Sussex Cricket League

SUSSEX PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

A Special General Meeting of the Sussex Premier Cricket League will be held

At the County Ground, Hove (Long Room)

On Monday, 10 April 2017 at 8.00 pm, prompt

Items for consideration:

To bring forward and approve the Executive Committee’s proposed amendments as highlighted to

CONSTITUTION

2.Composition

The competition shall consist of Clubs from within the county of Sussex and the team representing (Guernsey Cricket Board) called Guernsey Sarnians. The number of such clubs shall be such as Member Clubs shall from time to time stipulate at the Annual General Meeting or any Special General Meeting. All Member Clubs shall be affiliated to the Sussex Cricket Foundation (SCF), (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sussex Cricket Limited (SCL) and, therefore, to the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The SPCL also acknowledges that SCL is the governing body for all affiliated recreational cricket in Sussex.

4.Administration

(b)The SPCL is committed to the principles set out in the MCC's document "The Spirit of Cricket" and shall operate within a Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures as defined in Appendix C. It should be noted that teams in the Premier Division will be subject to the ECB Disciplinary Policy. All other divisions will be subject to the Disciplinary Policy of the SPCL.

(e)The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers (the Chairman, the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, the Results & Registration Secretary, and the Fixtures Secretary), together with up to six additional persons nominated by Member Clubs; all of these shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. Including the Officers, there cannot be more than two members of the EC from any one club. With a full complement of members, the Executive Committee shall not have more than two persons elected per Division.

(f)Members of the Executive Committee may offer themselves for re-election. Nominations for all places on the Executive Committee may also be proposed, and seconded, by Member Clubs; these shall be submitted to the Secretary no later than six weeks before the Annual General Meeting. In the interests of good governance members of the EC should serve for no more than nine consecutive years.

5.Meetings

(a)Any proposed amendment or additions to the existing Constitution, Administrative Rules or the Playing Conditions must be proposed and seconded by two member clubs or by the Executive Committee.

In extreme situations the Chairman may accept proposals to amend the existing Constitution, Administrative Rules or the Playing Conditions at a meeting of member clubs.

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Removed Sussex Academy/Development XI where applicable.

1. COMPLIANCE

Note - In 2017 their 2nd X1’s must play in the SPCL. From 2018 it will be possible for 2nd X1s to play in any other League affiliated to the Sussex Cricket Foundation (SCF) the wholly owned subsidiary of Sussex Cricket Limited (SCL).

2.FIXTURES

2.2Detailed League and Cup fixtures shall be notified to Member Clubs by the Fixtures Secretary and the T20 Cup organiser not later than 31 December.

2.5On the date of any League match, when a Club's Second XI plays and its First XI match is cancelled or abandoned the composition of the Second XI side concerned shall be such that it does not include more than two players who had participated in that Club's First XI's previous League or Cup match.

4.GROUNDS and FACILITIES

4.1.1RE-WORDING

From the end of the 2017 season not just the finishing positions in the Premier Division, Division Two and Division Three will determine promotion. For Clubs to be allowed into the Premier Division (Gold) their Pitch Marks must have averaged at least 14 during the previous two seasons. For Clubs to be allowed into Division Two (Silver) their Pitch Marks must have averaged at least 13 during the previous two seasons. All other requirements for the various standards, sight screens, covers, which will be mandatory for clubs in the Premier Division, umpires facilities etc. remain as previously documented.

5.PROMOTION & RELEGATION

5.2.5Between Division 5 East and Division 5 West and Divisions 6 East and 6 West and between the SPCL and East Sussex Cricket League and the West Sussex Invitation Cricket League.
The two teams at the bottom of each of Division 5 East and Division 5 West will relegated to Divisions 6 East and 6 West.

They will be replaced by the winners of Division 6 East and Division 6 West. Also promoted to Divisions Five East and Five West will be the winners of Division One of both the ESCL and the WSICL.

In every case the Clubs concerned must provide appropriate guarantees to the SPCL that they will achieve at least a Bronze grading (and demonstrate Silver potential) within a period of time determined by the Executive Committee.

The teams finishing bottom of Divisions 6 East and 6 West will ordinarily be relegated to the ESCL and the WSICL. However if one (or both) of the teams relegated from Divisions 5 East and 5 West are 1st X1s and their 2nd X1 is in either Division 6 East or 6 West then their 2nd X1 will be the team(s) relegated to either the ESCL or the WSICL regardless of their position in their respective division.

