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Rules of the
Hong Kong Cricket Association
Competitions 2002-03
General
1. Except as specified in the playing conditions, the
Laws of Cricket (Code 2000) will apply.
Fixtures
2.
The schedule of fixtures for League and Cup matches shall be published
by the
HKCA Office after League & Cup Committee
(LCMC) approval. Any changes to such fixtures must be approved by the
HKCA Match & Disciplinary Committee (MDC).
Postponement of Matches
3. a) Postponements of competition matches and changes
of venue will not be normally permitted, and requests for blank dates
and other particular arrangements must be made before the season commences
except as provided for in the rules for knock-out competitions. Player(s)
availability will not be considered good reason to postpone or change
any fixture. In exceptional circumstances, requests may be made to
the Match And Disciplinary Committee (MDC) whose decision shall be
final.
b) If Saturday or Sunday League matches are affected
by adverse weather conditions to the extent that a result cannot be
achieved, the points for that match will be evenly split between the
teams. In the event of disagreement, the matter shall be referred to
the MDC whose decision will be final.
Match Result
4. a) If any League match is adversely affected by weather
or ground conditions to the extent that a result cannot be achieved,
the points for that game shall be shared equally between the teams.
b) In the
event of any team being unable to raise a side, a walkover shall
be awarded to the opposition with ‘win’ points
earned. A side shall be of no less than seven players.
Ground, Weather and Light
5. Before the Toss has taken place, the decision with
regard to the fitness of the ground will rest with the authority responsible
for the maintenance of the ground, or in the absence of the ground
authority, Umpires appointed by HKCA, or in their absence, the team
captains After the toss has taken place, the Umpires appointed by the
HKCA or, in their absence, the Captains shall be the sole judges of
conditions being fit for play. If both Captains cannot agree on whether
to play, both teams shall remain at the ground for one hour after the
scheduled start time at which time the home Captain shall decide whether
or not play is to commence.
Disputes
6. All disputes during a match shall be determined by
the Umpires appointed by HKCA or in their absence, by the team captains.
If they disagree the existing state of affairs shall continue. Rulings
given by the MDC on any disputes brought before them shall be final.
Match And Disciplinary Committee (MDC)
7. The HKCA
Match Disciplinary Committee shall be elected annually by the HKCA
League & Cup Committee and shall consist of
four members elected by the LCMC. This committee shall be the authority
within the HKCA (subject to the authority of the Executive Committee)
for all decisions regarding the playing of an HKCA league match, cup
fixture, Summer 8’s or representative match or tour. The MDC
is empowered to make retrospective decisions on any of the above and
impose whatever sanctions it deems appropriate.
(See: HKCA
MDC Charter & Procedures at page 29)
Registration and Eligibility of Players
8. a) Individual membership of the HKCA is available
in the following categories:
- Life Member
- Ordinary Member
- Junior Member
b) Prior to the start of the league season, each team
is required to register a minimum of 11 players and pay the requisite
individual membership and team fees. The names and addresses of all
players to be registered must be submitted at this time.
c) Should the said individual and team membership fees
not be made by the team prior to the commencement of the season, consideration
will be given to removing the team from the League or Cup competitions
for the current season. Any matches played prior to payment of the
membership fee may be declared null and void. The MDC may award full
points to the non-offending team.
d) Playing a non-registered player may result in the
deduction of league points. However, an individual may play a maximum
of two games in each HKCA League without registering. Such a player
is required to register as a HKCA member before his third game in any
one League.
e) No non-member of the HKCA shall be chosen to represent
any Association side in representative games. It shall be the responsibility
of the Chairman of Selectors to ensure that all representative players
are members of the HKCA.
Transfer of Players
9. A player
shall not, without the prior permission of the MDC, play for more
than one team in the same competition. Applications
for transfer must be submitted in writing to the Chairman of the MDC
at least 72 hours before the transfer is required to take effect. This
must be accompanied by the written approval of the Captain of the player’s
previous team. Breaches of this rule will be referred to the MDC who
may impose appropriate sanctions including, the deduction of league
points or removal of the offending team from the Cup competition.
The Ball
10. Home teams are to supply identical, HKCA approved
match balls and one new ball shall be used for each innings. The LCMC
will decide which balls are to be used for HKCA competitions. Non-approved
balls are not to be used and breaches of this rule shall be dealt with
by the MDC who may impose penalties, including the deduction of points.
