OBJECTIVES
The principle of the League is to further the game of cricket and all matches
should be played in good spirit and as near as possible within the structure of a
normal Saturday or Sunday match.
CONSTITUTION
1. COUNCIL
The administration of the League is to be controlled by a League Council
(henceforth referred to as the Council) consisting of a Chairman and ONE
representative nominated by each participating club.
The position of Chairman is to be filled by a person invited by the nominated
representatives of the member clubs.
2. OFFICERS
The following offices will be filled by the Council members.
Treasurer
Secretary
Fixture Secretary
Results Secretary
League Safeguarding Officer
3. CO-OPTED MEMBERS
Any number of people can be co-opted by the Council for special duties.
4. MEETINGS
The Council is to meet on a regular basis at which a quorum is formed by more
than half of the Council being present.
Minutes of the meeting are to be kept and circulated to all Council members prior
to the next meeting.
5. BUSINESS
Rule changes, applications for League membership and other important issues
should be discussed at individual club level before being agreed and implemented
by the League.
6. FINANCE
The Financial Year for the League to commence on the first day of January.
A bank account in the name of the League is to be opened in order to lodge any
funds belonging to the League.
Signatory authority for withdrawal is to be that of the Treasurer and/or other
officers as authorised by the Council.
A financial statement is to be made available at the first Council meeting after the
beginning of the Financial Year or at any time that the Council requests.
If the league is disbanded, any monies in the bank account are to be shared
equally between member clubs according to the length of continuous membership
with each club being allocated one share for each year of current membership.
7. LEAGUE FEES
Each participating team is to pay an annual League Fee, the amount to be agreed
annually by the Council. The fees paid should be paid prior to the first day of
April. If the fee is not paid by the end of June a £10 penalty shall be added.
If the fee and penalty are not paid by the end of August, the offending club may
not be eligible for membership in the following season nor will the offending club
or its players be eligible for the championship or any awards in the season that
the League Fee is not paid
8. LEAGUE STRUCTURE
The league constitutes of two divisions.
All teams in the League to play each other home and away unless otherwise decided by the Council.
The League structure can, in certain circumstances, be amended up to the end of
January.
9. LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP
9.1 Clubs applying for membership should do so in writing by 1st November of the year
preceding the season for which they wish to join.
All clubs applying for membership must be properly constituted and have ground
and facilities meeting approval of the League Council.
All clubs applying must have a well maintained playing area with particular regard
to the square. The facilities must include changing rooms, showers in full working
order and toilets close to the playing area. A score box or scoreboard should be
available and the boundaries marked.
Clubs may enter more than one team in the League if agreed by the League
Council.
All member clubs should be based in Hertfordshire or, if out of county, be a member of the Hertfordshire Saracens League.
9.2 League membership is by agreement of the fully qualified clubs.
9.3 New member clubs or teams will start in the appropriate division as agreed by the
League Council.
9.4 Membership of the league implies acceptance of the agreed Constitution and
Rules.
10. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
10.1 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Players can play for only one club in the League fixtures in any one season until a
change of club has been notified to the Council and the club for which the player
previously played is in agreement. Once the change of club has been notified, the player cannot play for the original club again in any League Championship fixtures in that
season. The change of club will only be allowed before 1st July. In exceptional
circumstances, such as a club folding, player transfers may take place up to 1st
August.
In the case of clubs entering more than one team in the League, then movement
of players between that club’s teams is permitted throughout the season
10.2 CUP COMPETITIONS
Players can play for only one club in any NHCL cup competition each season.
10.3 CONTRAVENTION OF ELIGIBILITY RULES
Any contravention of the eligibility rule 10.1 will automatically mean forfeiture of all
matches in which the contravention occurred with six points being awarded to the
opponents. In addition six maximum championship points will be deducted for
each contravention.
10.4 PAYMENT OF PLAYERS
No player shall receive any payment or payment in kind for playing for a club in
North Herts League matches.
