DEDICATED CONTACT FOR RESULTS

Both Clubs must e-mail the result, including each team's score and wickets lost, who won the toss, individual scores of 50+ and 4+ wickets taken and how many overs bowled, within 24 hours off the finish of the match, to the Competitions Manager at Christina.knight@ntlworld.com

The Competitions Manager
Christina Knight
39 Bradgate,
Cuffley,
EN6 4RP
Home telephone: 01707 888633

1. Participating clubs will be affiliated to FMS. There will be two zones of clubs.
2. The competition to run for 40 overs each side. No bowler may bowl more than 8 overs.  If the match is curtailed or shortened due to adverse weather conditions, or the delayed arrival of one of the teams, then the match will take the following format:-
   
   Between 36 and 39 overs per side - no bowler may bowl more than 8 overs
   
   Between 31 and 35 overs per side - no bowler may bowl more than 7 overs
   
   Between 26 and 30 overs per side - no bowler may bowl more than 6 overs
   
   Between 21 and 25 overs per side - no bowler may bowl more than 5 overs
   
   Between 16 and 20 overs per side - no bowler may bowl more than 4 overs
   
   Between 11 and 15 overs per side - no bowler may bowl more than 3 overs
   
   Matches of 10 overs per side - no bowler may bowl more than 2 overs
   
   A minimum of 10 overs per side constitutes a game but a match of this duration should only be considered as a matter of last resort. No match should be agreed to be played at less than 40 overs unless match conditions on the day dictate a curtailment or a mid-week evening game is arranged in order to replay a previously abandoned or postponed fixture. In the latter case the minimum number of overs constituted before the start of play will be 20 per side.
3. The competition is based on the side scoring most runs wins the game.
4. Each side to include six players under the age of 21 four of whom should be under the age of 18.  Age groups are decided by the player's age on or before the 1 st September 2006.
5. Players must be a fully paid up member of the participating club and not a 'guest'.
6. 6 players should remain within the fielding circle at all times. This number will include the wicketkeeper and the bowler. The home team to mark out the fielding circle either using painted lines or dots or with plastic discs. The fielding circle to be marked out at 35 yards from the middle stump at each end.
7. There should be no professional contracted players over the age of 20 and no overseas professionals of any age will be eligible to play.
8. Should the Evening Standard Cup Competition, National Club Knockout trophy or FMS Competitions affect clubs entering the League, the clubs concerned should liaise amongst themselves to rearrange the fixture.  In the event that this is impossible, then we would respectively suggest that a 20 over game midweek is arranged to ensure that the game is played.
9. An Administration Fee must be paid for entering the league by each team. Cheques made payable to FMS. The fee for 2006 will be £20.00.
10. Each game to be governed by the umpires and played "in the spirit of the game".  The Umpires decision is final.  We do not expect any player to question or abuse the umpires in any way.  If this rule is not met the umpires have the authority to recommend that the player/players are banned from any further involvement in Development League games for the remainder of the season.
11. For a player to compete in this league, he must be resident in the UK on or before 1 st January in the year that the season commences.  All players who arrive after 1 st January will be considered as overseas players.
12. Disciplinary cases will be dealt with in a very severe manner. No right of appeal will be accepted.  Players will be banned from playing for the remainder of the season if they do not abide by the laws of cricket.
13. 4 Points will be awarded for a win, 2 points for a tie, 1 point for a cancelled or postponed fixture. In the case of a cancelled or postponed fixture 1 point will be awarded following the scheduled date. If both sides agree to rearrange the fixture the points accrued in the replayed fixture will be allocated and the previously awarded points to both teams will be removed.
14. Games to commence at 1.30pm during summertime daylight hours, tea at 4.30pm subject to weather interruption.  Play to resume at 4.50pm and the game to be finally concluded with 40 overs being bowled if at all possible.
15. Two balls per game to be used, one per innings.  Carry spares to replace lost balls.  Both teams to supply one ball per game.
16. Club winner's trophy, runners up shield and all medals to be supplied by FMS. It will be the responsibility of the winning club from the previous year to arrange and pay for the engraving of their clubs name on the trophy/shield and for the return of the said trophy/shield, to the organiser, 7 days prior to finals day.
17. Teams to provide their own umpires.
18. Result sheets to be emailed to FMS no later than 24 hours following the game. Both sides to complete the results sheet in full whether home or away. Failure to comply with this deadline will result in the non allocation of any points attained in this match. If the regular organiser is away or unable to complete this exercise it is the responsibility of the club to reassign the task.
19. ECB fast bowling directives regarding young cricketers and the number of overs that they may bowl in any spell and the number of overs that can elapse before they are allowed to bowl again are to be rigorously enforced in all Development League Matches. It will be the responsibility of the fielding captain to clearly state, to the umpires, the age of each of their players prior to the commencement of the innings. Contravention of this ruling will lead to the forfeit of the match.