Overs and Fielding
11. a) Should a bowler become incapacitated, another
bowler may complete the over. A part of an over counts as a complete
over for the purpose of calculating how many overs a bowler has bowled
in matches where bowlers are subject to restrictions on the number
of overs they may bowl. A part of an over does not count as a complete
over for any other purposes (eg total number of overs bowled by the
team; statistical purposes).
b) It shall be the responsibility of the Captain of
the fielding side to ensure that no bowler exceeds any permitted number
of overs.
c) All teams are required to bowl at an average rate
of 17 overs per hour. In the event of a slower over rate without good
cause, Umpires and/or Captains are to report this to the MDC for appropriate
action. An unnecessarily slow over rate may result in the deduction
of points.
d) At no time will more than 5 fielders be permitted
to field on the leg side during a match.
Match Result Cards
12. a) A match result card for each match shall be submitted
to the HKCA office by the winning team and, in the event of a tie,
the home team. These result cards shall be sent by fax to the HKCA
office: Fax 2577 8486.
b) The full
names of all players taking part in a match must be entered on the
match result card. This includes any match started
but abandoned as No Result due to adverse weather conditions. Such
a match counts as a game for registration purposes. In matches where
a team plays less than 11 men, the word "ABSENT" shall be
written on the match results card in the corresponding location.
c) In a match
started but abandoned as No Result due to adverse weather conditions,
players’ individual batting, bowling
and fielding figures count towards their season’s averages, and,
if applicable, should be shown on the Match Result Card.
d) Failure to submit a Result Card by noon on the first
working day after a game may result in action. The HKCA office will
bring breaches of this rule to the attention of the MDC who will decide
on the appropriate action.
Dangerous & Unfair
Bowling (Law 42 - 2000 Code)
The Bowling of Fast, Short Pitched Balls
13. a) Bowling
fast, short pitched balls is dangerous and unfair if the umpire at
the bowler’s end considers that by
their repetition and taking into account their length, height and direction
they are likely to inflict physical injury on the striker, irrespective
of the protective equipment he may be wearing. The relative skill of
the striker shall be taken into consideration.
b) Any delivery which, after pitching, passes or would
have passed over head height of the striker standing upright at the
crease, although not threatening physical injury, is unfair and shall
be considered as part of the repetition sequence in (a) above. The
[either] umpire shall call and signal No ball for each such delivery.
c) A bowler
shall be allowed to bowl one fast, short-pitched delivery per over
(not being a Wide or a No Ball.) A fast, short-pitched
delivery is defined as a ball that passes or would have passed above
the shoulder height of the striker standing upright at the crease,
but not clearly above the batsman’s head. In the event of the
bowler bowling more than one fast, short-pitched delivery in an over,
the umpire shall call and signal No Ball. The penalty shall be one
run for the No Ball, plus any runs scored from the delivery. This regulation
is not a substitute for Law 42.6 which umpires may apply at any time
and applies to all HKCA one-day matches.
The Bowling of High Full Pitched Balls
14. a) Any delivery, other than a slow paced one, which
passes or would have passed on the full above waist height of the striker
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.
The [either] umpire shall call and signal No ball for each such delivery.
b) A slow delivery, which passes or would have passed
on the full above shoulder height of the striker standing upright at
the crease is to be considered dangerous and unfair, whether or not
it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker. The [either]
umpire shall call and signal No ball for each such delivery.
Sunday League Rules
Hours of Play
1. All matches shall commence at 1030 hrs latest or as near as possible
to that time depending on field usage and shall be of maximum 100 overs
duration and of 50 overs innings per team.
Periods of Play & Intervals
2. Periods of play and intervals shall be:
- 1030 - 1130 or 17 overs First Session
- 1135 - 1235 or 34 overs Second Session
- 1240 - 1340 or 50 overs Third Session (or over in progress at that
time)
- 1340 - 1410 Lunch Interval
- 1410 - 1510 or 17 overs First Session, Second Innings
- 1515 - 1615 or 34 overs Second Session, Second Innings
- 1620 - 1720 or 50 overs* Final Session (or over in progress at that
time)
* If the required number
of overs is not bowled by 1720 without ‘good
cause’, the winning run target is adjusted as per Rule 3(e) and
the hours of play may be extended to achieve a result.
Conditions of Play
3. a) Games to commence as shown above but may commence earlier, should
both captains and umpires agree.
b) Each team shall bat for 50 overs unless all out earlier or the match
is restricted through delay/interruption. A team shall not be permitted
to declare its innings closed.
c) If the team fielding first
fails to bowl the required number of overs by the scheduled time for
lunch, play shall continue until the
required number of overs has been bowled. Unless otherwise determined
by the Umpires, the innings of the team batting second shall be limited
to the same number of overs bowled by it at the scheduled time for lunch.
