The Rules of the Sussex Invitation Cricket League

 

1)     THE LEAGUE.

a)     The League shall be known as the SUSSEX INVITATION CRICKET LEAGUE and the officers shall be a President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Competitions (Records and Fixtures) Secretary and Press Secretary. All shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting and, together with one member from each Club, shall form the Management Committee.

b)     An Executive Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting comprising the Officers and two representatives from each division, but not more than one from each Club, of which an attendance of six members shall constitute a quorum; in addition to the powers granted in Rules 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 12 and 13, the Committee shall have power to deal with all general business, disciplinary matters, offences (including scratched games), reports and the annual dinner.

c)     A Club representative on the Executive Committee shall not be present (except as a witness or representative of his Club) when a dispute or complaint involving his Club is determined.

d)     Meetings to take place on the first Tuesday of June, July, August and September, plus any other called by the Chairman.

 

2)     MEMBERSHIP & FEES.

a)     Membership shall be confined to the 1st and 2nd Xl’s of Clubs, whose grounds are situated in West Sussex or, at the discretion of the Management Committee or Executive Committee, geographically near the boundaries of West Sussex; each Club shall annually pay a subscription and deposit (refundable), such sums to be fixed at the Annual General Meeting, on or before January 31^st each year, failing which a Club shall be liable to a fine of £20.

b)     The acceptance of any new Club, other than by promotion or relegation, must be confirmed by not less than 60% of the Member Clubs at an Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting. Membership of a Club may be terminated by a vote of not less than 60% of the Member Clubs at an Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting.

 

3)     MEETINGS.

The Annual General Meeting shall be held before November 30^th each year to receive reports and accounts from the Management Committee and Executive Committee for the year ending October 31^st, to elect Officers for the following season and to deal with such other matters as are on the Agenda. An Extraordinary (or Special) General Meeting shall be convened if requested by the Management Committee or Executive Committee, or in writing by four Member Clubs, at which only business as requisitioned for shall be dealt with.  Clubs shall receive not less than 14 days notice of any General Meeting at which only one member from each Club may vote and at which the Chairman shall have a casting vote. An attendance of not less than 60% of Member Clubs shall form a quorum at General Meetings and at Management Committee Meetings and should a Club fail to be represented at any Meeting, including those of the Executive Committee, they shall be liable to a fine of £10 unless a satisfactory explanation be given and accepted.

 

4)     COMPLAINTS.

Any complaint shall be lodged in writing with the Secretary within 7 days of it arising and the Secretary shall forward a copy to the Club and (if appropriate) to the individual concerned requesting their views. The Executive Committee shall deal with the matter and shall have the power to fine clubs, suspend players and deduct points up to a maximum of 30 per team per match; any decision shall be final and binding. In giving notice of a disciplinary hearing, the Secretary shall provide all interested parties, including Committee members, with copies of the relevant correspondence.

 

5)     LAWS.

Except where otherwise stated, the Laws of Cricket and ECB Directives shall apply.

 

6)     AMENDMENTS TO RULES.  

Any proposed amendment to the Rules shall be circulated to all Clubs at least 14 days before the Annual General Meeting or any Extraordinary General Meeting called for the purpose. Any club proposing an Amendment must obtain a seconder and advise the Secretary no later than October 31^st.

 

7)     MAKE UP OF DIVISIONS, PROMOTION & RELEGATION.

a)     Club 1^st X1’s shall play in divisions of nine teams each numbered from 1 to 4: their 2^nd X1’s shall play in separate divisions of nine teams each numbered 1 to 4. At the end of each season, the top two 1^st & 2^nd X1’s in each Division, apart from Division 1, shall be promoted and the bottom two 1^st & 2^nd X1’s in each Division, apart from Division 4, shall be relegated,  except as indicated in c) below.

