1. TITLE

The title of the competition shall be the Inter-UCCE Championship.

2. MANAGEMENT

2.1. The control of the competition shall be undertaken by ECB and the University Centres and all decisions relating to these rules or to matches played in the competition shall be final and binding on all concerned.

3. ENTRY

3.1. The competition shall be open to the following six University Centres :-

Bradford/Leeds, Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Loughborough and Oxford.

4. COMPETITION STRUCTURE

4.1 University Centres shall be responsible for arranging their own fixtures by mutual consent. In event of disagreement, the home team should offer at least two two-day dates for each of their home matches. The dates, fixtures and venues shall be notified to the ECB by the date specified. Fixtures may only be changed after this time by mutual consent by the teams concerned. Details must be notified to the ECB Cricket Department.

4.2. The top two teams will contest a One-day Final. ( No reserve day ). See Playing Condition 3.4 attached.

5. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS

5.1. All players affiliated to the University Centre or associated colleges (Universities / Colleges from the original application to gain the UCCE status are eligible to play.)

6. CRICKET BALLS

6.1. The home team will supply BSI approved cricket balls with seams conforming to thespecifications laid down by the ECB. The home team will be responsible for supplying enough spare balls of equal standard. A new ball must be used at the start of each innings.

6.2. The Captain of the fielding side shall have the choice of taking a new ball after 85 overs have been bowled with the old one.

7. HELMETS

Any player under the age of 18 playing in this Competition must wear a helmet when batting and when standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket unless prior written consent has been given by a parent or guardian. The Umpires must be provided with a team sheet before the start of the match identifying any player who is not yet 18 on the date of the match and who has parental consent not to wear a helmet.

8. UMPIRES

8.1. The ECB Cricket Department will appoint one full or reserve list umpire to 2 day group matches and one other umpire, for which the home team shall incur the cost. Both teams shall complete and sign an umpires mark form and return to the ECB Cricket Department for each match played in the competition.

8.2. The ECB Cricket Department will appoint two full list umpires for the One-Day Final

9. SCORER

Each team must supply a scorer for each match they play in the competition.

PLAYING CONDITIONS

The Laws of Cricket shall apply with the following exceptions:-

1. HOURS OF PLAY

1.1. All matches shall be of two days duration and play shall normally commence at 11.00a.m.on each day unless otherwise agreed by the two teams who can delay the start up to 12.30 p.m. In this case all subsequent timings will be moved on as appropriate.

(i.e. For an uninterrupted game starting at 11.30 p.m., lunch will normally be at 1.30 p.m., tea at 4.10p.m. and Close of Play at 6.30p.m.)

1.2. Lunch will be taken from 1.00p.m. to 1.40p.m. This may be varied if, owing to the weather or state of the ground, an alteration has been agreed upon by the Captains or ordered by the Umpires.

1.3. A Tea interval of 20 minutes shall be taken from 3.40p.m. to 4.00p.m. In a match where play is delayed or suspended, the tea interval may be altered or waived altogether with the agreement of both Captains.

1.4. The Scheduled Close of Play on each day shall be 6.00p.m. The playing time on each day shall be extended by the amount of time lost on that day up to a maximum of 1 hour.

1.5. Law 17.6 and 17.7 will apply except that a minimum of 17 six ball overs shall be bowled in the last hour of the Match, on the second day only, and all calculations with regard to suspensions of play or the start of a new innings shall be based on one over for each full 3 ½ minutes.

1.6 Play will continue until Close of Play on the 2nd day unless the first innings contest is completed at any time after the scheduled tea interval on the 2nd day, in which case the match may be terminated by mutual agreement of the Captains.

2. DURATION OF INNINGS

2.1.1 In an uninterrupted match:- There will be a minimum of 102 overs in a day. The required over rate shall be 17 an hour (one over per 3 minutes 30 seconds approximately). Play will continue, subject to conditions of light, ground and weather, beyond the scheduled Close of Play until the allocated number of overs have been bowled for that day. There will be no reduction in overs for a change of innings. The side batting first will not be allowed to bat for more than 60% of the total overs available in the match in its first innings.

2.1.2. For innings of more than 3 hours duration, over rate penalties will apply (subject to 2.6.);

<17 >16 overs per hour - 1 point penalty
<16 >15 overs per hour - 2 points etc.

2.1.3. In matches where the start is delayed or play suspended:- If less than a total of an hour's play is lost on either day the minimum requirement of 102 overs in a day shall remain. Once a total of an hour's play has been lost, for each further full 3 minutes 30 seconds lost, one over will be deducted from the day's minimum allocation of overs (see 1.4).

2.1.4. The follow-on figure for this 2-day cricket will be 100 runs.

2.2. The Result

2.2.1. A match can be won 'on first innings' or 'outright' on second innings. The points system below places the main emphasis on winning on first innings but provides additional reward for an outright win.