The over in progress at the scheduled time shall count as a completed
over. The interval shall not be extended and the next innings shall commence
at the scheduled time. The Umpires may increase the number of overs to
be bowled in the second innings (to a maximum of 50) if there was ‘good
cause’ to prevent the bowling of the required number of overs within
the scheduled time.
d) If the team batting first is all out and the last wicket falls at
or after the scheduled interval time, the second innings shall be limited
to the same number of overs bowled to the team batting first at the scheduled
time for the interval and the over in which the wicket falls shall count
as a completed over.
e) If the team batting first is dismissed in less than 50 overs, the
team batting second shall be entitled to bat for 50 overs except as provided
for in (d), above.
f) If the team fielding second fails without good cause to bowl the
required number of overs within the scheduled time, the run target of
the team batting second shall be reduced by the average of the 10 best
overs of the team batting first multiplied by the number overs bowled
short at the scheduled interval time. The over in progress at the scheduled
time shall count as a completed over. The hours of play shall be extended
until the required number of overs is bowled, a result is achieved or
bad light stops play. The Umpires may reduce the penalty if there was
good cause to prevent the fielding side from bowling the required overs
within the scheduled time.
Duration of Play
4. a) Unless there has
been "Good Cause" (see (c) below)
the team batting first shall be permitted to complete their full allocation
of overs, even if this takes time past the designated lunch break. All
runs scored shall count towards their final total. Lunch will then be
taken, although Captains & Umpires may agree to adjust the duration
of the interval.
b) The team batting second will then only be entitled to receive the
number of overs which they had delivered at the time that the luncheon
break was originally scheduled. This number of overs includes any over
which had commenced at the time of the scheduled break.
c) The umpires shall be responsible
for keeping time pertinent to this rule. In addition, the umpires shall
make allowance for legitimate losses
of time which have prevented the bowling team from delivering all allotted
overs within the scheduled time. Examples of such "good cause" include,
but shall not be limited to, the following:-
- Injury to players of either side.
- Inability to
locate & retrieve
a ball struck over the boundary line or fence. A
maximum of 2 minutes will be allowed for this, after which the bowling
side must produce a replacement ball for use.
- Delays
caused by the batting team eg changes of equipment.
Note that in instances of
inclement weather, Rule 7 below shall apply, NOT the provisions of "Good Cause".
d) During the innings, the
umpires will inform the Captain of the fielding side, & both batsmen, when they are making a judgement of "Good
Cause", and advise the number of whole minutes they have allowed
for this. All "Good Cause" minutes will be totalled over the
course of the innings. For every 3 minutes, or part thereof, of the total "Good
Cause" minutes, the bowling side will be given relief from 1 of
the overs required to be bowled prior to the scheduled lunch break.
e) The Captain of the fielding
side may appeal for "Good Cause",
but the umpire’s decision is final. Such appeals should not be
incessant or capricious.
f) The umpires will make
all calculations related to this rule known to both captains, at the
completion of the over underway at the time
of the originally scheduled lunch break. In the event of dispute, the
official umpire’s decision shall be final. If no official umpire
is present, both Captains must agree, and any disputes arising in this
situation should be referred to the MDC at the completion of the game.
g) Late commencement of
the game will not normally be considered "Good
Cause" unless the delay is the fault of the batting side. It is
the responsibility of both sides to be ready to deliver the first ball
of the first innings at the appointed start time.
Please see the following example for clarification:
In a 50 over a side game, lunch was originally scheduled at 1.40 pm.
At exactly
1.40 pm, the team bowling
first had completed 47 overs, and had bowled 2 balls of the 48th. At
the end of that over, the score is 6 wickets
for 160. There was no "Good Cause" (see below) for this other
than slow over rate. The batting side is then allowed to complete their
full 50 overs, and finishes at 8/200 runs. Lunch is then taken. The side
batting second must score a total 201 runs to win the game, and will
have only 48 overs available to do so. If there had been 2 injuries,
each of 2 minutes duration, (total 4 minutes) during the innings, this
would provide "Good Cause" for a total of 2 overs (1 x 3 minutes,
plus 1 x part 3 minutes). Consequently, the bowling side need only deliver
48 overs inside the time before lunch is scheduled. As they had done
so, then the innings closes and lunch is taken. The score at the end
of the 48th over (6 for 160) is the total to beat. The Team batting second
has 48 overs to reach 161 for a win ie there is no penalty.
h) In the second innings, sides who bowl their overs slower than the
required 17 overs per hour may be reported to the MDC by the Umpires
and / or the Captains, who may impose penalties including deduction of
points on the offending team.
