Alliance Midweek Cricket League Handbook 2015

34 A club may have no more than two teams in the League, with the second team being designated the “A” team. The “A” team shall not play in the same division as the first team. Should the “A” team finish in a position that would normally gain them promotion to the same division as the first team, then the team finishing immediately below shall, in the normal course of events, gain promotion. If the first team is relegated into the same division as the “A” team shall also be relegated and the divisions adjusted accordingly with the promotion of a team from the lower division. After 1st July in the season, the “A” team shall field no more than two players who have played on four or more occasions for the first team. 12. ARRANGEMENT OF FIXTURES Fixtures shall be arranged in December prior to the start of the season, and the opening fixture shall be on the first Wednesday in May and the closing fixture on the first Wednesday in August. All matches shall be played on Wednesday evenings, except under special circumstances when another evening may be arranged subject to the League Secretary’s permission. Each clubs fixtures shall be sent out in December and any club wishing to change dates must do so with the mutual agreement of their opponents and the League Secretary, with the new dates notified before 31st January. After this time, no fixture shall be allowed to be rearranged unless exceptional circumstances prevail, and then subject to the League Secretary’s discretion. All rearranged games must be played within 28 days of the original fixture, and no game shall be played after the official last day of the season. 13. NON FULFILMENT OF FIXTURES/POSTPONEMENTS (i) Clubs failing to fulfill fixtures shall be fined for each offence and the defaulting club shall have 3 points deducted. (ii) Both teams in all cases must go to the Ground or Club House, unless mutual agreement to abandon the game has been reached, but not earlier than 3.00 pm and not later than 5.00 pm on the day of the match or 4.30 pm where neutral umpires are appointed. (iii) The home club must make contact with one of the contacts provided if a game is liable to be postponed. (iv) If neither of their contacts is going to be available for any reason to receive a phone call on the day of the match, the away club must make contact with the home club ahead of the game and provide the name of an alternative contact. (v) If the home club is unable to make personal contact with either of the contacts then the League Secretary must be informed immediately and the offending club shall be dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee. (vi) An answer phone or similar contact with the opposing club is not acceptable. (vii) If it is mutually agreed to abandon the fixture of if prior knowledge exists of an unfulfilled fixture, then the home side shall be responsible for informing the appointed neutral umpires. Failure to do so will result in the offending club being required to pay the umpires half of the match expenses. 14. MATCH OFFICIALS Each club shall provide a scorer. Both scorers must be in close proximity to each other at the specified scoring point as defined by the home club. Where the League does not provide neutral umpires, each club shall provide its own umpire. Neutral Umpires shall be paid an expense, the amount of which shall be decided each year by the clubs at the Annual General Meeting or General Meeting of clubs, the cost being divided equally between the two clubs. All umpires must be paid before the game commences. The game cannot commence until the umpires have been paid. Where only one neutral umpire is in attendance, the umpires shall stand at both ends with the clubs mutually agreeing to the second umpire. The neutral umpires shall then receive expenses equivalent to one and a half the normal expenses. In all cases other than rule 13, where the neutral Umpire attends the ground but play is prevented from commencing, then the neutral umpire shall be paid half the normal expense. 15. BALL The batting side shall provide its own balls which shall not be new and must be a quartered leather balls mutually acceptable to both Captains and, where appointed, neutral umpires. Two balls must be presented to the neutral umpires, or opposing captain if no neutral umpires are appointed, before the commencement of the game.