11. CLUB AND PLAYER CONDUCT
11.1 The League may discipline clubs and players if it deems appropriate for failure in
any way to conform to the required standards of the League.
Disciplinary action against a club may include deduction of points, a reprimand,
fine, relegation, suspension or termination of membership at any time.
Action against a player may include a reprimand, suspension or permanent ban
from participation in the League.
11.2 Disciplinary Committee
The Disciplinary committee will be made up of an officer of the League, and two
Council members from each division. The members of the committee must not be
members of a club which would have any interest in the outcome of the
disciplinary hearing.
11.3 Player and Club Conduct
Any player who abuses an umpire or challenges the authority of an umpire in a
manner deemed unacceptable will face disciplinary action. It will also be a
disciplinary offence for any player and/or club in the course of, or in connection
with a match, to act in a manner which could prejudice the good name or interests
of the League or its sponsors.
Reports of such acts of player misconduct received by the league will, in the first
instance, be passed to the player’s club which will advise the League within ten
days of the action it intends to take.
The disciplinary committee will review the matter further if it is not satisfied as to
the likely effectiveness of such action and will take appropriate action against the
player and/or club.
Reports of such acts of club misconduct will be reviewed and appropriate action
taken by the disciplinary committee.
The individual or club shall have the right to attend the disciplinary committee
meeting and may call in any witnesses in support
11.4 Appeals
Any club or individual shall have the right of appeal against a decision by the
discipline committee. Notice of appeal setting out the grounds must be given in
writing within seven days of receiving the decision of the disciplinary committee. The penalty imposed will be suspended pending the hearing of the appeal which will be heard by an appeal panel which will be made up of the League Chairman and four Council members not involved in the related disciplinary committee or from a club with any interest in the outcome of the original disciplinary committee decision or the outcome of the appeal.
The individual or club shall have the right to attend the appeal hearing and may
call in any witnesses in support
The appeals panel may confirm, vary or reverse the decision of the disciplinary
committee
12. CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION
Changes to the Constitution should be put forward for discussion by the end of
November prior to the season in which the changes are to come into force.
13. CHANGES TO PLAYING RULES
Changes to the Playing Rules must be made by the end of March preceding the
season starting
14. UNSPECIFIED MATTERS
The Council whose decision will be final will deal with all matters not covered by
the Constitution or Rules.
PLAYING AND LEAGUE RULES
1. Matches to be played under the normal Laws of Cricket – 2017 Code, except for
the laws relating to Penalty Runs for unfair play which are deemed to be
impractical to be administered fairly without neutral umpires for all matches.
All matters regarding excessive unfair play should be reported to the League
Council for review and possible action.
2. There shall be no limitation on field placing except those in the normal Laws of
Cricket.
3. No player may bowl more than one fifth of the allocated number of overs in any
innings. (In a 40 overs innings the maximum number of overs per bowler is 8.)
For example, in a 38 over game, 3 players only may bowl 8 overs each and the
other bowlers a maximum of 7 overs each.
4. All full tosses which pass above the waist of the striker standing upright at the
crease, irrespective of the speed of the delivery, are to be called No Balls by the
umpire at the bowler’s end.
5. One ball per over that pitches and passes higher than the batsman’s shoulder
(but below the top of the batsman’s head) when standing in an upright position at
the crease should be allowed. Any more than one in that over should be called a
No ball. All balls that bounce higher than a batsman’s head when standing
upright at the crease should be called a No Ball.
6. All matches to be umpired by suitably experienced persons supplied by each
team. If necessary, experienced players can umpire as agreed by the opposing
captains.
6.1 If circumstances are such that an inexperienced person is to be used as an
umpire, then that person shall act only as the striker’s end umpire. The umpire at
the bowler’s end must be experienced.
7. All fixtures to be played on the official dates as published in the fixture list to be
agreed by the end of January at the latest.
7.1 A club unable to fulfil a fixture through lack of players must notify the opposition
by 8.00 pm at the latest on the Wednesday preceding the fixture.