6.4PLAYER QUALIFICATIONS

CATEGORY 3. OVERSEAS PLAYERS

Addition

Clubs should note that they are responsible for ensuring that all overseas players have the correct visa when they enter the country to play cricket. The ECB now require all overseas players to complete a declaration to the effect. The club involved has to countersign the form and return it to the Registration Secretary. An Overseas player cannot play in the League until the form is completed and returned to the Registration Secretary.

PLAYING CONDITIONS

G2 (a) and (b) must be covered in Premier League, pre and during match.

Adjustment to numbering for Win/Lose games (WL…etc)

WL1. GENERAL

1.1Unless otherwise stated, the General Rules applicable to League Matches (G1 to G4) will apply. Win/Lose Matches in the Premier Division will be 50 overs per side. Matches in all other divisions will 45 overs per side. In a normal league season, the first 5 and last 4 matches in the fixture list will be win/lose matches (limited overs).

WL5. POINTS (Points scored by Guernsey will be multiplied by 1.9 to reflect that they only play 10 games).

5.1Points will be awarded as follows;

(a) A side batting first:

(1) In 50 over matches 2 batting points at each of 125, 150, 175, 200, and 225 runs.

(2) In 45 over matches 2 batting points at each of 120, 140, 160, 180, and 200 runs

(b)A side batting second: 1 batting point at these scores.

(c)In matches where the over limit is reduced, there shall be a reduction in the targets to achieve batting bonus points (see Annex for reduced target table). Where the over limit is reduced, bowling bonus points will remain as if the full allocation of overs were available.

(d)Regardless of which side wins the toss, two bowling points will be awarded at the fall of wickets 2, 4, 6, 8, & 10. Teams bowling second will be awarded 1 bowling point at the fall of wickets 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10.

(NOTE: For the purpose of awarding bowling points, any side playing short or having a player retire for any reason and unable to return shall - provided all available batsmen have been dismissed - be deemed to have had the absent player, or players, dismissed in addition).

Tidy up of rule for foot fault no-ball.

9.5 FREE HIT AFTER A FOOT-FAULT NO BALL

9.5.1. The delivery following a no ball called for a foot-fault shall be a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it.

9.5.2. 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.

9.5.3. For any free hit, the striker can be dismissed only under the circumstances that apply for a no ball, even if the delivery for the free hit is called wide ball.

9.5.4. Field changes are NOT permitted for free hit deliveries unless there is a change of striker and providing all effective fielding restrictions are adhered to.

9.5.5. The umpires shall signal a free hit by (after the normal no ball signal) extending one arm straight upwards and moving it in a circular motion.

9.5.6 However, in all circumstances, any fielder within 15 yards of the striker may retreat to a position on the same line no more than 15 yards from the striker.

A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL (LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES) WILL FOLLOW

AGENDA

1. Apologies for absence. Terry Burstow, David Bowden, Derek Knight

1. Minutes of Meeting held on 19th September 2016.

1. Matters arising.

1. Treasurer's Report.

The League has received a donation of £5,000 from the Spen Cama Cricket Foundation. The Trustees of SCCF have requested that the donation is distributed evenly amongst the 40 clubs. The League’s grateful thanks have been conveyed to the Trust Secretary David Bowden and confirmed the money will be distributed as requested by the Trustees.

1. Fixtures Secretary's Report.
   
2. Results & Registration Secretary’s Report.

1. (a)Umpires Panel (Sub Committee Chairman's Report).

(b)To note details of payments to Panel Umpires for the 2017 season which are all unchanged from 2016.

League Matches. Premier Division £35.00. All other matches £30.00.

Cup Matches. £22.00 per match.

Mileage (now index-linked) – 30p per mile.

1. Gray-Nicolls T20 Competition. Arrangements for the Final, etc.

1. Annual Dinner Arrangements

1. Future Meetings

1. Other business

NOTE 1: Supplies of League Balls and Team Sheet Cards will be distributed at the Meeting.

NOTE 2: Other dates this year are:

September Council Meeting –11 September.

Annual General Meeting –13 November.

(Both in the Long Room, Main Pavilion, County Ground, Hove – 8.00pm.)

Annual Dinner – 10 November.

(Boundary Rooms, Sussex County Cricket Ground, Hove).