- The First X1 will be playing in the 5th Division (West) of the Sussex Cricket League . Click here for the league table
- The Second X1 will be playing in the 10th Division (West) of the Sussex Cricket League (same as last year) . Click here for the league table
Fixtures
- The first fixture for the First X1 will be on Saturday 11 May. The final game of the season will be on Saturday 7 Sept Click here for all the First X1 fixtures.
- The first fixture for the Second X1 will be at home on Saturday 4 May . The final game of the season will be on Saturday 7 Sept and there is no league fixture on Saturday 15 June Click here for the all Second X1 fixtures
Start time of matches
- First X1 and Second X1 matches will commence at 1pm (last season First X1 matches started at 12:30)
Format of matches
- First X1 and Second X1 : 40 overs win/lose format (First X1 played 45 over matches last season )
Teas
Teas may be provided by the home team at their discretion but this is not a requirement (no change from previous year and unlikely to change in future)
Balls
- First X1 and Second X1 : 4 star league balls (First X1 played with 5 star balls last season)
Each team to bowl with the ball they provide.
The Toss
The Captains shall toss a coin on the field of play under the supervision of the Umpire(s), where available, not earlier than 30 minutes, nor later than 15 minutes before the scheduled or any rescheduled time for the start of play. If at any time the Captain is not available a deputy shall act for him. Where a Captain or nominated representative is not present at the appointed time, that team shall forfeit the toss.
Bowling restrictions
- First X1 : max 8 overs per bowler (change from last season)
- Second X1 : max 9 overs per bowler
ECB Fast bowling directives (no change)
- Up to Under 13 : Max 5 overs per spell
- U14,U15 : Max 6 overs per spell
- U16,U17,U18,U19 : Max 7 overs per spell
Note : These directives continue to under19
Mankad rules
The Mankad rules were amended by the MCC on 1 October 2022. Trying to run out the non-striker while the bowler is in the process of bowling was previously regarded as ‘unfair play’ (Law 41) but has now been moved to ‘Run Out’ (Law 38)
Extract from the MCC Law 38:
38.3 Non-striker leaving his/her ground early
38.3.1 At any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground. In these circumstances the non-striker will be out Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground when his/her wicket is broken by the bowler throwing the ball at the stumps or by the bowler’s hand holding the ball, whether or not the ball is subsequently delivered.
38.3.1.1 The instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball is defined as the moment the bowler’s arm reaches the highest point of his/her normal bowling action in the delivery swing.
38.3.1.2 Even if the non-striker had left his/her ground before the instant at which the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, once the bowler has reached that point it is no longer possible for the bowler to run out the non-striker under this Law.
Fielding restrictions
Max 5 fielders on the leg side for all divisions in the league
Fielder placement restrictions
- First X1 : Over 1-10 : no more than 2 fielders outside the fielding restriction area. Overs 11-40 inclusive : no more than 5 fielders outside the fielding restriction area (note change from last year )
- Second X1 : No fielding placement restrictions
Wides
- First X1 : All legside wides behind the body of the batter . On offside use 17inch guide lines (unless batter by moving either causes the ball to pass wide of them or brings within reach to hit with a normal cricket stroke)
- Second X1 : Captains to agree at toss (if no agreement 17 inch lines on both sides of wicket to be the guide)
Free Hits
A fielder within 15 yards of the striker may retreat along the same line until outside this distance providing all effective fielding restrictions are adhered to
In the ECB Premier Division and Divisions 2 – 7 an age group player within the fielding restriction area may retreat along the same line to the edge of the fielding restriction area
In Divisions 8 and below age group players may retreat along the same line to a “safe distance” as determined by the player and their Captain.
First X1 players playing for the Second X1
When a club’s lower division side(s) play and a higher division side(s) has no scheduled match or have their match cancelled or abandoned, the composition of the lower division side(s) concerned shall be such that they do not include more than two players who participated in the previous three consecutive League and Cup matches of a more senior Saturday XI of the club. Where this occurs at the beginning of a season this regulation shall take account of matches played in the previous season
After 31st July, no club may play, in a lower XI in the League, more than two players who have each played more than eight games in a more senior Saturday XI of the club.
