The Club Cricket Conference Yearbook 2020

- 97 - 4. Home or away. 5. Which XI and its strength (see notes immediately below). Team Strengths Bureau staff can only arrange fixtures which reflect the information supplied by clubs and schools. If a Fixture Secretary says his XI is ‘Strong Medium’ we have to accept his word and register accordingly. If, during the season, it becomes obvious that club officials are regularly misrepresenting a team’s strength, Bureau staff will try and exercise some judgement, having first drawn the club’s attention to the problem. All the data is entered into the Fixture Bureau computer system, following which the Bureau staff will impart details of other clubs with similar or matching profiles. Once the call is completed, the data will be imparted to subsequent callers until such time as the Bureau receives confirmation of a fixture made. To help us arrange the best possible matches, please define strengths as follows: ‘Strong’ – First XI’s in higher league cricket fielding their top sides. This strength could also apply to clubs with only one XI who also play league cricket at a high level and are a genuine match for bigger clubs first XI’s. Similarly, a Sunday side containing a large number of Saturday first team players should be classified as ‘Strong’. The definition would not apply to a big club’s 4th XI. ‘Strong Medium’ – This definition applies to a first XI which may be fielding a slightly weaker side from normal, or to a club’s 2nd XI whose playing strength is only marginally below their first team’s. Again, clubs operating only one side can be described as ‘Strong Medium’ provided they are a genuine match for bigger clubs’ first or second XI’s as described earlier. Equally, a Sunday side with some first XI representation can be ‘Strong Medium’. ‘Medium’ – The catch all category. In this section clubs would have to field sides containing specialist players in all categories – bowlers, batsmen and a wicket- keeper. It is unlikely that a medium side would contain more than one colt or one vet. Clubs 2nd and bigger clubs 3rd XI’s would usually be covered in this category. ‘Weak Medium’ – This would apply to clubs either fielding severely depleted 2nd teams or clubs putting out 3rds and 4ths containing vets and colts. It would also apply to clubs fielding only one side whose players are either not regulars, or whose fixtures are occasional rather than regular. ‘Weak’ – Probably a one-off side with very occasional players or sides with four or more vets/colts, or a club’s 3rd or 4th XI with a ‘give everyone a game policy’. Notes: - Please read carefully. Confirmations – prompt confirmation by both clubs of a fixture is ESSENTIAL – until this happens Bureau staff will continue to give out details to new enquirers. Club officials who consistently fail to confirm fixtures may find that their club is suspended from Bureau service. Mobile phones – users are requested to give alternative contact numbers when registering, in case of poor / no mobile phone reception.