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Latest League News |
OLD HILL CC have decided that for this season matches played at Spring Meadow ground will be subjetc to a local rule of NO SIXES
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IMPORTANT NOTICE re 1st XI players in 2nd XI matches
Already after just one round of matches I have received complaints about a "first eleven " player playing in a second eleven match and thereby both, possibly stealing a march on the other teams in their Division and also perhaps encouraging other teams to copy this when they feel that they can "get away with it". The Committee, whilst recognising how difficult that this can be to Police have asked that all clubs be reminded that this shows a lack of respect for opponents and is totally against the Spirit of Cricket, especially now that the League has adopted "floating second XIs"
Therefore, to take this matter out of clubs' own hands, a Code of Practice will be instituted as follows:
1. Where a player is selected in a match which is called off with no play either on the day of the match or before and whether or not his name has appeared on the team sheets, he shall not in any circumstances be allowed to play for a lower club side (2nds, 3rds, 4ths etc) on that day. It should be noted that Team sheets must always be exchanged prior to the toss for all matches whether played or not and such reports sent to me either by the Home captain or the away Captain is the team did not travel.
2. If, for example, the 1st XI match is played but a player who is "known" as a 1st XI player is selected for a lower team, this must be communicated to me for approval prior to the day of the match. Note that the onus of proof is on the club, but that in general permission will be granted only for one of the following reasons :
a) The match is due to take place more than 20 miles away and due to work or family commitments, the player can ONLY play at home.
b) The club have decided that the player must play in a particular side for Disciplinary reasons.
c) The player is returning from injury.
d) The player has suffered a demonstrable loss of form.
Although we accept that the vast majority of clubs do indeed respect their opponents (and own club members) in the way they carry out team selection, I hope that this sets out clearly the Committee's views and determination to protect wherever possible the Spirit of Cricket. Finally, if any club is felt to have acted in a way that is outside these guidelines in their selection policy, the Committee reserves the right to refer that club to the Disciplinary Committee where points deductions can be made if breaches of this are proved.
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PITCH INSPECTIONS
There is another area of the Handbook that needs some clarification. Under Rule 8E , where a Captain can demand a Pitch inspection when he is informed that a home team wishes to cancel a match due to bad weather.
Please note the following:
1. The AWAY Captain must immediately notify his opposite number that he intends to ask for this power.
2. He must initiate the inspection before 10.30am after that the decision must be left until the scheduled start of the match.
3. If the Administrator gets an Independent Umpire or Delegate to attend and make a judgement, the side requesting the inspection will be liable for charge of £10 towards the Inspector's expenses. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
SATURDAY KO CUP
With the bad weather threatening the weekend's matches, we have decided on a course of action should the programme of 1st round matches for the Saturday Cup be badly affected.
The rules (p127 of the handbook) state that if there is no result through the usual means that a Bowl off should take place and if that is not possible, then the match is decided by the toss of a coin. However, it is obvious that on some occasions it is so wet that the Captains agree to call off a match by telephone and that nobody actually attends the ground to even toss a coin.
In this situation, please proceed as follows:-
Home Captain either calls me or e mails me by Sunday at 6pm (earlier if possible) to state his preference of either Heads or Tails and I shall conduct the toss on his behalf and post the result/next round matches on the Play Cricket Cup site as appropriate. Both sides should then look at their Play Cricket site or the league web site to see where they are playing on 10th May. I hope this meets with everyone's approval and hope that it is not necessary in most cases.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ New Players
If you intend to have any new players in 2008 you will need to complete Registration forms and, if applicable, Transfer forms and send them to me. Also, if you wish to de-register any players please send me a list. PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN THAT ALL AREAS OF THE FORMS ARE COMPLETE, commonly Club Names are omitted or no officail signs or the previous club dates are omitted. Overseas Players
Our Question to ECB - The league understands that the Home Office has tightened up on the interpretation of the rules governing Overseas players. A Birmingham League club has been told that ONLY players who have played at least FIVE first class matches of more than one day's duration will be considered to be able to come to UK to be paid professionals. Furthermore the working-holiday scheme apparently expressly forbids employment as a Sportsman.
The ECB's reply - " Work Permit Criteria is strict and expects players who play in Recreational Cricket to be of a high standard and to leave a legacy i.e do some coaching having been qualified to do so. Players who arrive expecting to play and be paid for playing cricket who do not have a work permit are likely to be turned back at the airport. It is likely that these players have applied for a working holiday maker visa and have no means to support themselves, other than through cricket, during their stay. If they say they are going to be paid for cricket then it is likely they will be asked why they do not have a work permit.
Clubs should not contract with players without a work permit. Clubs who obtain services of players who do not have a work permit run the risk of losing a player at the airport and worse still if they do get into the country and are paid for playing they will be in breach of employment
law if discovered.
Overall advice, Get a good overseas players on a work permit and don't have a contract with one who enters on a working holidaymaker visa".
WCL urge all clubs to be very mindful of this, also that the working holiday scheme is being overhauled again very shortly and visas of no more than three months duration are on the cards.
Lye CC have now got a website address that you can view their appeal following the Fire last August it is :- http://www.freewebs.com/lyecc . Facilities will be audited this season where clubs have either joined the league or clubs in the two-team section that have not been audited for 3 years. (That means last audit 2005).
Umpires Scores -
The scores that Umpires gave club pitches are now on the website. However, they are also being given new criteria to judge pitches by and these are also shown.
Focus Clubs
In May all Focus clubs will receive a free Facility audit from Worcester Association of Groundsmen who will then pass all information received to the WCB so that over the next three seasons these 28 clubs across the County can have a fully professional Pitch quality assessment carried out at a nominal cost to themselves with the balance being funded by WCB. More news on this to follow later.
Grant Aid
Grant Aid, although most of the league's grant aided courses have now been used up, we will pay £17 towards the cost of a £35 workshop where clubs make application to David Thomas (form on the web site).
Meetings
The meetings agenda is on the website and you will notice that we have three games against the other feeder leagues at under 19 level. Please let me have your nominations for these by the end of June.
League Ties
Lastly, the league now has a TIE and you can buy one for £10. Contact the Administrator on 01905 778771 or send your cheque to the address in the Handbook.
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ECB announces flood relief
The England and Wales Cricket Trust Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has made a relief fund available for those cricket clubs affected by the recent flooding and has released information on how to apply for that funding click here.
At present there is £250,000 allocated to support ECB-affiliated clubs who have been affected and the ECB is lobbying for more support and match funding.
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Smoking Ban in Cricket Pavilions
From July 1st your pavilion must have had NO SMOKING signs at every entrance in prominent positions. The signs must be
1. A minimum of A5 in area (210mm x 148mm).
2. Say "No Smoking. It is against the law to smoke in these premises"
You can obtain signs from your local council or by visiting www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/resources or telephone 0800 169 1697.
Failure to display signs will result in fines by way of Fixed penalty notices on the manager of £150 if paid within 15 days, £200 if paid within 29 days or if enforced by a court, with a maximum penalty of £1,000. Customers found smoking inside will also be fined.
More significantly, failing to prevent smoking in your premises can lead to fines of up to £2,500 on clubs.
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