National Schools Twenty20 Cricket
The Competition
Matches
For a schedule of matches please see the schedule document, and visit any updates.
Eligibility
All players must be Under 18 on the 1st of September of the current academic year. They must be bona fide members of the school, following a normal academic curriculum (eg AS or A2), and must have joined the school with the intention of completingtwo academic years. In exceptional circumstances, their eligibility must be confirmed by the tournament director, Andy Whittall. Any school fielding a player not eligible will be removed from the competition for the current year and two subsequent years.
Entry fee
There is no extra charge for HMC schools entering the competition. It is covered by the HMC annual subscription. The fee for schools not members of HMC is £30.
Coloured clothing
Teams do not have to wear coloured clothing as the compulsory official ball can be used with white clothing as well as coloured clothing. The chosen supplier for cricket clothing and a sponsor of this tournament is MKK.
Tournament management
1)The tournament is managed by HMC Schools Cricket. Each region has a specific organiser. Please liaise directly with this organiser in case of any query. Details are on the schedule on the website.
2)Dates for each round and specific matches are set locally by regional organisers and host schools.
3)The choice of playing knock-out matches or round robin games in the first round is the choice of each regional organiser.
4)Winners of each regional section will then play off to find the winners of each region (North, East and West Midlands, South, West and South Central) who will then compete in the semi-finals and final. See the schedule for further detail.
Host school’s responsibilities
1)To communicate with the schools involved in that specific round.
2)To arrange umpires (shared costs where applicable) and usual hosting arrangements for school fixtures. NB It is permissible for schools to bring their own competent umpires if generally agreed.
3)To make sure these regulations and any other necessary information are available on the day. This includes having a computer with the tournament spreadsheet available (inc. NRR).
4)Results
Full scores in the usual Schools Cricket Online format must be sent by the host school to the regional organiser as well as the editor for the Schools Cricket Online website (Douglas Henderson) by the following day. This is normally published on Tuesdays and the spreadsheet updated. Douglas is also the central co-ordinator for the competition and it is vital he be informed of all results etc.
This is the ideal format, using the nomenclature in the spreadsheet (ie, as in the heading below):
South London section group 2
Caterham 93-6, Eltham 94-2
RGS Guildford 101-8, Reed’s 104-5
Eltham 110-5, RGS Guildford 78
Caterham 83-9, Reed’s 84-1
Caterham 115-6, RGS Guildford 116-4
Eltham 151-3, Reed’s 126-5
Eltham win the group
Withdrawal: it is highly regrettable if a school feels obliged to withdraw from the competition but it is recognised that sometimes this may be inevitable. In such circumstances not only the other schools affected must be informed, but also the regional organiser, who may be able to do a re-jig of the draw. Therefore, as much as notice as possible should be given.
Playing Conditions
General
1)Matches will be played under the Laws of Cricket except where provided for below.
2)Matches will consist of one innings per side, each innings being limited to a maximum of 20 six ball overs. The minimum number of overs for a match to be considered as having been played will be five overs per side
3)Each innings must take no longer than 75 minutes to complete, based on an allowance of 3.75 minutes per over. Penalties (see below) will be imposed for failure to achieve the allotted over rate in a completed innings.
Competition
1)The winner of a match will be the side scoring the highest number of runs in the allotted overs other than when there is an interruption of play (see “Weather”).
2)There will be a 10 minute interval between innings.
3)When totals are equal, the winner will be the side losing fewer wickets or, if the teams are still equal, the side conceding fewest total extras and then by the team bowling the least number of no-balls and then wides.
4)Umpires will be arranged by the host school in consultation with visiting schools (NB It is permissible for schools to bring their own competent umpire if generally agreed).
Batting
1)If a side batting first exceeds the allocated time limit and, in the opinion of both umpires, the fielding side was responsible for the delays, then the side batting second shall receive only the same number of overs as had been completed when 75 minutes of the first innings had elapsed.
2)If a side batting first, in the opinion of both umpires, through its own volition fails to complete its innings within the allocated 75 minute period then the side batting second will be awarded six penalty runs for each over, or part thereof, not bowled.
3)If a side batting second, in the opinion of both umpires, through the actions of the fielding side, fails to complete its innings within the allocated time, it shall be awarded six penalty runs for each over, or part thereof, not bowled.
4)If a side batting second, in the opinion of both umpires, through its own volition, fails to complete its innings within the allocated time then the innings will deem to have been completed 75 minutes after its commencement.