b)     The team securing the highest number of points in its division shall be declared champions. If two or more teams finish level on points, the team with most wins shall take precedence over the other(s). If the teams are still level, they shall be declared joint winners. Where promotion or relegation involves teams with equal points and wins, placings shall be determined by the total points gained in the league match or matches between the teams during the season. Should any further differentiation be required, the Executive Committee shall have the power to decide how to resolve the matter.

c)     The Executive Committee shall have the power to increase or reduce by one the number of teams relegated in order to maintain a fixed number of teams in each division. Unless otherwise agreed, each team shall have matches with all other teams in its division twice each season and all matches must be played on the dates and venues designated in the Handbook. Any alterations to the designated dates and venues must have prior approval of the Executive Committee.

d)     Any Club accepting an invitation to join the League, will be placed into the Division(s) the Executive Committee considers appropriate.

e)     A team withdrawing from the league during the season shall have its records expunged from the table.

 

8)     MATCH BALLS.

Only a standard quartered ball of reputable manufacture as specified by the Management Committee or Executive Committee shall be used in matches, with one new ball per innings to be provided by the home team.

 

9)     UMPIRES & SCORERS.

a)     Each side shall be responsible for providing an umpire and, where possible, a scorer. A 1st XI shall give up a player to officiate in a match if without an umpire. Umpires and captains shall try to ensure that two scorebooks are in use throughout the match. Umpires must not be players involved in the match, but in second eleven matches senior players may officiate if necessary. If one Club provides an official Umpire, then he/she should officiate throughout at the bowlers end, unless agreed otherwise by both captains.

b)     Home Clubs shall provide teas for players, umpires and scorers and at no cost to the visiting Club.

c)     The Umpires shall be the sole judges of fair and unfair play, fitness of the ground, weather and light for play. If the Umpires for any reason cannot agree, the Captains are to be consulted. If the matter still cannot be resolved, the game shall be cancelled and the Umpires and Captains shall submit a written report to the Secretary, so that the Executive Committee can decide on the course of action.

 

10) HOURS OF PLAY; MATCH RULES

a)    Each match will consist of a maximum of 94 overs, with a maximum of 49 for the innings of the side batting first. The number of overs available for the side batting second will be the balance of the 94 overs remaining after the first innings, including any unused of the 49. Part overs bowled will count as one over.

b)    Each match shall commence at 1.30pm. A tea interval shall be taken at the break between innings or at another time which would not reduce the total playing time available; the tea interval shall be of 30 minutes duration, unless otherwise agreed by the Captains prior to the toss. All drinks intervals shall be over and above the actual playing time.

c)    Should play be delayed or interrupted for any reason, up to 30 minutes can be lost in total without affecting the 94 over match rule.

    i) Where the start of a match is delayed beyond 30 minutes, each innings shall be reduced by one over for each subsequent six minutes lost.

    ii) Where play is interrupted after a match has commenced, any time lost in the first innings in addition to the 30 minutes specified will initiate a reduction in overs for both sides at a rate of one over for every six minutes lost.

    iii) Where an interruption occurs during the second innings, and/or time has been lost during the tea interval, any time lost in addition to the 30 minutes specified will bring a reduction of one over for every three minutes lost.

    iv) A match will be considered cancelled if it hasn't commenced within 2 hours 30 minutes of the scheduled start. A match that has commenced but cannot be completed because of the weather or any other unavoidable reason will be considered abandoned.

d)    There shall be no restriction on the number of overs each bowler may bowl.

e)    No match shall be played on an artificial wicket.

f)     Where pitch covers are available they may be used prior to the commencement of a game. The home team Captain must advise Umpires and visiting Captain prior to the toss of the coin if covers are available. Thereafter it will be the Umpires who decides as to whether they are to be used during the game.

g)    A side batting with less than eleven players, including a side that has nominated eleven players but where one or more has not arrived at the ground at the time, shall not be permitted to declare its innings closed at the fall of a wicket if no further batsman is available. In such circumstances the batting side will be deemed to be all out.

 

11) AWARD OF POINTS.