7.2 The team failing to honour the fixture due to inability to field a team will forfeit the
match and six championship points will be awarded to their opponents. This will
apply irrespective of the weather or ground conditions at the time the match was
due to be played. Agreed rearrangement of the venue on the fixture date as
published in the fixture list is allowed.
7.3 The team who are unable to fulfil a fixture will be deducted three championship
points from their total if notification is given before 8.00 pm on the Wednesday
preceding the scheduled match. If notification is after 8.00 pm, the deduction is
increased to six points.
7.4 if both clubs are unable to fulfil a fixture on the fixture date, then both clubs will be
deducted three championship points.
7.5 Financial recompense to cover cost of ground hire, (tea costs), club conference
fees, etc., if required, should be agreed between the two clubs concerned. If the
non-guilty club is able to arrange an alternative fixture, then this should be taken
into account during discussions regarding excess costs. Arbitration of any dispute
will be by The League Council.
7.6 In extraordinary circumstances a club may appeal to the League Council who may
allow a fixture to be rearranged to a different date. There may also be exceptional
circumstances in which the points penalty may not be applied at the discretion of
The League Council.
7.7 If clubs enter two teams in the league and are unable to fulfil a fixture, the 2nd Xl
games must be conceded.
7.8 There is no longer a requirement for the home team to provide a tea for their visitors. Any teams wishing to continue to offer this as an option should advise the away team the Monday before the game. Visiting teams can then choose to accept or decline the offer.
8. All matches, weather permitting, to start no later than 1p.m. The start time
may be modified with the agreement of both clubs to take account of prevailing
conditions and the time of the year. Teams should be ready to play 5 minutes
before the start of the match. Any teams not ready to do so will be deemed to
have lost the toss.
9. The Home team will supply two standard new balls as approved by the League for
every match. Each innings of all matches will be started using a standard new
ball.
10.1 The maximum duration of the match to be 80 six-ball overs with the side batting
first having a maximum of 40 overs. If the first innings lasts less than the
allocated number, there is no roll-over of the remaining number of whole overs to
the allocation of the second team batting.
The side batting first may declare at any time but will be deemed to have been
bowled out in terms of the bowling bonus point being awarded to the opposition.
10.2 If there is a delayed start then the captains should agree on a reduced duration
match down to a minimum of 20 overs per side. If the side batting first fails to use
all of its allocation of overs, there is no roll-over of the remaining number of whole
overs to the allocation of the second team batting
The side batting first may declare at any time but will be deemed to have been
bowled out in terms of the bowling bonus point being awarded to the opposition.
10.3 In a rain interrupted game it is allowable for both captains to agree a reduced
duration match during the innings of the team batting first. All the proceedings up
to the interruption(s) shall be included in the duration of the match.
11. It is the responsibility of both captains to ensure that the game proceeds at a rate
close to 18 overs per hour.
12. The match will be deemed as finished when whichever of the following conditions
happens first:
(a) The side batting second has been dismissed.
or (b) The side batting second passes the first side's score.
or (c) The number of overs agreed for the duration of the match have been
completed.
or (d) Weather conditions or extreme bad light cause the match to be
abandoned.
13. For games which finish under conditions 12(a) or 12(b) or 12(c), the winner is that
side which has scored the most runs.
If the scores are level, regardless of the number of wickets which have fallen or
the number of overs bowled by each side, the match will be tied.
In a game which is abandoned as in condition 12(d), the side batting second must
have had at least 20 overs. The runs per over average to be calculated for each
side based on the total runs scored by each side. Note that partially completed
overs must be taken into account.
14.1 The points to be awarded are:
Winning Team - 4 Points
Tied Match - 3 Points each
Match abandoned without play or less than 20 overs per team without a result - 2 Points each
For bowling the opposition out (or the opposition declaring) - 1 Point
For reaching 175 runs -1 Point
However if the team batting second wins the game having lost the toss they will get the bonus point even if they do not score 175 runs or more.
