[1] General

- 1.1 Teams - 1.2 Turf - 1.3 Use of Lights - 1.4 The Ball
- 1.5 Clothing, Equipment and Footwear - 1.6 Sight Screens
- 1.7 Procedures, Officials, Time Keeping and Discipline - 1.8 ACB Rights

1. Teams
   Each game shall be played between two teams of eight players, plus a ninth man. The additional ninth man is a specialist fielder who can be used for interchange in the field at any time. A game consists of a maximum of 14 six ball overs bowled by each side. A team shall not be permitted to declare its innings closed.

2. Turf
   All matches will be played on turf wickets where possible.

3. Use of Lights
   If in the opinion of the umpires, natural light is deteriorating to an unfit level, they may authorise the ground authorities to use available artificial lighting so that the match can continue in acceptable conditions.

4. The Ball
   Balls approved by the Australian Cricket Board will be used in all matches.

5. Clothing, Equipment and Footwear
   Only approved logos and identification, as authorised by ICC policy and/or ACB are permitted to be worn in matches.

6. Sight Screens
   Sight screens will be black.

7. Procedures, Officials, Time Keeping and Discipline
   
   1. Captains shall be responsible for nominating the eight players to bat and bowl plus the substitute fielder for each game, for time keeping, for the conduct of their team and for acting on their behalf in the event of disputes.
   2. Time keeping is crucial to the success of the competition. Teams must be prepared in advance for each game as follows:
      - Captains must toss at least 25 minutes before the scheduled start of the game and at that time provide their Team Liaison Officer (on the forms provided) with their selected team of eight, indicating captain, vice-captain, wicket-keeper and substitute fielder.
      - The Team Liaison Officer shall then provide a copy to scorers, umpires, the match referee and the ground announcer.
   3. Decision of umpires on the field of play, and the Match Referee in all other matters, shall be final. The Match Referee will take appropriate action against any player who breaches the ICC Code of Conduct as applicable.

8. ACB Rights
   The ACB reserves the right to amend the rules at any time if it considers such action to be in the best interest of the competition.

1. Max Zone
   This is a clearly marked zone at each end of the ground, which rewards shots played in front of the wicket by doubling the score. If the batsman makes one run he scores two. If the ball is hit along the ground through the Max Zone boundary posts for a four the batsman scores eight, and over the boundary through the Max Zone for six, scores the maximum twelve. If a catch is completed inside the Max Zone the batsman is out provided the delivery is legal.

2. Boundaries
   All other boundaries other than the Max Zone for shots played in front of the wicket are to be scored as normal. eg. A ball hit along the ground into the fence receives four runs and over the fence six runs.

1. Nominated Bowlers
   Any one bowler is permitted to bowl a maximum of three overs. In the event of a bowler being unable to complete an over, the remaining balls will be bowled by another bowler. Such part of an over will count as a full over only in so far as each bowler's limit is concerned. Under no circumstances shall any bowler be permitted to bowl more than 3 overs in an innings.

2. Bowler's Run Up
   The bowler's run up is not restricted.

3. Underarm Bowling
   Underarm bowling is prohibited.

4. Wides
   The penalty for each wide shall be 2 runs plus any runs scored from the delivery and an extra ball shall be bowled.
   1. Two lines shall be drawn on each side of the pitch, one at a distance of 24" (solid) (off side deliveries) from middle stump and 18" (broken) (on side deliveries) from middle stump, each at right angles to the popping crease. Any ball which in the opinion of the umpire passes the batting crease "over or outside" these lines shall be called wide, provided it does not subsequently touch the bat and/or any part of the striker, irrespective of it being in reach of the striker.
   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.

5. No Balls
   - If a no-ball is bowled the normal laws of cricket apply. However as a penalty the batsman off the next legal delivery receives a "free hit" and can only be dismissed in the following manner - handled the ball, hit the ball twice, obstruction, and run out. The no-ball must be bowled again. If a wide is then bowled, the next ball is still a "free hit".
   - There will be no extra runs credited to the batting side as a penalty for the no-ball. However, any runs scored from a no-ball (off the bat, byes or leg byes) will be credited.
   1. Short pitched bowling - If a ball passes or would have passed above the shoulder height of the striker standing in his normal batting position at the crease, either umpire shall call and signal no-ball.
   2. A fast high full pitched ball shall be defined as a ball that passes, or would have passed, on the full above waist height of a batsman standing in his normal batting position at the crease, either umpire shall call and signal a no-ball.
   3. If at the instant of delivery the wicket-keeper is standing in a normal wicket keeping position more than 30 metres away from the stumps at the striker's end, no-ball shall be called by the square leg umpire.
   4. The ball remains live after the call of no-ball.

1. Wicket-keeper's Role
   Under no circumstances shall the nominated wicket-keeper be allowed to bowl.
   1. The wicket-keeper must be nominated prior to the toss (refer Clause 1.7.2). During play the wicket-keeper must wear wicket-keeping gloves and at the point of delivery must be within the 30 metre circle - otherwise a no-ball will be called. A different wicket-keeper may be nominated for each game but can not be changed during the course of the game (except as provided for in Clause 4.2).

2. Injury
   - If a fielder is injured or becomes ill during the course of a game, a substitute fielder will be permitted, subject to the umpires approval. The substitute fielder will not be allowed to bowl or bat.
   - The runner shall come only >from within the nominated eight players (refer Clause 1.7.2). Once a replacement is introduced, the player being replaced shall not be permitted to field again during the game in progress. Replacements shall be allowed only in the case of an injury or illness sustained during a game and for no other reason.