2.3. Points Scoring System

Outright Win (after being ahead on 1st innings) 15 points (plus bonus points)
Outright Win (after tieing on 1st innings) 12 points (plus bonus points)
Outright Win (after being behind on 1st innings) 10 points (plus bonus points)

Outright Tie (after being ahead on 1st innings) 12 points (plus bonus points)
Outright Tie (after tieing on 1st innings) 7.5 points (plus bonus points)
Outright Tie (after being behind on 1st innings) 3 points (plus bonus points)

Outright Loss (after being ahead on 1st innings) 5 points (plus bonus points)
Outright Loss (after tieing on 1st innings) 3 points (plus bonus points)
Outright Loss (after being behind on 1st innings) 0 points (plus bonus points)

When the scores are level at the end of a two innings match, the side batting in the fourth innings score 'outright tie' points.

Win on 1st innings 10 points (plus bonus points)
Tie on 1st innings 5 points (plus bonus points)
Draw/No Result on 1st innings 3 points (plus bonus points)
Loss on 1st innings 0 points (plus bonus points

When the scores are level at the end of a one innings match, the side batting second score 5 points plus bonus points and the side batting first score 3 points plus bonus points.

Abandoned (where there is no play) 5 points

2.4. Bonus Points for 1st Innings

1 batting bonus point (up to a maximum of 4) is awarded for scoring 150, 200, 250 and 300 runs during the first 102 overs (or 50% of the available overs in a restricted match).

1 bowling bonus point (up to a maximum of 4) is awarded for taking 3, 5, 7 and 9 (or all available if less than 9) wickets. These bonus points are available throughout the innings.

2.5. Bonus Points for 2nd Innings in a Two Innings Match

In the second innings, 1 batting bonus point is awarded for scoring 100, 150, 200 and 250 runs.

1 bowling bonus point is awarded for taking 3, 5, 7 and 9 (or all available if less than 9) wickets.

2.6. Negative Points

A county cannot return a negative value in points in a match. In any such cases, the return will be 0 points.

2.7. Number of Overs per Bowler

2.7.1 For all players under the age of 19, the ECB Fast Bowling Directives will apply to all matches in this competition. Any fast bowler, defined as a bowler to whom a wicket keeper in normal circumstances would stand back to take the ball, cannot bowl more than 7 overs in any one spell and must not bowl more than 21 overs during a day's play. Having completed a spell the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until an equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled from the same end. Interruptions in play, whether scheduled or unscheduled, shall reduce this requirement by one over at each end for every 7 minutes of interruption.

Team Managers and/or Captains are responsible for providing the Umpires with a Team Sheet showing the ages of all players (U19 etc.) before the toss for innings takes place. Umpires are requested to ensure that this Playing Condition is strictly adhered to in all circumstances.

2.7.2. Maximum Number of Overs to be Bowled in a Day – 'Fast' Bowlers.

Further to 2.7.1 above, for players of ages above the ECB Fast Bowling Directives (19 +), Captain's and Coaches need to bear in mind risk of injury for bowlers bowling longspells without proportionate rest intervals.

3. GROUP PLACINGS

Points shall be awarded in accordance with 2.1.2./2.3./2.4./2.5./2.6. above. The following shall determine the Inter-UCCE 2-day Champion:-

3.1. The side gaining the most number of points shall be declared the winner.

3.2. If two or more teams have the same number of points, their positions in the Group table shall be based on the result of the matches between them, the one gaining most points in these matches being placed higher.

If the points are equal then the team with the highest net run-rate shall be placed higher.

A team's net run-rate is its own overall run-rate in all Group matches which it has played, (i.e. total runs scored x 100 divided by overs received) minus the combined cumulative run-rate of its opponents in those same matches (calculated on the same basis).

3.3. In the event of the sides still being equal, then a toss of a coin shall determine the positions.

3.4. The top two teams as decided by 3, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 above will contest a One-Day Final (No reserve day and under normal 50 over Regulations – i.e. Trophy, Benson & Hedges Cup).

4. ONE DAY REGULATIONS

To apply when no play is possible on First Day of a Group match

4.1. Hours of Play

Start 11.00a.m.		Lunch 1.20p.m.
Resume 2.00p.m.		Tea 4.30p.m.
Resume 4.50p.m.		Close of Play 7.10p.m.

4.2. Overs 120 overs minimum requirement for the day. Play will finish at 7.10p.m. or when the overs for the day have been bowled, whichever is the latter. The required over-rate is 17 overs an hour with one over deducted for each full 3 minutes 30 seconds playing time lost. No overs should be deducted for the 10 minutes between innings as this is built into the Hours of Play (above).

The side batting first will not be allowed to bat for more than 55% of the total overs available in the match in its first innings.

4.3. Bowlers

The ECB Fast Bowling Directives will apply as in 2.7 above.

4.4. Result

Winning team		10 points
Tie  		         5 points
Losing team  		 0 points
Draw/Abandoned Games  	 3 points

If a match finishes with the scores level, the side batting second to score 5 points plus bonus points, and the opposing side to score 3 points plus bonus points.

4.5. Bonus Points

1 for reaching 100, 150, 200, 250 runs (available for the 1st 60 overs or 50% of the available overs).

