Playing Condition and Regulation Changes for 2003
Tractor Towing Covers The practice of using a tractor towing the covers to drive across the match pitch is not allowed - it is not within cricket Law, and ICC do not allow it in their regulations
ECB Media Release
17-Apr-2003
County Cricket
Tractor Towing Covers
The practice of using a tractor towing the covers to drive across the match pitch is not allowed - it is not within cricket Law, and ICC do not allow it in their regulations.
The practice of using a tractor towing the covers to drive across the match pitch is not allowed - it is not within cricket Law, and ICC do not allow it in their regulations.
Denmark
Denmark can stage home matches in the C&G Trophy from the beginning of the 2004 competition (Round 1 to be played at the end of the 2003 season).
Denmark can stage home matches in the C&G Trophy from the beginning of the 2004 competition (Round 1 to be played at the end of the 2003 season).
One-day pitches & potential penalties
One-day pitch policing and penalties - click here
One-day pitch policing and penalties - click here
UCCEs
First-class status awarded to Loughborough. (Oxford, Cambridge, Durham retain first-class status).
First-class status awarded to Loughborough. (Oxford, Cambridge, Durham retain first-class status).
Fielding of under strength teams
Fielding of under strength Teams - Counties must at all times field full strength teams.
Fielding of under strength Teams - Counties must at all times field full strength teams.
Regulation
In order to maintain the integrity of first class County competitions and to deliver the undertakings within sponsorship and broadcasting contracts, each County shall play a full strength team in all matches in the Frizzell County Championship, the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, the Twenty20 Cup and the 45-over League. If the ECB Chief Executive considers that an `under strength' team has been fielded without a satisfactory explanation having been provided (either before or after the match), he shall refer the matter to the ECB Discipline Standing Committee which has the power to impose an unlimited fine and/or the deduction of points as it thinks appropriate.
In order to maintain the integrity of first class County competitions and to deliver the undertakings within sponsorship and broadcasting contracts, each County shall play a full strength team in all matches in the Frizzell County Championship, the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, the Twenty20 Cup and the 45-over League. If the ECB Chief Executive considers that an `under strength' team has been fielded without a satisfactory explanation having been provided (either before or after the match), he shall refer the matter to the ECB Discipline Standing Committee which has the power to impose an unlimited fine and/or the deduction of points as it thinks appropriate.
Guidelines
This policy does not exclude the occasional resting of regular first team players, the unavailability of players due to injury or the selection of inexperienced up and coming staff players, but emphasises that Counties must balance their desire to rest players and / or provide experience for young players with their responsibility to maintain the integrity of County competitions.
This policy does not exclude the occasional resting of regular first team players, the unavailability of players due to injury or the selection of inexperienced up and coming staff players, but emphasises that Counties must balance their desire to rest players and / or provide experience for young players with their responsibility to maintain the integrity of County competitions.
A County fearful of falling foul of this regulation as a result of fielding what could be perceived as an `under strength' team in these competitions should seek prior approval for their intended team by explaining the reasons to the ECB Chief Executive (or the Director of Cricket Operations or Cricket Operations Manager (First Class) acting on behalf of the Chief Executive) in advance of the match.
Replacement of Players called up for England
In addition to the current regulation, a player in the England squad not required for the actual match shall be allowed to join a County match and take the place of a nominated player participating in the match. Additional wording to the existing playing condition as follows:
In addition to the current regulation, a player in the England squad not required for the actual match shall be allowed to join a County match and take the place of a nominated player participating in the match. Additional wording to the existing playing condition as follows:
If a player is with the England squad but omitted from the final Xl, and if he is released by England to play in a County Championship match after the nomination of the County teams, then that player may return to his County's match and take the place of a nominated player who may or may not have already participated in the match. Each county that has representation in the England Xl must, if it wishes that a specified England player shall participate in the County match if released by England, specify which player the England player shall replace. This shall be done at the nomination of teams to the Umpires prior to the toss for innings. If no County player has been specified, then under no circumstances shall the England player be allowed to participate in the County match. For the avoidance of doubt, if a County has more than one representative in the England squad, then one player in the County team must be nominated in respect of each England player and the County player shall be considered as dedicated to that England player for the purpose of the replacement.
If the County has specified a nominated player who will potentially be replaced by the England player, and the England player is indeed released by England to play in the County Championship match, if it is reasonably expected that he is able to join the match before the start of the third scheduled day, then he must make all reasonable efforts to take his place in the County side at the earliest opportunity and the replacement must be effected. No replacement will be allowed if the England player is not available to take his place in the County side until after the start of play on the third scheduled day. There is no option for the County to refuse the England player if they have nominated a player to be replaced by the England player.
If the nominated player is batting at the time that the England player joins the Championship match, the nominated player shall complete his innings and the England player shall take over thereafter. If the nominated player is bowling at the time that the England player is available and ready to take the field of play, then the nominated player shall complete any unfinished over, and the England player shall take the field thereafter.
Penalty for a Wide
The penalty for a wide shall be one run in all competitions - ie a change from two to one in the Frizzell County Championship. (No change to the penalty for a No Ball - this is two runs in all domestic competitions).
