General rules and playing conditions

Other than as set out below, all matches will be played according to the Laws of Cricket and the General MJCA Outdoor Competition rules:

 U17 Premier League competition

1. Umpires: The Home side is responsible for appointing one umpire for each League fixture. MJCA will provide an additional panel umpire, the cost to be borne by the Home club (£35). The umpires shall be selected for the whole match and may not play in the match. If the home side fails to supply an umpire, the panel umpire will stand at both ends and be paid £50 by the Home club.
2. Balls: The Home side shall provide two new Cricket 156g Pink balls for each match. The balls should be of the same make. A new ball should be used for each innings.
3. Re-arranging League fixtures affected by weather:
   1. If a League fixture is cancelled or not completed, having started, because of adverse weather, it may be rescheduled if both Clubs agree and, as long as the match is played on or before 27 July 2025. If both Clubs do not agree, the match will be regarded as abandoned.
   2. League fixtures can only be re-arranged for weather related reasons.  No notification by the Home team to the Away team that their ground is not fit for play due to weather or ground conditions may be given more then 48 hours prior to the scheduled time for the start of any fixture.
4. Fielding restrictions:
   1. Two 30 yard fielding ‘circles’ shall be marked on the field of play.
   2. During the first 6 overs (in a 20 over match), only 2 fielders shall be permitted outside the fielding ‘circles’ at the instant of delivery
   3. During the remaining overs, only 5 fielders shall be permitted outside the fielding ‘circles’ at the instant of delivery.
   4. In the event that the innings of either team is reduced from a maximum of 20 overs, the umpires may adjust the limits in b. and c. in their sole discretion.
   5. At the instant of delivery, there may not be more than 5 fielders on the leg side
5. Coloured clothing: It is mandatory that each player wears a minimum of a coloured shirt for the competition (any colour except pink, red, or white). It is recommended that clubs wear complete coloured clothing. The umpires will report teams that do not wear a coloured shirt to the MJCA. Teams that are reported on more than one occasion may be subject to a 5 point penalty.
6. Variable Run Rate:
   1. In the event that the number of overs available for the second innings is less than the overs available in the first innings, the target score (to win) must exceed the target calculated using the variable run rate formula shown below:
      Where:
      

      Score 1st inn	are the total runs scored by the side batting first in its innings
      Overs 1st inn	are the total number of overs available to the side batting first (in the case of the team batting first being dismissed in less than the number of overs allocated for their innings, the calculation will be based on the number of overs that the team was scheduled to receive and not on the number actually received)
      Overs 2nd inn	are the total number of overs available to the side batting second (in the case of the team batting second being unable to receive their allocated overs, the calculation of their average run rate per over will be based on the actual number of valid deliveries received by the team during its innings)

      Example: Side batting first is bowled out for 139 in 18.4 of its 20 overs. Due to rain, the second innings is reduced to 15 overs. The target becomes:

      

   2. For clarification, if a match is not completed with at least 10 overs bowled in the second innings, the result will be an abandoned match.
   3. In calculating partial overs, only valid deliveries (i.e. not No balls and Wides) shall be taken into account and any umpire miscounting is to be ignored. Any partial over shall be expressed as a decimal point (e.g. where a team has faced 20 overs and 2 valid balls, the denominator shall be 20.3333).
   4. The home team will also use best efforts to display to the players on the field and to spectators the target score, as calculated in accordance with clause 6.1 above on the scoreboard or by some other means.
7. Free Hit after a foot-fault No Ball
   1. The delivery following a No ball called for a foot fault shall be a free hit for whichever batsmen is facing it. If the delivery for a free hit is not a legitimate delivery (any kind of No ball or Wide ball), then the next delivery shall become a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it.
   2. 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.
   3. Field changes are not permitted for the free hit deliveries unless there is a change of striker or the No Ball was the result of a field restriction breach in which case the field may be changed to the extent of correcting the 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.
8. Wide Ball
   1. On the Off Side, a Wide shall be called if the delivery, in the opinion of the umpire, does not give the batsman reasonable opportunity to score.
   2. On the Leg Side, ‘Profile Wides’ are adopted: a Wide shall be called if, irrespective of where the ball pitches, it passes outside both the line of the leg stump and the leg side of the striker, AND it would also have passed wide of the batsman’s leg side when standing in his/her normal guard position.
9. Short pitched deliveries
   1. A bowler shall be limited to one fast short pitched ball per over that passes or would have passed over shoulder height of the batsman standing upright at the crease. The umpire will make it clear to both the bowler and the batsmen at the wicket when each such a delivery within this limit is bowled. This ruling shall apply even though the striker has made contact with the ball with his bat, person or equipment.
   2. In the event that a second or subsequent such short pitched ball is delivered in an over, the delivery shall be called and signalled as a No ball by the bowler’s end umpire.
   3. These restrictions are additional to the sanctions required under Law 41.6 of the Laws of Cricket (Bowling of dangerous and unfair short pitched deliveries).

Please note that, in relation to the MJCA U17 Premier League competition, the MJCA General Outdoor Competition rules (the “General rules”) will regulate all other matters not mentioned above, including:

• Eligibility of players – see Rule 10.1 and 11 of the General rules
• Length and timing of matches – See Rule 5 of the General rules
• Retirement of batters – See Rule 9 of the General rules
• Bowling restrictions – See Rule 10.2 of the General rules
• The result – Subject to Rule 6 above, Rule 12 of the General rules
• Points – See Rule 13 of the General rules

U17 Championship League and U17 Knockout Cup competitions

 The rules and playing conditions applicable to the U17 Championship League and U17 Knockout Cup competitions will as set out in the General rules.

The rules and playing conditions that apply to the MJCA U17 Premier League competitions, as set out above, will not apply to the MJCA U17 Championship League and MJCA U17 Knockout Cup competitions unless:

• At least one qualified independent umpire is standing in the match; and
• Both Clubs agree in advance of any match being played that some or all of the MJCA U17 Premier League Competitions rules and playing condition should apply to the match and, if not all of these rules are to apply, which specific rules should apply and which should not apply.
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