Bassetlaw proposed rules amendments for 2008
by Paul Barker, 19th November 2007

The Management Committee propose the following changes:

(1) Change to names of divisions

• The current Division 1 shall be re-named ‘The Championship League’ along with Division 2 being re-named Division 1 and so forth throughout the League

(Should this change be agreed, this will require amendments to several items in the Handbook where reference is made to ‘Division 1’) 

(2) Rule 3.14 (additional items as criteria for the current Div 1 (or Championship League – as above)

• Umpires are instructed to apply a very strict interpretation in regard to Law 25.1 wide balls, as a guide for leg side wides, lines shall be marked, from the bowling crease to the popping crease one foot outside the batsmans leg stump.

• At the instant of delivery, a minimum of four fielders (plus the bowler and the wicket-keeper), must be within an area bounded by two semi-circles, centred on each middle stump. Each with a radius of 30 yards and joined by a parallel line on each side of the pitch. It shall be marked by white plastic or rubber discs. In the event of an infringement, the square leg umpire shall call ‘no ball’

(3) Rule 6.3(1)

Each appointed umpire shall, not later than the end of the tea interval, be paid the match expenses of £30, the cost to be shared by both clubs concerned. Should there be no play in the game, following the arrival of both teams and the umpires at the ground, the match expenses of the umpires shall be £15 each, shared by the clubs concerned.

(4) Additional Rule to 6.3

There shall be an annual review of Umpires Expenses, carried out by a group constituted by Members of the League Management Committee and the Umpires Association, the findings of which shall be binding.

(5) Rule 6.4 to read

• Any club wishing to join the League, shall provide one umpire for each team it wishes to enter into the League. All such umpires should be acceptable to the Bassetlaw & District Umpires Association and should not be drawn from the existing pool of umpires.

(The Management Committee appeals to all existing clubs to make every effort to provide at least one umpire for each team entered in the League) 

(6) Rule 1.1(iv) to read

• Applications from clubs desiring admission to the League, must be in writing and received by the League Secretary by the last day in March in the year preceding that in which they wish to take part. Before a club is accepted into the League the Management Committee will need to be satisfied with its status, facilities and ability to provide active umpires as per Rule 6.4. The Management Committee will decide to which Division of the League an applicant club will be admitted having considered the above criteria.

(7) Note to all clubs

Matches in which no umpire is available

• In such cases, Captains take full responsibility for the conduct of the game. In deciding whether a game should start, be stopped or re-started due to unsatisfactory conditions of the ground, weather or light, every attempt should be made to reach an agreement. Bearing in mind that the safety of players is paramount, should an accident occur which is due to unsatisfactory conditions, then the Captain could be held to be liable. When in doubt, or if the Captains disagree, then play should not take place/ 

(8) Rule 2.7(i)

• Notification of Results – change ‘Worksop Guardian’ to ‘the League Statistician’
• The home club shall notify the result of the match by telephone and submit a result sheet in accordance with all League rules under 2.7

(9) Rule 2.6(b) (ii) to read

• Bonus points will be awarded in a match which is not completed.             

(10) Mallen Trophy

              4. Arrangement of matches

              (i) to read:

• Each round of group matches must be completed by dates to be determined by the Management Committee. Within these limits, each match shall be played on a date mutually agreed by the two clubs. 

(iii) to read:

• A cancellation due to adverse playing conditions may be made by the home club only in agreement with the away club. Such a match may be re-arranged once a mutual date is agreed provided it is within the designated completion date for that round.

               (iv) to read:

• Any matches not completed by the designated completion dates will be declared ‘NO RESULT’

               5. Umpires

               (ii) to read:

• For all group matches, it will be the responsibility of each club to appoint its own umpire from a pool of umpires drawn up by the Management Committee.

               (iii) to read:

• Umpires expenses for the group matches shall be £12 for each umpire.

• (iv) to be deleted

6. Match Regulations

               (i) to read:

The tenth (10^th) over of each innings shall be declared a ‘GOLDEN OVER’ in which each run scored by the batting side shall be doubled.

(11) Knock-out competition - Tomlins Trophy

Match regulations (vi) to read:

‘the batting side shall be awarded six penalty runs for each over begun after the time allowed. For each of any such overs, the umpire at the bowlers end shall signal six runs to the scorers before the first ball is bowled. These shall be recorded as penalty runs. If the batting side passes its opponents total by either the award of Penalty runs and/or runs scored during the over, they shall be deemed to have won the match at that point’.

(12) Rule 3.8(i) to read:

All balls must be manufactured from English or Australian materials, be of quartered quilt and have an 80 stitch, hand sew seam, or be approved by the Management Committee

(13)  Thoresby Park CC propose the following Rule inclusion to:

Rule 5.4

If any player wishes to leave a club but has no immediate plan to join another, his registration should be cancelled by the club without any unnecessary delay and the League Secretary promptly notified in writing or by e mail. If and when the player does decide to join another club, the new club should contact the League Secretary to confirm his/her eligibility and complete the registration process.

All the proposals presented were carried and in most cases unanimously by the member clubs.