BCF League Rules – 2015

1. Scope of the Rules

• The BCF League Rules describe the way in which the BCF League is organised.

• In case there are any contradictions between the General Rules and Administration document and the League Rules document, the former will take precedence.

2. League Structure

• The League will be organised in 3 divisions taking into account the rankings of the previous competition year.
• The division composition has been communicated and described in the centralized BCF application.

3. Number of Games

• All teams in all divisions shall play each other once. The home team is defined by the fixture list, i.e. the team that is mentioned first on the schedule is the home team.

4. Points System

• Result Points
  Win: 20 points to the winner
  Tie:      5 points to each side
  Abandoned/No Result [1]: 0 points to each side
• Penalty Points
  The threshold of the Cumulative Penalty Points given to each side in respect of the match can only be 20 points.
• Bonus Points
  Bonus Points will be awarded in respect of each match where there is a win/lose result, on the following basis. The win/loss in all cases where the Match hasn’t been played on the field (eg., forfeit) will get 0 Bonus Points to each side.

1. There will be an allocation of 5 Bonus Points to each Match.
2. These points will be allocated between the two sides, depending on the margin of victory in the match. This allocation will operate as follows:
   1. Bonus Points for a 37 – 45 over game

1. Bonus Points for a 31 – 36 over game*

• Bonus Points for a 20 – 30 over game*

* Where interruptions result in the final allocated length of the two innings being of different lengths, the lower of the two figures will determine the bonus point scheme that will apply.

1. Bonus Points

Scenarios:
Some possible Bonus Points Scenarios are explained here:

• Allocated Overs : 37 – 45 overs

• Team A : 100 for 4 wickets in 45 overs.
  Team B : 56 all out in 30 overs.
  Margin of Victory
  • Runs: 100 – 56 = 44 runs -> 2 Bonus Points

Winner Team A gets 22 points = 20 points for Victory +  2 Bonus Points
Loser Team B gets 3 points = 0 points for Victory + 3 Bonus Points

• Team A : 175 all out in 32 overs.
  Team B : 176 for 6 wickets in 25 overs.
  Margin of Victory
  • Wickets: 10 – 6 = 4 wickets -> 2 Bonus Points

Winner Team B gets 22 points = 20 points for Victory +  2 Bonus Points
Loser Team A gets 3 points = 0 points for Victory + 3 Bonus Points

• Allocated Overs : 31 – 36 overs

• Team A : 100 for 4 wickets in 36 overs .
  Team B : 56 all out in 30 overs.
  Margin of Victory
  • Runs: 100 – 56 = 44 runs -> 3 Bonus Points

Winner Team A gets 23 points = 20 points for Victory +  3 Bonus Points
Loser Team B gets 2 points = 0 points for Victory + 2 Bonus Points

• Team A : 175 all out in 32 overs.
  Team B : 176 for 6 wickets in 25 overs.
  Margin of Victory
  • Wickets: 10 – 6 = 4 wickets -> 2 Bonus Points

Winner Team B gets 22 points = 20 points for Victory +  2 Bonus Points
Loser Team A gets 3 points = 0 points for Victory + 3 Bonus Points

• Allocated Overs : 20 – 30 overs

• Team A : 100 for 4 wickets in 30 overs .
  Team B : 56 all out in 15 overs.
  Margin of Victory
  • Runs: 100 – 56 = 44 runs -> 5 Bonus Points

Winner Team A gets 25 points = 20 points for Victory +  5 Bonus Points
Loser Team B gets 0 points = 0 points for Victory + 0 Bonus Points

• Team A : 175 all out in 32 overs.
  Team B : 176 for 6 wickets in 25 overs.
  Margin of Victory
  • Wickets: 10 – 6 = 4 wickets -> 2 Bonus Points

Winner Team B gets 22 points = 20 points for Victory +  2 Bonus Points
Loser Team A gets 3 points = 0 points for Victory + 3 Bonus Points

5. Ranking System

• The ranking shall be determined based on the average obtained by dividing the total points obtained by the number of games completed with a result.

• In case 2 or more teams have the same total, the ranking shall be further differentiated using the criteria below:
  • The most games won.
  • The total of the points obtained between the teams concerned (head-to-head), excluding administrative penalties.
  • The highest average calculated using the formula of average runs scored over the complete competition year (RS) per wicket lost over the complete competition year (WL) divided by the runs conceded over the complete competition year (RC) per wicket taken over the complete competition year (WT).

6. Match Format

• The match format for all fixtures in divisions 1, 2 and 3 are explained in detail in the “Match Format and Playing Conditions”.