5)At the fall of a wicket the incoming batsman has 90 seconds from that instant to take guard or be in a position to allow his partner to continue play. Failure to meet this condition will result in the incoming batsman being deemed to be timed out.
Bowling
1)No bowler is permitted to bowl more than four overs in any one innings. Where an innings is reduced because of weather or bad light then the allocation of overs per bowler shall be calculated by dividing the allotted overs by five so that no bowler shall be permitted to bowl more than 20 per cent of the overs allotted at the start of the innings. When an innings already commenced is interrupted by weather or bad light the original allocation shall be allowed to each bowler.
2)Foot fault (front and back foot) no-balls will result in two runs being awarded to the batting side and the next ball being a free hit from which a batsman can only be dismissed as if it was a no-ball.
3)If the ball bowled for a free hit is another no-ball or a wide then, in the case of a front foot no-ball, two runs shall be awarded and in the case of a wide one run to the batting side and the delivery will not count in the over.
4)If the delivery for the free hit is not a legitimate delivery (any kind of no ball or a wide ball), then the next delivery shall become a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it.
5)When a free hit is awarded, the fielding side is allowed to change its fielding positions provided that such changes are not in breach of the fielding restrictions.
6)Any high full pitched ball (regardless of its pace) which passes or would have passed above waist height of the striker standing upright at the crease shallbe called and signalled No ball by the umpire at the bowler’s end. In addition, if the high full pitched ball is fast, it shall be deemed dangerous and unfair and the umpire at the bowler’s end, in addition to the call and signal of No ball, will adopt the procedures of Law 42.7.The free hit rule will not apply in such cases.
7)If a bowler delivers a ball that, after pitching, passes above the head of the batsman when standing upright at the crease, it will be deemed to be a no ball, a run awarded to the batting side and an additional ball bowled in the over. The free hit rule will not apply in such cases.
8)In addition, one ball an over will be allowed to pass above shoulder height but below above head height of the batsman when standing upright at the crease. If an additional ball in an over is bowled above shoulder height but below above head height of the batsman when standing upright at the crease, it will be deemed to be a no ball, a run awarded to the batting side and an additional ball bowled in the over. The free hit rule will not apply in such cases.
9)Umpires will be strict in awarding leg-side wides.
Fielding
1.Semi-circles, 30 yards from the middle stump at each end of the pitch, will be marked by discs; the semi-circles will be joined by further discs in lines 60 yards apart and parallel to the pitch.
2.At the instant of delivery there shall not be more than five fieldsmen on the leg side.
3.For the first 6 overs only of each innings, at the instant of delivery only two fieldsmen are permitted to be outside the fielding circle.
4.For the remaining overs of each innings only five fieldsmen are permitted to be outside the fielding circle at the instant of delivery.
5.Failure to meet the requirements of the fielding restrictions will result in either umpire calling and signalling no ball, one run being awarded to the batting side and an extra ball being bowled.
6.Umpires will keep fielding captains, and batsmen, fully and regularly informed of the amount of time available in which to complete an innings
Weather
1)Where weather delays the start of a match each innings will be reduced by one over each side for every seven and a half minutes of the delay unless both teams agree, and conditions allow, for a full match to be played with a later start.
2)Where weather interrupts the first innings of a match the batting side will be allowed to complete its original allocation provided that the opposition has the opportunity to bat for five overs, i.e. 19 minutes’ allotted playing time is possible. Where it is not possible for the side batting second to receive a full allocation of 20 overs then the match will then be decided using Duckworth-Lewis. Electronic scoring programs will have this incorporated and D/L calculators are available on the Internet and the Apple/Google Apps store.
3)Where weather interrupts the innings of the side batting second, the innings will be reduced by one over for every 3.75 minutes during which play is not possible.
4)In circumstances when the number of overs of the batting team is reduced, the number of Fielding Restriction Overs shall be reduced in accordance with the table below. For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that the table shall apply to both the 1st and 2nd innings of the match.
Total overs No. of overs for which fielding in innings restrictions in clauses above shall apply
5-61
7-92
10-133
14-164
17-195
5)Overs per bowler
- No bowler may bowl more than one-fifth of the amount of overs scheduled for the innings. However, in a delayed start, or interrupted match, where the overs are reduced for both sides, or for the side bowling second, no bowler may bowl more than one-fifth of the total overs allowed (unless such a number has been exceeded before the interruption), except that where the total overs are not divisible by five, an additional over shall be allowed to the minimum number of bowlers necessary to make up the balance.
