing a supplementary registration form which must be submitted to the
Division Representative by 6pm on the Wednesday following the first match in
which such players have played. No supplementary registrations will be
accepted for players who have played in the first scheduled League match of
the season.
Players aged under 16 at the start of the season do not require to be
registered, and the competitions sub-committee shall have discretion to
waive other restrictions on these players as the committee sees fit.
10.1 A club shall be entitled to pay expenses to any player to defray the cost to that player of travelling to any League match or to a rendezvous point prior to travelling to any League match without that player being deemed to be a paid player, provided the expenses so paid do not exceed a rate per mile of necessary travel at such rate as may be fixed by the General Committee and intimated to clubs from time to time, or the equivalent rail or bus fare. Any club which pays expenses to any player as aforesaid shall maintain a record of all expenses so paid and shall allow access to any person appointed by the General Committee to such record and to any other books of account maintained by the club.
11.1 All East League matches shall commence at 1.30 p.m., except for matches in Divisions 1-4 which shall commence at 1.00 p.m., and shall be completed on the day of commencement. If play is not in progress, due to inclement weather, at 8.30 p.m. there shall be no further play in the match. If play is suspended due to inclement weather after 8.30 p.m. there shall be no further play.
11.2 Exceptionally, matches may start at some other time provided the start
time is agreed by both sides prior to the date of the fixture.
11.3
(a) The Home team shall ensure that a representative is present, on the
ground where the match is to take place, at least 30 minutes before the
defined start time.
(b) If a team does not have 7 players ready to start by 15 minutes after the
defined start time, then that team shall automatically lose
the toss.
(c) If a team does not have 7 players ready to start by 30 minutes after the
defined start time, there shall be a deduction of 5 points from that team’s
total points for the season.
(d) If a team does not have 7 players ready to start by one hour after the
defined start time, a win shall be awarded to the other team.
(e) The provisions of (c) and (d) above may be waived by the Competitions
sub-committee if it is satisfied that the offending team made every effort
to arrive on time, but was prevented from doing so by circumstances beyond
its control.
12.1 Except as detailed in 12.3 below each team competing in a match shall be entitled to bat for 50 overs (Divisions 1-4), 45 overs (Divisions 5-7) or 40 overs (other Divisions).
12.2 No points shall be awarded in matches which are not completed, and in
which the provisions of Rule 14.1(c) do not apply.
12.3 Where the start of the match is delayed due to weather or other
exceptional circumstances, the captains may agree to reduce the number of
overs to be played, subject to a minimum length of 30 overs per innings. If
such reduction is agreed, the lower limits for bowlers in Appendix B shall
apply as appropriate.
Captains should only agree to a reduction where the length of delay, and
prevailing weather conditions mean that it is unlikely that a game of the
originally scheduled length can be completed.
13.1 No bowler may bowl more overs than indicated in Appendix B for the length of innings. The penalty for infringing this rule is the deduction of 5 points from the team’s total for the season for each infringement. Wherever possible, umpires and/or scorers should alert captains when it appears likely that this rule may be infringed.
13.2 Captains should be aware of their responsibilities to all their
players, and particularly to the directives for young fast bowlers in
Appendix A.
13.3 Any delivery, of any pace, which passes or would have passed on the
full above waist height of the striker standing upright at the crease shall
be called and signalled no-ball.
13.4 For the avoidance of doubt, any and all deliveries which, after
pitching, pass or would have passed above head height of the striker
standing upright at the crease, shall be called and signalled no-ball, as
mandated in Law 42.6(a)(ii)
14.1 Points known as ‘result points’ and ‘bonus points’ shall be awarded as follows:
(a) Result Points
Each team in a tie 5 points
Win 20 points
Except in the circumstances governed by 14.1 (c), the team scoring the
greater number of runs in a match shall be the winners. If the number of
runs scored by the teams is equal, or the run-rate under the provisions of
14.1(c) is equal, the result shall be a tie. No account shall be taken of
wickets lost.
(b) Bonus Points
No bonus points shall be awarded to the team which wins the match.
