Sheffield Alliance Midweek Cricket League Handbook 2016

28 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. 16. CONDITIONS OF PLAY (i) The visiting team shall bat first. (ii) All matches shall commence at 6.15 pm or earlier by mutual consent of both sides. (iii) If a match is started later than 6.15 pm due to the fault of one team, a specified number of overs may be deducted from the batting period of the offending team. Such deductions shall be accordance with the reference table printed in the League Handbook and must be arranged before actual play commences and if neutral umpires are present then they shall adivse the club captains of such deductions. (iv) Players must have arrived and on the field of play by the completion of the 8th over to either bat or bowl in a game. The captain must inform the opposing captain and umpires of any late players arrival. (v) No player may bowl than 3 overs in a game except as follows: In games of 13 overs per side one player per side may bowl a maximum of 4 overs In games of 14 overs per side two players per side may bowl a maximum of 4 overs In games of 15 overs per side three players per side may bowl a maximum of 4 overs In games of 16 overs per side no player may bowl more than 4 overs. (vi) Each Home club shall provide a working scoreboard that is clearly visible from the wickets. The batting side shall ensure the accuracy of the scores indicated on the scoreboard and that it is maintained on a regular basis throughout the game. 17. DURATION OF GAME. LATE STARTS Each side shall bat a maximum of sixteen 8-ball overs and a minimum of twelve 8-ball overs. In the event of a late start due to inclement weather, a minimum of ten 8-ball overs may be played. No game may start after 6.45 pm. 18. LAWS OF THE GAME Except where alternative provisions are made within the rules of the League, all games shall be played within the MCC Laws of the Game. Laws 42.3, 42.5, 42.4, 42.9, 42.10, 42.13 and 42.14 will only apply in games where neutral umpires appointed by the League are present. 19. FALL OF WICKET The incoming batsman shall meet the outgoing batsman and there shall be not more than 10 minutes interval between innings. 20. BOWLING ATTIRE No player shall be allowed to bowl unless in suitable cricketing costume. This rule will be strictly enforced. 21. SUITABILITY OF PLAY Unless neutral umpires are provided by the League, the Captains shall decide as to the suitability of the weather conditions being fit for play. If the captains are unable to agree, the then present state of the game shall continue.