Points in league matches will be awarded as follows:

a)    Two batting points will be awarded in a first innings at 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 runs (maximum 10) and one point will be awarded at the same scores in a second innings (maximum 5).

b)    A side fielding first having lost the toss shall be awarded two bowling points for every two wickets taken (maximum of 10). 

       A side fielding second shall be awarded one bowling point for every two wickets taken (maximum 5) 

       A side fielding first having won the toss shall be awarded two bowling points at the fall of wickets 6,7,8,9 and 10 (maximum 10).

       In each instance, wickets taken shall include those of any absent players where as side is dismissed.

c)    The side winning a match outright shall be awarded 20 points, plus the batting or bowling points gained in the first innings.

d)    For a cancelled match each side will receive 8 points; for an abandoned match each side will receive 8 points or the batting/bowling points, whichever is the greater.

e)    For a tied match each side shall receive 15 points (no batting or bowling points), and for a drawn match where the scores finish equal the side batting second shall receive 15 points (no batting or bowling points).

f)    Where a Club can fulfill only one of its two fixtures, this must be that of the 1st XI. Any side failing to fulfill a fixture shall have 8 points deducted from its total and its opponents shall be awarded the match and 30 points. A fine of £10 may be imposed on any Club causing the cancellation of a match without good reason.

 

12)ELIGIBILITY.

a)    A player, so long as he or she is (i) qualified for England under ECB regulations or (ii) if born in another country, has resided in this country continuously for 2 years in the last 5 or is, in the opinion of the Officers, ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, is entitled to play in a League match for the Club of which he or she is a bona-fide member. A player who does not fulfill conditions (i) or (ii) shall be deemed an overseas player and, though a Club may include more than one such player in its membership, but only one may play in any team.

b)    No remuneration shall be paid to any player in the League for playing for a Club.

c)    Any bona-fide member may play for a Club in the League, but having played, cannot play for another Club in the League except by the agreement of the Executive Committee. Such agreement will only be considered once each season in the week following the mid-point of the season. Any player seeking a transfer shall apply in writing to the League Secretary to arrive no later than 10 days before the date of the Executive Committee Meeting, giving details of the Clubs involved and the reason(s) for transfer.

d)    No player under contract to a First Class County may play within the League unless permission is given by the Executive Committee.        

e)    Any Club found guilty of knowingly fielding an ineligible player as defined in (a) (b) or (c) above, shall have 8 points deducted from its total and its opponents shall be awarded the match and 30 points. Any points gained by either Club in the said match to be discounted.

 

13)TELEPHONING RESULTS; MATCH RETURNS; STATISTICS.

a)    The results, scores and any other requested information, of each match must be telephoned to the Press Secretary by the HOME CLUB on the day of the match by a time to be determined prior to the start of each season. The HOME CLUB must also telephone details of abandoned, cancelled or forfeited matches to the Press Secretary.

b)    The details of each match must be notified to the Competitions Secretary on the form provided, signed by both captains, and posted by the HOME CLUB by first class post within 24 hours of the match. A form delivered by hand must be received by 10am on Tuesday. Match return forms relating to abandoned, cancelled or forfeited matches must also be sent to the Competitions Secretary by the HOME CLUB.

c)     Where any notice required under Rule a) or b) above is not provided within the stipulated time, the offending team must pay a fine of £5.00 for the first offence upon advice by the Press Secretary and/or Competitions Secretary. Upon each subsequent offence by that team, the fine will increase by £5. i.e. 1^st offence - £5, 2^nd - £10, 3^rd - £15 etc..

d)     When after being advised by the Competitions Secretary of the non-receipt of the form a Club fails to provide the form or a duplicate within three weeks of the date of the match, they shall be liable to an additional fine of £10, and have 8 points deducted from their teams’ current points total. The Executive Committee shall have the power to decide on the appropriate punishment.

e)     Clubs are required to provide the Competitions Secretary within 7 days of their last League matches of the season, the statistics and averages of each team, or otherwise be liable to a fine of up to £20 in respect of each defaulting team.