Time restrictions
- First X1: 2h:50m to begin last over
- Second X1 : Every effort to begin last over in 2h:30m
Bonus points
30 points to be awarded for the team that wins the match. No further batting or bowling points will be applied to the winning team.
Additional points shall be awarded as follows to the losing team:
- In Division 5, 6 & 7 matches – two batting points at each of 100, 120, 140, 160 and 180 runs (Change from last year for our First X1 )
- In Divisions 8 and below – two batting points at each of 75,100, 125, 150 and 175 runs.
The team batting second – one batting point at these scores.
Note: in matches where the over limit is reduced, there shall be a reduction in the
targets to achieve batting bonus points, as set out in the tables below. Bowling
bonus points, under the same circumstances, will remain as if the full allocation of
overs were available.
- The team bowling first: two bowling points will be awarded at the fall of wickets 2,4, 6, 8, & 10.
- The team bowling second: one bowling point will be awarded at the fall of wickets 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10.
- Bowling points remain the same regardless of the length of any innings.
[Note: For the purpose of awarding bowling points, any team playing short or
having a player retire for any reason and unable to return shall, provided all
available batters have been dismissed, be deemed to have had the absent player,
or players, dismissed].
- In the event of a tie each team receives 15 points.
- For ‘No Result’ matches – each team receives 10 points, or the batting and bowling
points, whichever is greater - Any team failing to fulfil a fixture shall have 10 points deducted from its total and
its opponents shall be awarded the match and 30 points.
Duckworth Lewis
Duckworth Lewis method to be applied to games in all divisions. D/L tool on the PC-S app (no need to login)
Settings : G50 value : 245
Provision of Umpires
- First X1 : A non playing umpire must be provided by both teams (teams may apply for a Panel Umpire one week before the game) . A points deduction may apply if a club does not provide a club umpire.
- Second X1 : Players may officiate as umpires as necessary
Provision of Scorers
- First X1 : A non playing scorer must be provided . Points deduction if a scorer is not provided at the discretion of the League
- Second X1 : Teams should try to ensure that 2 scorebooks are used throughout the match
Bat sizes
The League has not adopted the ECB rules on limiting the blade size of a bat – any bat size may therefore be used
Ground conditions
On match days, where there are no League appointed Umpires, both Captains
must agree if a pitch is fit for play. If Club Umpires are present, they must, in
conjunction with the Captains agree if the pitch is fit for play. The fact that the
grass/hybrid pitch and the ball are, or become, wet does not warrant the ground
conditions being regarded as unreasonable or dangerous. If the Captains/Captains
in conjunction with Club Umpires make a decision that a pitch is unfit for play,
other than through rain, the match shall be awarded to the visiting side (as if the
home team had failed to fulfil the fixture)
Loading scores onto Playcricket
Home team must record result by 10am on the day following the match . The away team must agree the contents and any discrepencies must be resolved by 8pm on the Monday following the game. Penalties to apply if this is not done
League issues
Discipline
Discipline continues to be a major issue with the League. A wide range of issues were dealt with during the course of the 2023 season and approx 90% of cases were foul and abusive language , dissent and abusive behaviour. A number of incidents involved girls and juniors being verbally abused. Racism didn’t feature much in 2023 but it is still an issue. Please click here for a list of actions taken by the league in the last 2 seasons
The League recognises that cricket is a competitive sport but behaviour needs to be controlled. Captains need to understand their role and to be able to control their players and diffuse situations. The League fully supports clubs forming their own disciplinary committees to deal with disciplinary issues.
The League will be clamping down on social media abuse during the upcoming season.
Motions denied at the League AGM held in November 2023
Motion to remove Win/Lose/Draw games from Prem and Div 2, playing the full season on a win / lose basis was not passed – 8 voted in favour – 9 against
Motions carried at the League AGM held in November 2023
Motion to Amend the maximum number of teams relegated from each of Division 10 (West, Central, East) to 3 teams (from 4) by: –
1) Promoting the winners of Div 11 North and Div 11 South and the winner of a play-off between the Div 11 North and Div 11 South runners up
2) Relegating the lower three teams of Division 10 to the gaps left by promotion. In accordance with previous structuring, the geographies of different teams may need to be adjusted to accommodate.
The Majority Voted in favour and the motion was passed.