The penalty for a wide shall be one run in all competitions - ie a change from two to one in the Frizzell County Championship. (No change to the penalty for a No Ball - this is two runs in all domestic competitions).
Nomination of Players
If an un-nominated player takes part in the game, then if consent is not given by the opposing Captain for that player to continue to play (not to be unreasonably withheld), then the player shall take no further part in the match and no substitute (including the originally nominated player) shall be allowed.
If an un-nominated player takes part in the game, then if consent is not given by the opposing Captain for that player to continue to play (not to be unreasonably withheld), then the player shall take no further part in the match and no substitute (including the originally nominated player) shall be allowed.
Frizzell County Championship Points System
Points for a win shall increase to 14 (seven for a tie and to the side batting fourth in a drawn match when the scores are level). Points for a draw remain at four. Maximum points in the match are therefore 22, and this shall be the penalty for an "Unfit" pitch.
Points for a win shall increase to 14 (seven for a tie and to the side batting fourth in a drawn match when the scores are level). Points for a draw remain at four. Maximum points in the match are therefore 22, and this shall be the penalty for an "Unfit" pitch.
Corresponding changes shall also be made in the Second Xl Championship.
Eligibility in Second Xl Trophy
Eligibility criteria relaxed to allow qualifying and scholarship players to take part in the Second Xl Trophy, (genuine overseas players are still not be allowed). (In the Second Xl Championship, a genuine overseas player continues to be allowed in addition to qualifiers/scholarships).
Eligibility criteria relaxed to allow qualifying and scholarship players to take part in the Second Xl Trophy, (genuine overseas players are still not be allowed). (In the Second Xl Championship, a genuine overseas player continues to be allowed in addition to qualifiers/scholarships).
Public Lightmeters
Public Lightmeters are to be discontinued in domestic cricket (to remain in npower Test Matches).
Public Lightmeters are to be discontinued in domestic cricket (to remain in npower Test Matches).
International Cricket / tourist matches
Test Match - Hours of play
npower Test Series - please note new scheduled timings
npower Test Series - please note new scheduled timings
All days - Start - 10.45am Lunch - 12.45pm - 1.25pm Tea - 3.25pm - 3.45pm Close - 5.45pm
As 2002, there is provision for playing time to be extended by the amount of time lost in the day up to a maximum of one hour.
If any time is lost and cannot be made up as stated above, additional time of up to a maximum of one hour per day shall be added to the scheduled playing hours for the next day, and subsequent day(s) as required (to make up as much lost time as possible). All time carried forward in this way shall be added to the last session.
Three-Day and Four-Day Tourist Matches - Hours of play
Scheduled hours of play and the provision for time to be made up on the day or carried forward to subsequent day(s) will be exactly the same as npower Test Matches - see above.
Scheduled hours of play and the provision for time to be made up on the day or carried forward to subsequent day(s) will be exactly the same as npower Test Matches - see above.
One-Day Tourist Matches - Extra time
In the same way as in One-Day Internationals, a period of "extra time" is playable in one-day tour matches where time has been lost. This period is set at a maximum of one hour in day matches and 30 minutes in floodlit matches. Essentially, this means that no overs are lost from the match until that period of time has expired.
In the same way as in One-Day Internationals, a period of "extra time" is playable in one-day tour matches where time has been lost. This period is set at a maximum of one hour in day matches and 30 minutes in floodlit matches. Essentially, this means that no overs are lost from the match until that period of time has expired.
One-Day Internationals - over-rate penalties
Teams will still have three-and-a-half hours plus allowances given by the referee to bowl 50 overs and each member of the bowling team will be fined 5% of his match fee per lost over. However, under the amended playing conditions, penalties will be doubled for the captain of the bowling side.
Teams will still have three-and-a-half hours plus allowances given by the referee to bowl 50 overs and each member of the bowling team will be fined 5% of his match fee per lost over. However, under the amended playing conditions, penalties will be doubled for the captain of the bowling side.
If the shortfall in an ODI is more than two overs, the captain will also be charged with a Level Two breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for deliberate time wasting. This will result in a disciplinary hearing with possible penalties of a fine of between 50% and 100% of his match fee and/or a two ODI ban.
The penalty of reducing the overs for a team batting second that failed to complete its overs in the allotted time has been removed.
The principles of the new approach will also apply in Test Match cricket with the increased penalties coming into effect after five rather than two overs.
The amendment reflects a decision taken at the ICC Cricket Committee - Management (CC-M) meeting in Cape Town from 7th - 8th February 2003.
Safety and security at international matches
The CC-M meeting also approved the introduction of a process for a match referee to suspend play due to safety and security concerns and this too will come into effect from the opening match of the Sharjah tournament.
The CC-M meeting also approved the introduction of a process for a match referee to suspend play due to safety and security concerns and this too will come into effect from the opening match of the Sharjah tournament.
The new provisions can be viewed in full on the ICC website www.icc.cricket.org. The over-rate penalties are in section J of the ICC Code of Conduct (p20) and s12.4 of the ICC ODI Playing Conditions. The safety and security suspension provisions can be found in s3.6 of the ICC Test Match and s3.6 of the ICC ODI Playing Conditions.