14.2 Both captains must sign the opposition’s scorebook agreeing all the match details.
The result of the match to be communicated to the Results Secretary by text on
the Sunday evening of the match with runs scored, wickets fallen, overs used,
outstanding performances of 50+ and 4 wickets or more
The side winning the toss and the side batting first must be reported and any
outstanding performance by a Young Player (under 21 years on 1st May) should
also be highlighted
(a) It is the responsibility of the Home team to communicate the Result and
details to the Results Secretary but it is the responsibility of both
teams to ensure that the details are agreed.
(b) The ‘Result’ must be communicated for all matches whether they are
abandoned without being completed or not even started due to weather
or one club not being able to fulfil the fixture.

Details required are :
Match Date :
Result :
Toss won by :
Team batting first :

Home Team Name :
Points :
Score and number of overs :
Players scoring 50 or more runs :
Players taking 4 wickets or more :
Outstanding Performances by a Young Player :
 
Away Team Name :
Points :
Score and number of overs :
Players scoring 50 or more runs :
Players taking 4 wickets or more :
Outstanding Performances by a Young Player :

Report results on Sunday evening of the match to Steve Brown.
Text all the above information to : 07835 512351

All cricket played in all matches, including no result matches, are to be
included in the Brighter and the Tighter Cricket calculations.
14.3 Any Home Club not sending a complete set of results information into the Results
Secretary by 6pm on the Tuesday following the game will result in a fine of £10
payable within two weeks
15. The Champions of each division will be decided as the side having won the most
points. In the event of this being equal, then the side with the least number of
losses. If it is still equal, then the side with the most bonus points. If still equal,
then the side scoring the greatest total number of runs per total number of wickets
lost in the matches between the ‘tied’ sides will decide. If this is still equal, then
the greatest total number of runs per total number of wickets lost in all league
matches shall be the deciding factor. The ranking rules also apply to all other
positions in the League table.
16. The top two sides in Division Two will be promoted to Division One for the
following season, and the bottom two sides in Division One will be relegated to
Division 2 for the following season .
ANNUAL AWARDS
1. The Champions of Division One to be presented with the League Championship
Shield to be held for twelve months and a commemorative shield for retention.
2. The Winner of Division Two to be presented with a commemorative shield for
retention.
3. The Runners Up in a Division to be presented with a commemorative shield for
retention.
4. Brighter & Tighter Cricket Team Awards:
The team awards will apply to the league overall, without different awards for
each division
BATTING A shield to be held for twelve months to be presented to the
team scoring the most runs per over in all league fixtures.
A commemorative shield for retention will also be presented.
BOWLING A shield to be held for twelve months to be presented to the
team conceding the least number of runs per over in all league
fixtures.
A commemorative shield for retention will also be presented.
For all Brighter & Tighter Cricket Awards, the total proceedings of all games that
are started are to be taken into account.
5. Individual Awards
There will be individual awards for both Divisions:
BATTING
An individual award for retention to be presented annually to the player with the best batting average based on scoring a minimum of 200 runs in league matches and a minimum of four
innings.
BOWLING
An individual award for retention to presented annually to the player with the best bowling average based on bowling a minimum of 30 overs in league matches and taken at least 10
wickets.
For all Individual Awards, the total proceedings of all games that are started are to
be taken into account.
6. A Player of the Season award for retention for each Division will be voted on by
the Council at the End of Season Awards Evening based on performances
throughout the season.
7. The Council will decide annually, based on nominations from the member clubs,
the young player, or young players, of the year. Each winner to be presented with
a commemorative award.
The maximum age for a Young Player nomination is under 21 years on 1st May in
the year of the nomination. The purpose of the award is to encourage young
players who have not previously won a Young Player award.
8. At the discretion of the League Council, a special commemorative trophy may be
awarded for an outstanding performance in league matches, league cup matches
or League representative matches.