Batting bonus points shall be awarded as follows:
Innings scheduled for 46 overs or more: One batting point shall be awarded
at each of the following totals – 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200.
Innings scheduled for 41-45 overs: One batting point shall be awarded at
each of the following totals – 70, 90, 110, 130, 150, 170.
Innings scheduled for 40 overs or fewer: One batting point shall be awarded
at each of the following totals – 50, 70, 90, 110, 130, 150.
One bowling point will be awarded to the fielding team at the fall of the
first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and tenth wickets. If a side is ‘all
out’, 6 bowling points shall be awarded to the fielding team, regardless of
how many wickets fell.
(c) In the situation where a match is abandoned after three-fifths of the
scheduled second innings has been completed the match will be decided on run
rate, with the team with the greater run rate winning the match and
receiving 20 points. The losing team shall receive bonus points under the
provisions of 14.1(b).
The run rate shall be calculated on the basis of total runs scored divided
by the total number of overs faced with a partially completed over, for the
purposes of this Rule, being considered as a completed over. If a side is
dismissed before the end of their innings, the run rate shall be calculated
on the basis of the number of overs the side was entitled to receive.
For the purposes of calculating three-fifths of the scheduled second
innings, the scheduled duration of the innings is the full length of 50, 45,
or 40 overs as appropriate to the division, not the reduced length which may
be agreed under Rule 12.3
15.1 A 50 over innings should be bowled within 3 hours and 15 minutes, a 45 over innings within 2 hours and 50 minutes, and a 40 over innings within 2 hours and 30 minutes. These times include allowances for the fall of wickets, and drinks intervals, but not for delays due to injury or other exceptional circumstances. In matches controlled by umpires appointed by the East of Scotland Umpires Association, the umpires shall deduct 1 point from the bowling team’s total for the season for each complete over that is unbowled after the expiry of the time listed above.
15.2 The Competitions Sub-Committee shall have the power to deduct points as
deemed appropriate for non-compliance with the Rules of the League.
15.3 Where a club is without a fixture, or has a fixture cancelled, for a
higher team the use of players from that higher team in a lower team is
against the spirit of the game of cricket and may be considered conduct
detrimental to the game of cricket and be subject to forfeiture of points
according to the provision of Section 13(g) of the Constitution of the
Association.
15.4 Where a team fails to fulfil a fixture on the original date specified
by the Competitions Sub-Committee or on a substitute date agreed with the
Competitions Sub-Committee and their opponents, the team responsible shall
be deemed to have forfeited the match and their opponents shall be awarded
points as if they had won the match. Where a club cannot fulfil all its
fixtures for a given day, the first fixture to be cancelled must be that of
its lowest team.
15.5 Where member clubs wish to appeal against the penalties arising from
sections 15.1, 15.3 or 15.4 above, they must do so within two weeks of the
date of the match.
Where member clubs wish to appeal against a decision made by the
Competitions Sub-Committee, then any such appeal must be received within two
weeks of notification of the Committee’s decision. Notification of appeal
must include the grounds of appeal, and a £50 deposit, which will be
returned to the appellant club if the appeal is successful.
16.1 The home team in any East League match is responsible for ensuring that the match return form is completed in full, accurately and legibly, and returned to the Divisional representative by 6pm on the following Wednesday at the latest so that League tables can be complied timeously. When a match is cancelled or abandoned, notice must also be given to the Divisional representative by 6pm on the following Wednesday. In the event of a failure to comply, the Competitions Sub-Committee will deduct 5 points for each and every offence from the total points earned during a season.
17.1 League placings will be determined by expressing the points awarded as a percentage of the results points for a win in all completed matches. In the event that two or more teams shall have an equal percentage at the end of the season, the team having the greatest ratio of matches won to matches played shall be placed above the other teams.
In the event that this does not separate the teams, the points gained in the
matches between the sides will determine the final placings; failing which
the clubs shall draw lots.