Bowling Entitlement
5. There will be a limitation of 15 overs on the number of overs each
bowler may bowl per innings subject to the existing laws of cricket regarding
a bowler becoming incapacitated.
Procedures in Weather, Light or Unforeseen Delay Restricted
Matches
6. a) To constitute a game, the side batting second must receive a
minimum of 15 overs unless dismissed in less than 15 overs or if the
opposition total is reached in less than 15 overs.
b) During the first innings, for every full 6 minutes lost, the total
number of overs in the Match shall be reduced by 2, and the maximum number
of overs in the first innings reduced by one.
c) In the second innings, for every full 3 minutes lost, the second
innings shall be reduced by one over. Under these circumstances and in
order to calculate a result, the first innings total shall be divided
by the actual number of balls delivered and the higher run rate shall
decide the winner. Bonus points shall of course count to the loser.
Points
7. Competition Points will be awarded as follows:
Walkover = 20 points for a walkover.
Win = 10 points plus batting & bowling
bonus points.
Loss = Batting & bowling
bonus points only.
Tie = 5 points for each
side, plus batting & bowling bonus points.
No Result = 10 points each.
Batting Bonus Points
8. Batting Bonus Points shall be attributable to sides as follows:
a) For the team batting
1st, & the team batting 2nd (if it ultimately
loses the game):
- One (1) bonus point for
reaching each of 160, 190, 220, 250 & 280
runs (max. 5 points).
- The above points thresholds relate to a first innings of 50 overs.
If a match is of reduced duration due to weather or other factors, bonus
points shall be scored on a pro-rata basis ie divide the thresholds above
by the number of overs available. In calculating this, truncate all part
runs.
eg In a 44 over per side match, points would be: 1 point at 140 runs
( 160 / 50 x 44 = 140.8, truncated to 140), plus 1 point at 167 runs
( 190 / 50 x 44 = 167.2, trunc. to 167), plus 1 point at 193 runs ( 220
/ 50 x 44 = 193.6, trunc. to 193), plus 1 point at 220 runs ( 250 / 50
x 44 = 220.0, trunc. to 250), plus 1 point at 246 runs ( 280 / 50 x 44
= 246.4, trunc. to 246).
b) Team batting 2nd (if it ultimately wins the game).
- Points are calculated based
on the speed that the side batting second passes the first innings
score, inside a certain number of "Target
Overs". The calculation for this is based on run rates derived from
the batting thresholds in a) above, as follows:
- 5 bonus points based on a rate of 5.60 runs per over or higher.
- 4 bonus points based on a rate of 5.00 runs or better.
- 3 bonus points for a rate of 4.40 runs or better.
- 2 bonus points for a rate of 3.80 runs or better.
- 1 bonus point for a rate of 3.20 runs or better.
- 0 bonus points if they pass the total slower than this.
- Points are actually scored
by reaching the "Target Score (the
1st innings total + 1 run) within the "Target Overs", NOT by
raw run rate alone.
- To calculate the "Target Over", divide the "Target
Score" by the run rates given above.
- All part overs are truncated (ie ignore the decimal points to the
next lowest whole over).
See the following example:
The team batting first scored
149. "Target Score" is therefore
150 runs for the team batting second (149 plus 1 run).
- To score 5 points, the team batting second must pass the 1st innings
score within 26 completed overs. (Calculation = 150 / 5.60 = 26.785,
truncated to 26 overs).
- 4 points = Must reach the Target of 150 within 30 completed overs
(150 / 5.00 = 30.000000. Truncated to 30).
- 3 points = Must reach the Target of 150 within 34 completed overs
(150 / 4.40 = 34.090909. Truncated to 34) etc.
- If the side batting second
reaches 150 in 30 completed overs, they would score 4 points. If they
reach 150 in 30 overs & 1 ball, they
would score 3.
- If chasing a very small target, it may occur that, after truncating
overs, the same target over applies for different points. In this case,
the team that reaches the target in this time shall receive the highest
applicable points.
- The points are not cumulative ie the side only scores the maximum
attributable points.
Note: Captains of both sides
should calculate the number of points earned by each team & include
them on the score sheet submitted to the HKCA after each game. These
will be verified by the HKCA by checking
the information on the scoresheet. The HKCA determination will be final.