- When an interruption occurs mid-over and on resumption the bowler has exceeded the new maximum allocation, he will be allowed to finish the incomplete over.
- In the event of a bowler breaking down and being unable to complete an over, another bowler will bowl the remaining balls. Such part of an over will count as a full over only in so far as each bowler’s limit is concerned.
- The allocation of overs per bowler will not be reduced as a result of the deduction of any penalty overs.
6)Bowl Out
In the event of no result being obtained by other methods and where there is no reserve date on which to play the game, a bowl-out (outdoors or indoors) will take place to achieve a result. Five players from each side will bowl two over arm deliveries each at a wicket (conforming to Law 8) from a wicket pitched at a distance of 22 yards (or the length of pitch applicable in the Competition) with, if practicable, bowling, popping and return creases marked (conforming to Law 9).
a) The side, which bowls down the wicket (as defined in Law 28.1a) the most times, shall be the winner. If the scores are equal, the same players will bowl one ball each alternately to achieve a result on a ‘sudden death’ basis.
b) The following shall also apply in respect of bowl-outs:
i) The same suitably acceptable ball (not a new one) will be used by both teams. If this ball becomes wet, it may be changed subject to the umpires’ approval.
ii) If a bowler bowls a No ball it will count as one of the two deliveries but will not count towards the score of the team.
iii) If the original match has started, then the five cricketers nominated to take part in the bowl-out must be chosen from the eleven cricketers and 12th man nominated on the team sheets given to the umpires. Likewise, the same rule will apply where no toss has been made and the match has not started.
iv) Each side will appoint a wicket-keeper to stand behind the wicket but out of reach of the stumps.
In all instances not covered by these regulations the Laws of Cricket apply. The umpires are sole judges of fact and must refer breaches of regulations or disputes to the organiser whose decision on such matters will be final.
Match ball
The official match ball (see elsewhere) MUST be used in every match in the competition. Any side wilfully using a different ball – except by agreement between both sides in exceptional circumstances - will forfeit the match.
Group winners play-offs
1)Points are as follows: Win 1, Loss 0.
2)Where two or moreteams are level on points in the first round group (as in a round-robin format), the winner of that group shall be determined by the net run rate. This is calculated as follows: runs scored divided by wickets lost MINUS runs conceded divided by wickets taken. On the tournament spreadsheet, there is a linked sheet where scores can be entered to determine net run rates. It is not necessary to enter scores. It is merely a tool to be used when necessary.
3)The same formula will be applied to determine the order of merit in the group play-offs. Number one will play four, and number two will play three.
4)Where there are three groups in a group play-off, the national organisers would prefer the arrangement wherethe best runner-up in the group stage (determined by the formula above) will compete in the semi-final. Their place in the order of merit will be determined by the same formula as the winners of each group (ie they are not by definition 4th).
5)However, where the regional organiser decides on a three-way play-off, in the event of a tie on points (as above) the winner of the play-off shall be the side with the highest NRR solely in those play-offs, NOT the total up to that point.
6)The same principles apply at later stages: if three groups are involved to determine the regional winner, then the best non-winner under net run ratewill also compete on level terms with the three winners. In semi-finals, 1 will play 4 and 2 will play 3. Alternatively, as before, rule 5) will apply.
7)Venues: after the initial group stages (ie for all play-offs until the round before the last eight), the team with the best NRR in all matches played at that stage shall have the right to determine where the next match shall be played.For play-offs to determine the last eight in the competition, matches will be played at a neutral venue (organised by the regional organisers or the schools themselves) unless determined otherwise by agreement among the regional organisers and the schools involved. If no suitable neutral venue can be found, then the previous NRR regulation should apply.
Match arrangements
For round 1, any of the following structures are fine. It is up to the regional organiser to agree the format with the schools involved.
1)All matches played on the same day (on two pitches) in round-robin format. See the rules in case of a tie on points. Most groups are four in number so this makes quite a long day (10am – 8pm?). Even longer in case of rain.
2)Group matches played in round-robin format on different days with schools making their own arrangements as to venue and timings. Same provision about a tie on points.
3)All matches played on the same day in knockout format (on two pitches). Names to be drawn out of a hat at some point. The losers also play each other so that everybody has two games. The result may be significant in certain circumstances (see above).