18.1 Wherever possible, umpires to East League games shall be appointed by the East of Scotland Umpires’ association.
18.2 Where no umpires are appointed under Rule 18.1, each club taking part
in a game shall have the right to appoint one umpire. Such umpire shall not
be one of the 11 players participating in the game. A team captain should
inform his counterpart that his club has appointed an umpire at the earliest
opportunity.
18.3 Where only one club chooses to appoint an umpire under Rule 18.2, that
umpire shall normally stand at one end of the pitch throughout the match
(i.e. at square leg and bowler’s end for alternate overs). With the
agreement of both captains, a single appointed umpire may stand at the
bowler’s end for every over in a game.
18.4 Where fewer than 2 umpires are appointed under Rules 18.1 and 18.2, the
match shall be umpired by players or other convenient people operating in
shifts.
18.5 No club shall have a right of objection to any umpire, no matter how
they are appointed. All umpires, no matter how they are appointed, are
expected to uphold the Laws and Spirit of the game, and make all decisions
that are required with strict impartiality.
18.6 Wherever possible, each club shall appoint a scorer for each game, who
shall not be one of the 11 players participating in the game. If a scorer is
not appointed, the club must provide a standard “box-style” scorebook or
score sheet.
18.7 If fewer than 2 scorers are appointed under Rule 18.6, the score shall
be kept by members of the batting side not currently involved in the game.
There must be 2 scorers recording the action at all times.
18.8 Where umpires are appointed under Rules 18.1 or 18.2, they shall agree
the scores at the conclusion of each innings as mandated in Law 3.15 and
4.2. Where no umpires are appointed, the captains shall agree the scores at
the conclusion of each innings. Each captain shall have the right to examine
each scorebook, and the captains shall jointly resolve any discrepancies
within or between the two scorebooks.
18.9 A scoreboard, legible from the pitch, must be provided by the home
team. The scoreboard shall show, as a minimum, runs scored, wickets fallen,
and the number of overs bowled. The scoreboard shall be updated at least at
the end of every over.
18.10 All clubs are encourage to support their members in attending training
courses and sessions, in order to promote the highest possible standards of
umpiring and scoring throughout the Association.
19.1 Each East League club shall have a copy of these Rules available at
its ground at each League match.
19.2 These rules shall be capable of amendment, but only as provided for
in the Constitution of the Association.
ECB Fast Bowling Match Directives
Age
Max. overs per spell
Max. overs per day
Up to 13
4 overs per spell
8 overs per day
U14, U15
5 overs per spell
10 overs per day
U16, U17
6 overs per spell
18 overs per day
U19
7 overs per spell
21 overs per day
For the purpose of these Directives a fast bowler should be defined as a
bowler to whom a wicket keeper in the same age group would in normal
circumstances stand back to take the ball. Age groups are taken from 1st
September the previous year.
Having completed a spell the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end,
until the equivalent of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled
from the same end. A bowler can change ends without ending his current spell
provided that he bowls the next over that he legally can from the other end.
If this does not happen, his spell is deemed to be concluded.
If play is interrupted for any reason, for less than 40 minutes any spell in
progress at the time of the interruption can be continued after the
interruption up to the maximum number of overs per spell for the appropriate
age group. If the spell is not continued after the interruption the bowler
cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to
the length of his spell before the interruption have been bowled from the
same end. If the interruption is of 40 minutes or more, whether scheduled or
not, the bowler can commence a new spell immediately. Once a bowler covered
by these Directives has bowled in a match he cannot exceed the maximum
number of overs per day for his age group even if he subsequently bowls
spin. He can exceed the maximum overs per spell if bowling spin, but cannot
then revert to bowling fast until an equivalent number of overs to the
length of his spell have been bowled from the same end. If he bowls spin
without exceeding the maximum number of overs in a spell the maximum will
apply as soon as he reverts to bowling fast.
Captains, Team Managers and Umpires are asked to ensure that these
Directives are followed at all times.
Length of Innings (Overs)
Maximum overs per bowler
50-46
10
45-41
9
40-36
8
35-31
7
30 6