CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

The Barbados Cricket League (BCL) have made adjustments to four minor rules for the upcoming season which opens this Saturday.

According to secretary Glyne St. Hill the changes were instituted after consultation with players for a smoother running of the competitions, which has this year attracted 66 teams – including two newcomers – St. Joseph Culture and Cupid.

The first change affects the final hour of play. It now reads: ``on the final day 15 overs must be bowled in the final hour, unless the captains agree to terminate play at but not more than half-hour remaining for play, if no result seems to be possible.

St. Hill said in the past they used 20 overs mandatory overs in the final 80 minutes and the change was made to eliminate tardiness as some teams who found themselves in danger of defeat stretched play into the dark.

The second rule change states: ``No player shall represent a club in any Banks knockout final unless he has first represented that club in at least three matches prior to the final''.

This move was made after players complained of instances of late registration which gave team an unfair advantage in the closing stages of the season.

There has also been a change to the bonus points which were introduced last season. In the first innings teams making 250-299 runs get one bonus point, 300-349 get two bonus points and 350 and over will earn three bonus points. Similarly in the first innings, in the bowling if a team dismisses the opposition for less than 50 it will collect two bonus points, and one bonus point for dismissing the opponents between 51 and 75.

According to St. Hill, the players liked the idea when one bonus point was given for a score over 250 and dismissing the opponents for under 50, and asked for it to be improved upon.

The final change remedies a series of events last year when teams pulled out of the competition or were disqualified.

This season all points gained against the defaulting sides will remain, and teams due to play against the disqualified team will automatically collect maximum points.