RULES AND CONSTITUTION
Reproduced with the kind permission of The Surrey Downs League.
this revision March 2008. Click Here for Adobe Acrobat PDF Version

1.         TITLE.

The name shall be “Surrey Downs League” (possibly prefixed by a sponsors name if one exists), hereinafter referred to as “the League”.

2.         OBJECTS.

The objects of the League are to promote an annual cricket competition between its member Clubs, together with such social or other activities as may be ancillary thereto. To improve the facilities of the member Clubs, the standard of play, and of umpiring. To preserve, foster and improve the enjoyment of the game, the fellowship, and the sportsmanlike behaviour of those taking part.

3.         COMPOSITION

The League shall consist of 4 Divisions with 10 teams in each Division, with 2 teams promoted/relegated from each Division - subject to the proviso that no Division shall have 2 teams from the same Club.

When two or more teams are tied for positions then, for the purposes of promotion and relegation, league positions will be decided by applying the following rules sequentially:

a) highest proportion of wins in completed games.

b) highest points total in the two (or more) matches between the two (or more) sides involved.

c) where a) and b) above fail to separate teams the final placings will be decided by the Officers of the League.

 4.         ADMINISTRATION

(a). The affairs of the League shall be governed by a Management Committee comprising a League Representative from each member Club, together with the Officers. 

(b). Each League Representative shall have at all time in relation to League matters power to commit and speak for their Club.

(c). The Officers, who shall be elected annually, and comprise of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, League Fixture Secretary, and Results Secretary’s, shall be responsible for the day to day running of the League. 

(d). It shall be the duty of the Officers and other members of the Management Committee at all times to enforce and preserve the objectives of the League. 

5.         MEETINGS

(a). There will be no fewer than four Management Committee Meetings held annually together with an Annual General Meeting to be held before 28th February each year.

(b). A Special General Meeting can be called any time by the Officers of the League, or at the request of five or more member Clubs in writing to the Secretary clearly stating the object of the meeting.

(c). The Secretary shall be required to give 28 days notice in writing of all Meetings, and any motions to be put forward at the meeting shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary no less than 14 days before the set date. Copies of any motion shall then be sent to all Officers and League Committee members not less than 10 days before the date of the meeting. 

(d). Each Member Club shall appoint a Representative to attend Management Committee Meetings and Annual General Meetings. Any member Club may upon giving notification to the League Secretary appoint a substitute to attend and vote at any meeting, should its League representative be unable for any reason to attend. 

(e). No business may be transacted at any Management Committee Meeting or General Meeting of the League at which less than half of the Member Clubs are represented. The next such Meeting held and for which the required notice has been given shall automatically be deemed to be quorate. 

(f). Any Club failing to be represented at two successive League meetings will forfeit ten League points all the teams they have playing in the League.

6.         VOTING.

(a). At all Management Committee Meetings and at a General Meeting of the League voting shall take place on the basis of one vote per Club, irrespective of the number of persons present.

(b). The Chairman shall have a casting vote in the event of equality of votes.

(c). Voting shall be taken by poll of those present, and entitled to vote, and no vote shall be accepted by proxy, post or any other manner from any Club not represented at the meeting.

(d). All decisions at Management Committee Meetings or General Meetings shall be determined by a simple majority vote except that a two-thirds majority shall be necessary in order to alter the objects, constitution, and rules of the League, and whether by way of election or expulsion, the membership of Clubs to the League. Alterations of Rules and Constitution can only take place at an Annual general Meeting.

7.         FINANCE.

(a). Each member Club shall be required to contribute towards the funds of the League such annual amount as the Management Committee shall propose at an Annual General Meeting. 

(b). The Treasurer shall present the annual accounts for approval at the Annual General Meeting.

(c). Each member Club to pay an appropriate fee (to be decided at the AGM), at the commencement of each season with a proportion of the fee to be given to the host Club to cover the cost of hosting the League Presentation Evening.

8.         APPLICATIONS AND RESIGNATIONS.

Application for Membership of the League, shall be considered at any time by a General Meeting. For admission for the following season applications must be approved by the August 31st. Once approved by a General Meeting the Management Committee shall have no right of veto without reference back to the member Clubs.

Any Club wishing to resign from the League must do so in writing to the League Secretary giving a seasons notice. The resignation to be received by April 1st.

9.         DISPUTES.

(a). All complaints, disputes, and protests must be submitted in writing to the League Secretary not later than seven days after the incident. The Officers of the League have the authority to impose a penalty on any Club or individual. The penalty may consist of, a combination of, loss of points or monetary fine. A Club shall only be expelled from the League at an AGM or or at any EGM requested as per rule 5b.  Any Club or individual against whom a penalty is made shall have the right of appeal to the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the League. In arriving at its decision the Officers shall have regard to the Code of Conduct appended to these Rules.

(b). The League abides by decisions made by all County Boards, and Cricket Leagues regarding the eligibility of players.

(c). Any disputes in the playing season will be dealt with by the League Officers within the following prescribed times:-

(d). Playing disputes within 5 days or as soon as possible after the report of the occurrence.

(e). Administrative disputes at the next Management Committee Meeting, or sooner if the Officers believe that to be in the best interests of the League.

(f). All disciplinary matters will be dealt with in accordance with the ECB Discipline Regulations  Code of Conduct.         

10.      MATCH RULES.

(a). In each Division, fixtures will be played on a home and away basis on the date set by the League Fixture list. Any request to change the date or venue of a fixture, must be submitted in writing prior to the last League Meeting before the start of the Season. No change in venue is allowed following the start of the season without the prior approval of a League Official.