Therefore, it is important to clearly indicate on the score sheet which
over the team batting second scored the target runs, if they won the
game. This should be done in the remarks section of the form as follows:
Team (eg LSW), batting second, scored the target of (eg 150) runs in
(eg 26 overs), equals (eg 5) batting bonus points.
Bowling Bonus Points
9. Bowling Bonus Points are attributable to both sides as follows:
One point for 2, 4, 6, 8
and 10 wickets including players deemed "retired
out" and "All Out." (maximum 5 points).
Reduced Overs Matches
10. In the event that a 50 over match is reduced in overs due to ground,
weather and /or light conditions or other good cause (e.g. late start),
the number of overs allowed per bowler and the fielding restrictions
shall be reduced as follows:-
| Total overs
in inning |
No. of overs
per bowler &
for which
fielding restrictions shall apply |
| 47-49 |
14 |
| 44-46 |
13 |
| 40-43 |
12 |
| 37-39 |
11 |
| 34-36 |
10 |
| 30-33 |
9 |
| 27-29 |
8 |
| 25-26 |
7 |
Fielding Circles
11. A fielding circle shall be drawn or otherwise marked with disks
by the home side in each game. The circle shall be 27.5m (30 yards) metres
in radius measured from the bases of both centre stumps. Fielding restrictions
AT THE MOMENT OF DELIVERY are as follows:
a) A minimum of four fielders, in addition to the bowler and wicket
keeper, shall remain within the 27.5m circle throughout the game;
b) for the first 15 overs, there must be no more than two fielders
outside the 27.5m circle; and
c) for the first 15 overs
there must be a minimum of two stationary (catching) fielders within
a 13.72m (15 yards) circle from the striker’s
wicket.
12. The Umpire at the striker’s
end shall monitor the position of the fielders and should the above
conditions be breached either Umpire
shall call and signal No ball.
Tied Matches
13. A tie occurs when the scores are level at the conclusion of the
game.
Walkover
14. At the discretion of the MDC, a WALKOVER shall be granted to a
team whose opposition is unable to raise a side.
League Champions
15. At the conclusion of the season, if the top teams have the same
number of points, the following will be the order of precedence for deciding
the League Champions:
1. Team with most outright wins.
2. Team with fewest lost matches. Should all the above be identical,
then the Championship will be shared.
Sunday Cup Rules
Entrants and Eligibility
1. a) The top 8 teams from
the Sunday league of the HKCA are eligible to enter teams for the Sunday
Cup competition. Entries will be called
for by the League & Cup Committee. The League & Cup Committee
may also invite other teams to enter the Sunday Cup Competition.
b) Teams must notify the HKCA of the names of their players before
the draw is made for the first round. No transfers or additions will
be allowed without the prior approval of the MDC.
c) All players must have played at least two (2) matches in the current
season and be a member of the HKCA.
The Draw
2. The draw for each round of the Cup will be made by the LCMC Chairman
(or his representative) and a minimum of three HKCA members appointed
by him. Under normal circumstances, teams will not be seeded before the
draw.
Venues
3. All matches except the final will be played on the home ground of
the first named team, where possible. Playing Conditions
4. The Sunday Cup will be held on a simple knockout basis. Playing
conditions for the Cup will be the same as for the League except that:
a) Intervals will be limited to one, 10-minute drinks break after 25
overs in each innings with a 30-minute lunch break taken between innings.
b) No bowler may bowl more than 10 overs.
c) Matches abandoned as no result will be re-scheduled, if possible.
If not, the result will be decided by the toss of a coin.
d) Any expenses incurred during the game will be shared equally between
the teams.
e) For the first 15 overs there must be a minimum of 2 stationery fieldsmen
within the 13.72 metre fielding circle at the instant of delivery. The
two stationery fieldsmen may be permitted to stand deeper than 13.72
metres provided that they are standing in orthodox slip positions.
f) Where possible the MDC will reschedule a fixture abandoned as No
Result due to inclement weather. Where this is not possible, the match
will be decided by the toss of a coin.
g) If the start or progress
of a match is delayed, the number of overs per innings (50) will be
reduced by one over for every cumulative six
minutes’ delay, subject to a minimum of 15 overs being bowled.
Result
5. a) The team scoring the higher number of runs in the allocated number
of overs shall be deemed the winner.
b) In the event of tied scores, the team losing fewer wickets will
be the winner.
c) If both teams have scored the same number of runs and have lost
the same number of wickets, the winner will be the team with the superior
net run rate (total runs scored divided by the number of legitimate balls
bowled). If still equal, the better run rate after 20 (and, if necessary,
10) overs will decide.
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