7. Scorers

• All teams entering a BCF league game must provide a dedicated scorer(s), who will enter the relevant details in the score book for the whole of the game. The scorer(s) must comply with sub-para 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 below. This is no requirement for this to be a club member.
  1. Teams can use two scorers, but any scorer must sit for the whole of the innings.
  2. Scorers whenever possible should go to the toilet during the drinks or tea break.
  3. If a scorer must take a break, he should inform the available captain(s) when he leaves and when he returns: maximum break is 10 minutes.

• This person/people shall under no circumstances take part in the game as a player or a substitute and shall score together with the scorer provided by the opposite side. Both scorers shall work together with each other and the umpires as described in “The Laws of Cricket” and in “Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring”. To facilitate better cooperation, both scorers will make sure that they sit in close proximity of each other and have a clear view of the umpires at all times.

• It is the responsibility of the clubs to ensure their dedicated scorer(s) has(have) sufficient knowledge of the laws of cricket and scoring techniques to make sure this important responsibility is handled correctly and efficiently.

• When a team presents itself for a fixture with 11 or fewer players, the captain can nominate one of them as a dedicated scorer. It is not mandatory to have a dedicated scorer. But playing the game with no dedicated scorer will result in the deduction of points as mentioned in 7.7.

• In case only one official umpire is present for the fixture, the dedicated scorer shall not act as a square leg umpire.

• Only if no official umpire is present at the fixture, the scorers may be nominated as umpires and the players are allowed to handle the scoring with no penalty.

• Any team guilty of a breach of this article shall be deducted 2 league points, even if the umpire(s) allowed an exception.

8. Minimum Team Size

• A team can only be permitted to participate in a fixture if there are at least 8 players present during the whole duration of the fixture.

• A fixture can not start before both teams have 8 players present.

• An umpire has no right to allow any exceptions to this article.

• A team in breach of this article shall be considered as having forfeited the fixture. In the event of such a breach, all regulations pertaining to forfeiting a game shall be applied.

9. Balls

• Each team is responsible for starting its “bowling innings” with a new BCF approved ball.

• Every team is also responsible for collecting those approved balls at the date, time and venue announced by the League Chairman.

• Each team must also provide a total of 6 spare balls available at each fixture. These spare balls must have a different degree of wear and tear so that the umpires can replace a lost ball at any time during an innings.

• In case a team is found in breach of this article, 5 league points will be deducted.

• Score sheet
• After the completion of the fixture, the captains should make sure the short result sheet of the game is correctly filled in and signed.
• The short result sheet should clearly nominate all the players involved in the fixture with their first and family name exactly as they are registered with the BCFA. Each captain is responsible for the information on his own team.
• The short result sheet must be signed by the captains and umpires containing the umpire notes must be sent across to the League Chairman.

• Every team also needs to nominate the dedicated scorer on the short result sheet. Absence of such a nomination will be considered as if there was no dedicated scorer present.

• The result of the fixture should also be clearly marked on the short result sheet. It should also contain the number of runs scored, overs bowled, wickets taken and the different extras for each innings.

• It is the responsibility of both captains to make sure the score of the first innings is filled in as much as possible before the start of the second innings.

• The captain of the team batting second is responsible for ensuring that the innings details are captured on the scorecard within 15 minutes of the innings closure.

• The short result sheet has to be signed by both captains and must be ready to be signed by both umpires no later than 20 minutes after the completion of the game.

• The captain of the home team is responsible for sending in the short result sheet to the BCF League Chairman and the BCFA no later than the following Monday midnight. The result sheet can be provided by email or a personal handover.

• If the result sheet does not reach the League Chairman or the BCFA before the deadline (from third offense in the competition year), the home team will get a fine of €25. Any subsequent offense the home team will get a fine in multiples of €25. For eg., third offense: €25, fourth offense: €50, fifth offense: €75 and so on.

• In case one or more players have been reported during the fixture, the umpires are responsible for clearly indicating on the score sheet the name of the player who has been reported. BCF umpires are also responsible to complete the “BCF Incident Report Form”. When the umpires are not available it is the responsibility of the captains to complete the “BCF Incident Report Form”. The report must be sent across to the BCF League Chairman before Wednesday midnight.

• Any score sheet that is found to not correctly reflect the result, participants and other relevant details of the game will be considered as a breach of the code of conduct and will immediately be referred to the League Committee.

• The home team captain is also responsible to upload the scorecard in the centralized BCF application within the following Sunday midnight. If the scorecard is not uploaded in the centralized BCF application before the deadline (from third offense in the competition year), the home team will get a fine of €25. Any subsequent offense the home team will get a fine in multiples of €25. For eg., third offense: €25, fourth offense: €50, fifth offense: €75 and so on.

[1] Refer to “BCF General Rules & Administration” section 8.3 for “No Result” games