All member clubs must confirm the exact location where their Surrey Downs League fixtures will be played (on which pitch if clubs have more than one) and in accordance with the current League Rules would have to apply for permission to move a fixture or face a penalty. 

(b). In May, June, July and early August each game shall start no later than 2.00pm; from third Saturday in August not later than 1.30pm; from first Saturday in September 1.00 pm. The toss shall take place 15 minutes for the due start, and any Club not available at this time will forfeit the toss.

(c). Only balls approved by the League for the season shall be used. One  new ball shall be used for each innings except as in (10j.3), although the Captain of the side fielding second has the option to continue with the ball used in the first innings, and may take the second new ball at any time.

(d). Each Club shall provide one Umpire and one Scorer, and at the commencement of each season each Club shall submit to the League Secretary the names of up to three prospective Umpires for its matches, and it shall in all League matches use its upmost endeavours to see that one such nominated Umpire officiates.

(e). Every player in the competition shall be a bona fide member of his Club, and shall not play for more than one member Club in any one season.

(f). The match shall consist of 90 overs, and the Captains shall have no power to vary this except in the event of inclement weather. See(10j.3).

(g). The side batting first shall be entitled to bat through a maximum of 48 overs: if for any reason it does not do so, then the unexpended overs shall be available to the side batting second.

(h). There shall be no restriction on the number of overs bowled by an individual bowler, subject to the ECB/County Board Directive as to the restriction on the number of overs bowled by young cricketers.

(i). Tea shall be taken between innings unless the Captains agree otherwise and will be of 20 minutes duration.

(j). In the event of inclement weather only, a curtailed game by reducing the number of overs may be played. Both Captains must agree or the game is abandoned as a “cancelled” game (see 11a), and a cancelled game shall not be replayed. In the event of a reduced game:-

(1).  The planned number of overs shall be not less than 40:

(2).  There shall be a 5 over differential; e.g. in a 65 over match the side batting first will be limited to a maximum of 35 overs, in a 75 over match to 40 overs:

(3).  One ball shall be used for the game, unless agreed otherwise by the Captains.

(4).  No match should start after 4.00pm.

(k). The following principles are to be observed in determining whether or not play takes place in inclement weather, including bad light:

 (1). Prior to the toss the sole decision as to the fitness of the ground shall rest with the home Club.

 (2). once the toss has been made the game is deemed to have ‘started’ whether or not play shall commence or stop or resume after interruption shall be determined by the Umpires in accordance with the Laws of Cricket.

(l). In all other respects the current Laws of Cricket shall apply.

(m). The number of overs in a game shall be calculated by rounding up any part of a over not completed. (i.e. 45.2 overs = 46 overs).

(n). Any Club failing to fulfil a fixture without reasonable notice shall be liable to defray any reasonable expenses incurred.

(o). All Clubs shall abide by the Code of Conduct appended hereto.

(p). Any player who receives any kind of benefit to play cricket, by way of cash, kind or any form of expenses will be ineligible to play in the Surrey Downs League. A club playing an ineligible player will forfeit all points gained in matches in which that player played.

(q). A player who does not arrive and is ready to play within 90 minutes of the advertised start time, will only be able to play as a substitute, unless this is waived and agreed by both captains before the toss takes place.

(r). The rule with regard to games being cancelled due to a Club being unable to field a side has a two tier value of penalties. To ensure that incorrect marks are not deducted, the following procedure must be adhered to.

- Verbal contact (not answer phone) must be made with the opposition. Contact the Captain, League Representative or Club Secretary, followed by a message to the relevant Results Secretary with the date and time of the call confirming that the opposition knows the game has been cancelled. The home Captain is still responsible for the procedure under Rule 11c.

A team cancelling a game before 10.00 pm on the Thursday before a Saturday game would incur a 5 point penalty for the first offence and 10 points for a second and subsequent offences. However if the game was cancelled after the time specified above, penalty points will be doubled to 10 points for the first offence and 20 points for the second and subsequent offences.

 11.      POINTS SYSTEM.

 (a). Points shall be awarded as follows:

A tie shall be determined as when both sides have scored the same number of runs at the fall of the last wicket of the side batting second. (The last wicket shall be determined as when there remains no further batsman present and eligible to bat).

Bonus Points
1 Batting point for reaching 75 runs, and then 1 Batting for every 25 runs over 75 to a maximum of 5 points (175 runs).

1 Bowling point for every two wickets taken, maximum 5 points (10 wickets). 

Maximum points shall be awarded even if the innings is “closed” without all 10 wickets being taken. e.g. man short or retirement

The above Bonus points cease after the first 40 overs of each innings.

An extra 10 points will be awarded for winning after batting first or being forced to bat second i.e. losing the toss.

(b). The “winning” and “losing” draw shall be determined by the overall scoring rate of each team runs per over, with the team scoring at the faster rate achieving the winning draw. The number of overs in an innings shall be determined by rounding up any part of an over not completed (i.e. 45.2 overs = 46 overs).

(c). Match results with full details of scores and points etc must be made either verbally or electronically (Fax or E mail) by no later than 10 p.m. on the match day, to the appointed Results Secretary. Confirmation on the appropriate form must be posted on the Wednesday following the match. Failure to abide by these rules will incur a five-point penalty, which will be deducted from the Home Side in the first instant. A second and any subsequent failure in the same season will result in a ten-point penalty.

For and on behalf of The Surrey Downs League
David Lines- Hon. Secretary
email: secretary@surreydowns.org
MARCH 2008

©The SURREY DOWNS LEAGUE - MARCH 2008
This Copy was sourced from the Surrey Downs League Website www.surreydowns.org

Adobe Acrobat PDF version