20. A match is delayed due to the late arrival of either side the following conditions shall apply: If either side are not available for the toss 15 minutes before the scheduled start of play (1.15 pm) the toss will be deemed to automatically be won by the side that are available. If either side are not available to start the game 30 minutes after the scheduled start (2.00 pm) the match shall be deemed forfeit by the offending team. Any subsequently played match shall be deemed a friendly and the League points will be awarded to the team who were ready to start within the 30 minute period. If neither side is ready to start within 30 minutes of the scheduled start time the match shall be deemed abandoned and one point will be allocated to both teams.
21. If the commencement of a match is delayed due to adverse pitch or weather conditions an over from each innings will be deemed lost every seven minutes from the scheduled start of play (e.g. if a match commences at 4.00 pm, 150 minutes will have been lost resulting in 21 overs being deducted from each innings which reduces the match to19 overs per side). By this equation a 10 over match can commence no later than 5.00 pm with teas taken prior to commencement. All runs or over calculations will be rounded down to the nearest full run or over. If either captain dispute whether the conditions are playable it shall be the responsibility of the umpires to decide. If either umpire deems the conditions unplayable, taking into account the age of the players, the safety of the players and the potential damage to the playing surface the match shall not commence or recommence.
22. If a match has commenced and is then delayed due to rain or any other such occurrence, during the first innings, an over will then be deducted from each team for every seven minutes that the match is delayed. When the number of deducted overs takes the first innings up to 40 overs the first innings will be deemed concluded. The side batting second will then receive the number of overs remaining to them under the seven minute ruling (e.g. the side batting first receive 30 overs when rain falls. The score is 150-5. The match is delayed for 77 minutes.  Each side lose 11 overs. The first innings is now deemed over leaving the side batting second to score 151 from 29 overs). All runs and overs calculations will be rounded down to the nearest full run or over.
23. If a match has commenced and is then delayed due to rain or any other such occurrence, during the second innings, an over shall be deducted, from the side batting second, every 3 and a half minutes that the match is delayed. The winning total will then be decided by calculating the run rate per over achieved by the team batting first and multiplying the run rate by the number of overs now available to the side batting second (e.g. the side batting first scored 210 from their 40 overs at a run rate of 5.25 runs per over. The second innings is delayed for 49 minutes. At three and a half minutes per over 14 overs are deducted from the side batting second. They will now receive 26 overs at a run rate on 5.25 will result in an adjusted total of 136.5 or 136 to tie and 137 to win. All overs or scores calculations will be rounded down to the nearest full run or over. If this number of runs has already been scored when the delay occurred the team batting second will be deemed to have won the match and the match will be completed. If the number of overs deducted exceeds those remaining to the side batting second the run rates will be compared and the winner will be the side with the highest run rate (e.g. the side batting first scores 210 from their 40 overs for a run rate of 5.25 per over. The side batting second score 161 from 31 overs when rain causes the abandonment of the game. The side batting second have a run rate of 5.19 and therefore lose the match).
24. In the event of a match finishing with the scores level the number of wickets taken will determine the result. If both sides have lost the same number of wickets the match will be declared a tie and 2 points will be awarded to both sides.
25. The umpires are to be strict on their interpretation of leg-side wides calling all deliveries passing outside the line of the batsmen's legs when in their normal stance. Interpretation of off-side wides to be more lenient with consideration given to swing, age of the bowler and the batsman's reach. Having agreed upon the match criteria between themselves, prior to the start of play, the two umpires should use their best endeavours to be consistent throughout the match. Where possible umpires should stand throughout the match in order to achieve the required level of consistency.
26. Drinks will be provided at the mid point of each innings as a matter of course and should not be the subject of a specific pre-match agreement.
27. Matches can be arranged on bank holidays or on days other than Sundays on special occasions but not as a matter of course. Abridged games can be arranged to be played in the evening provided that this is for the purpose of replaying an abandoned fixture but not as a matter of course. 
28. No player to play against the same club for two different teams in the same season even if they are the subject of an approved transfer or a member of two or more separate clubs fielding Development League teams.
29. All teams are encouraged to play in coloured kit. If this is done then there will be the need for a white or orange ball and coloured stumps.