3. Field Restrictions
   - 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 30 metres. 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.
   - The field restriction area should be marked by continuous painted lines.
   - At the instant of delivery, there may not be more than four fieldsmen on the leg side.

4. Absent Fielders
   If fielders are not on the field when a game commences (as determined by the umpire), then the fielding team must play the whole game with the number of players present at the start of the game. The opposing captain may nominate the member(s) of the fielding team to bowl any over required to make up for missing fielders, but no bowler may bowl two consecutive overs or part thereof.

5. Dead Ball
   In the event of a ball thrown by a member of the fielding team hits the stumps, the batsman is either run out or the ball becomes dead.

1. Length of Innings
   
   1. Each innings (14 overs) must be completed within the allotted 56 minutes. Failure by the fielding side to comply with this will result in a penalty, allowing the fielding side to only bat the same number of overs as they bowled at the 56 minute mark. eg. If the fielding side has bowled thirteen overs only in the allotted 56 minutes, the batting side is still allowed to complete their fourteen overs. However, as a penalty, the fielding side may only bat thirteen overs.
   2. The referee may increase the number of overs to be bowled by the team bowling second if, after consultation with the umpires he is of the opinion that events beyond the control of the bowling team prevented that team from bowling the required number of overs by the allotted time for the innings of the team batting first.
   3. A maximum interval of eight minutes shall be allowed between innings.

2. Uninterrupted Matches
   - Each team shall bat for 14 (six ball) overs unless all out earlier. A team shall not be permitted to declare its innings closed. If the team batting first is dismissed in less than 14 overs the team batting second shall be entitled to bat for 14 overs.
   - For the first seven overs only three fieldsmen are permitted to be outside the field restriction marking at the instant of delivery. For the remaining overs only four fieldsmen are permitted to be outside the field restriction marking at the instant of delivery.
   - Where play is delayed or interrupted, affecting the innings of the team batting first and the total number of overs available is reduced, the number of overs in regard to field restrictions shall be reduced proportionately.
   - Fractions are to be ignored.
   - In the event of an infringement, the square leg umpire shall call and signal no-ball.

3. Delayed or Interrupted Matches
   - Under all circumstances dealing with delays or interruptions to the innings of both teams the Match Referee shall adjudicate on length of innings, target scores, overs to be bowled by individual bowlers, and field restrictions.
   - In delayed or interrupted matches, the following over allocations will apply:
        13 overs - maximum 3 overs per bowler
        12 overs - maximum 3 overs per bowler
        11 overs - maximum 3 overs per bowler
        10 overs - maximum 2 overs per bowler
        9 overs - maximum 2 overs per bowler
        8 overs - maximum 2 overs per bowler
        7 overs - maximum 2 overs per bowler
   
   1. Under all circumstances, the field restrictions for the innings of the team batting second shall be the same as the team batting first.
   2. The team batting second shall not bat for a greater number of overs than the first team unless the latter has been all out in less than the agreed number of overs.

4. Minimum Batting Time
   A result can only be achieved if both teams have had the opportunity to bat for at least seven overs, unless one team has been all out in less than seven overs or unless the team batting second scores enough runs to win in less than seven overs.

1. General
   A game shall be won by the side having the highest score at the completion of the game. The game concludes when the target is reached, or when the nominated number of overs is completed, or when the team batting second is dismissed within the nominated number of overs.

2. Results
   In matches in which both teams have had the opportunity of batting for the agreed number of overs, the team scoring the higher number of runs shall be the winner. If the scores are equal, the result shall be a tie and no account shall be taken of the number of wickets which have fallen.

3. Preliminary Matches
   Win - 2 Points, Tie or No Result - 1 Point, Loss - 0 Points.

4. Equal Points
   Should the teams have equal points at the end of the preliminary matches, the superior position shall be judged according to the following criteria:
   1. The team winning the most matches.
   2. If only two teams have equal points, then the winner of the match between the two teams.
   3. If still equal, or more than two teams have equal points, then the team scoring the highest total runs excluding extras, divided by the number of wickets lost will be placed highest.
   4. If still equal then the teams will be ranked according to total runs scored including extras divided by the number of wickets lost.
   5. If still equal, the teams will be separated by a bowl out as per Clause 6.5.

5. Sudden Death
   In the event of teams still remaining equal after Clause 6.4 (a-e), the fielders of each team shall alternately bowl one ball each at a set of stumps. The side hitting the wickets the most times out of 7 shall be declared the winner. If each team hits the wickets the same number of times the fielders on each team shall continue to bowl alternately in the same order as before, and the winner shall be declared as soon as one bowler succeeds whilst his opposite partner fails to hit the wickets. No-balls and wides do not count and no extra ball will be allowed.

6. Calculation of Target Score
   Where the number of overs in the innings of team batting second has been revised, the target score shall be calculated as follows:
   1. >From the table of runs scored per over by the team batting first, the scorers shall calculate the total runs scored by the team from the equivalent number of highest scoring overs;
   2. This total is then discounted of 0.5% per over lost;
   3. The target score is the discounted total runs (ignore fractions), plus one.

1. Appointment of Umpires
   Umpires shall be appointed by the ACB and the MCA.

2. Referee
   Each match will be under the control of a Match Referee appointed by the ACB who will meet with the umpires and captains prior to the commencement of matches to secure uniform interpretation of the playing conditions and to adjudicate, if necessary, should there be any dispute.