1 for taking 3, 5, 7, 9 wickets (available throughout the innings)

4.6. Delayed Start

When the match does not commence until there are 80 overs or less remaining, the match will become a limited over contest with the aim for the two sides to bat for the same number of overs. No additional fielding restrictions will apply but the bowlers are limited to one-fifth of the overs, rounded-up as necessary.

Bonus points will still be available as outlined above and in addition, 8 points will be awarded to the winning team. In the event of a tie or a 'no result', both teams will score 3 points plus bonus points.

The side batting second must face at least 20 overs to constitute a match.

4.7. Law 25.1 - Wide Ball - Judging a Wide – Delayed Start Matches

Umpires are instructed to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation in regard to this Law in matches that become limited over matches as a result of a delayed start (see 4.6) in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket.

The following criteria should be adopted as a guide to Umpires:

4.7.1. If the ball passes either side of the wicket sufficiently wide to make it virtually impossible for the striker to play a 'normal cricket stroke' both from where he is standing and from where he would normally be standing at the crease, the Umpire shall call and signal 'Wide.'

NOTE: the above provision does not apply if the striker makes contact with the ball.

4.8. Law 24 – No Ball – Delayed Start Matches

In addition to the normal provisions of Law 24 the following will apply in matches that become limited over matches as a result of a delayed start (see 4.6):

If the ball passes or would have passed above the shoulder height of the batsman standing upright at the crease the Umpire at the bowler's end shall call and signal 'No Ball'.

5. NO-BALL – Penalty

Law 24.12 will apply i.e. one run shall be awarded in addition to any other runs scored, any boundary allowance and any other penalties awarded.

6. WIDE BALL – Penalty

Law 25.5 will apply i.e. one run shall be awarded in addition to any other runs scored, any boundary allowance and any other penalties awarded.

7. GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1. Fielding Restrictions

In this Competition:

7.1.1. Players aged Under 18 must wear a helmet and abdominal protector (box) when fielding within 6 yards (5.5 metres) of the bat, except behind the wicket on the off side. Players should wear appropriate protective equipment whenever they are fielding in a position where they feel at risk.

7.2. Law 24.1- Mode of Delivery

7.2.1 Law 24.1- Mode of Delivery, will apply in this Competition, except that no bowler may deliver the ball underarm.

7.2.2 A bowler shall be limited to one fast, short-pitched ball per over per batsman (the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall make it clear to both the bowler and the batsman when the 'one for the over' has been bowled). A fast, short-pitched ball is defined as a ball which passes or would have passed above the shoulder of the batsman standing upright at the crease. If this limit is exceeded, the Umpire at the bowler's end shall call and signal 'No Ball' on each occasion.

7.2.3 This provision will not apply in matches that become limited over matches under Playing Condition 4.6 above, when 4.8 will apply.

7.3. Law 42 Note C – Danger Area

7.3.1. Law 42 Note C shall apply except that the reference to 4ft shall be replaced by 5ft.

7.4. Law 2.8 Fieldsman Leaving the Field

In place of Law 2.8 the following will apply:

7.4.1 No fieldsman shall leave the field or return during a session of play without the consent of the Umpire at the bowler's end. The Umpire's consent is also necessary if a Substitute is required for a fieldsman at the start of play or when his side returns to the field after an interval. If a member of the fielding side does not take the field at the start of play, leaves the field or fails to return after an interval and is absent from the field for longer than 15 minutes:

7.4.2 the player shall not be permitted to bowl in that innings after his return until he has been on the field for at least that length of playing time for which he was absent.

7.4.3 the player shall not be permitted to bat unless or until, in the aggregate, he has returned to the field and/or his side's innings has been in progress for at least that length of playing time for which he has been absent or, if earlier, when his side has lost five wickets.

7.4.4 The restriction in 7.4.1 and 7.4.2 above shall not apply if the player has suffered an external blow (as opposed to an internal injury such as a pulled muscle) whilst participating earlier in the match and consequently been forced to leave the field. 'External blow' should be interpreted broadly to include, but not be restricted to, such things as collisions with boundary boards, clashes of heads, heavy falls, etc. Nor should it apply if the player has been absent for very exceptional and wholly acceptable reasons (other than illness or injury) and consent for a Substitute has been granted by the opposing Captain.

Note: In the event of a fieldsman already being off the field at the commencement of an interruption in play through ground, weather or light conditions, he shall be allowed to count any such stoppage time as playing time, provided that he personally informs the Umpires that he is sufficiently fit to have been able to take the field had play been in progress.

7.5 Covering of the Pitch

It is recommended that, whenever possible, the following provisions are applied:

7.5.1 The whole pitch, plus ten yards behind the stumps at each end, shall be covered as follows:

7.5.2 The night before the match and, if necessary, until the first ball is bowled, and whenever necessary at any time prior to that during the preparation of the pitch.

7.5.3 At any time when play is suspended due to rain or conditions of light during the hours of play, and on the night of the first day.

7.5.4 The covers to be 12 feet wide.

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