2010 Rules
Any queries should be directed to us at nvc@wisdencricketer.com.
1 The competition shall be called ‘The npower Village Cup’
2 The competition shall be organised by The Wisden Cricketer.
3 The object of the competition shall be to promote village cricket and to give an opportunity to village cricketers to compete in a national event.
4 A village shall be deemed to be a rural community surrounded on all sides by open country and consisting of not more than 5,000 inhabitants. Note: county council figures cannot in all cases be said to represent the population, since often other villages and hamlets are put together for council purposes. When in doubt, the organisers should be consulted, including decisions about mergers. Market towns are not eligible, regardless of the population figure.
5 Clubs entering will be required to take an annual subscription to The Wisden Cricketer, thereby ensuring a continuous means of communication between the organisers and competitors. The subscription must be in the name of the club entering. You may transfer an existing subscription by calling 0844 815 0864. An entry form must be filled in by ALL clubs and proof of subscription provided.
6 All clubs in the competition are expected to uphold the Spirit of Cricket, as defined in the preamble to MCC’s Laws of Cricket. Any failure to comply with the spirit of the game, as reported by the umpires and clubs, may result in the club being disqualified at any stage of the competition. See www.lords.org for details.
7 A club is not eligible, and may be disqualified, if in the same season it plays a player in a competitive game (non-friendly) who has a professional contract with one of the first-class counties or any of the Test-playing nations.
8 Any club playing in the top division of any of the leagues shown in schedule 1 is not eligible to play in the npower Village Cup.
9 A club is not eligible to enter or play in this competition in any season in which it enters the ECB National Knockout (formerly known as The Cockspur Cup)
10 (a) A player shall be eligible to play in the npower Village Cup if he is a paid up member of the club, and has played at least eight non npower Village Cup matches for that club in the current and previous season (2009 and 2010) including no less than four in the 2009 season. Indoor matches, Inter-club matches (for example Presidents XI v Club XI) and evening games do not qualify. Exceptions can be made for injured players and those aged 17 and under if they are bona fide members of the club. Please contact The Wisden Cricketer for clarification.
(b) A player will not be eligible for this competition if he:
(i) Is registered to play for a club who plays in any of the leagues shown in schedule 1 in the current season (2010).
(ii) Has played in more than one first-class match, including matches played for or against any UCCE, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, until he reaches the age of 60. Contact The Wisden Cricketer for clarification. The organiser’s decision is final.
(iii) Has played, within the previous or current season, in two or more matches in the Minor Counties Championship, or the first-class counties Second XI Championship. Unless he is 17 or under on July 1 in the current season.
(iv) Received a fee from any source for playing cricket in the current or immediately previous season whether in the UK or abroad.
(v) Received expenses in connection with playing cricket from any source in excess of his necessary out-of-pocket disbursements for reasonable costs of travel.
(vi) Received payment by the club (or a third party) for air fare or accommodation costs. This will be considered reward for playing cricket.
(vii) In all of the above instances the organiser’s decision is final.
The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry to or to disqualify at any time any club which they have reason to believe has not complied strictly with the letter and spirit of this rule.
(viii) A player is not eligible to play in the competition in any season in which he plays in the ECB National Knockout (Formerly known as The Cockspur Cup)
(ix) (a) Any player who is in the UK on a short term visa that is approved by the UK border agency, which allows the player to play cricket during his stay, is not eligible to play in the npower Village Cup.
(b) A player who is not qualified to play for England but has been, a permanent resident in accordance with the ECB requirements in the UK for at least three years, who is a bona-fide member of the club and has played at least eight non npower Village Cup matches in the current and previous seasons is eligible to play in the npower Village Cup.
(x) A player is not eligible if he is under contract to play for a first-
class county, regardless of whether he is being paid to play or not.
(xi) A player is not eligible to play if he is serving a ban from playing cricket for any cricket club or league.
(c) A player may not play for more than one club in the competition in any one season.
(d) Not withstanding anything in these rules, the organiser’s reserve the right to decide the eligibility of any team or player.
11 The Laws of Cricket as laid down by MCC shall apply, together with the following special conditions:
(a) Games will start at 1pm unless agreed otherwise by both captains and umpires.
(b) Each side shall bat for 40 overs unless their innings is completed earlier or the captains agree to a lesser number of overs before the match.
(c) No bowler may bowl more than 9 overs. Part of an over will count as a full over only in so far as each bowler’s limit is concerned. When it is agreed that a match shall consist of fewer than 40 overs, no bowler may bowl more than one-quarter of the total overs to be bowled by his side.
(d) Wide ball – judging a wide
Umpires are instructed to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation in regard to this Law in order to prevent negative bowling.
(e) The side which scores more runs will be the winner.
(f) If the scores are level, the side which has lost fewer wickets shall be the winner.
(g) If still equal, the side which was has received fewer balls at the end of the match shall be the winner. (Wides and no-balls do not count)
(h) If still equal, the side which has scored more runs at the end of 20 overs shall be the winner.
(i) If still equal, the side which has lost fewer wickets at the end of 20 overs shall be the winner. If still level, that is to say both sides having scored the same number of runs and having lost the same number of wickets at the end of 20 overs, the result will be decided by a bowling competition. See rule 12.
(j) If the side batting second equals its opponent’s score off the last ball of the match, providing they have lost fewer wickets, then they have won the match and the ball is dead.
(k) If rain or bad light curtails play before the completion of a match, the result will be decided in favour of the side which has scored the faster runs per over THROUGHOUT THE INNINGS, provided that at least 20 overs have been bowled to the side batting second. If the scoring rates are identical, then the side with the higher score after 20 overs shall be the winners; if still equal, the side which has lost fewer wickets over the first 20 overs shall be the winners. If still equal, the result will be decided by a bowling competition. See Rule 12.
(l) If the start of the match is delayed by the weather or if there is a subsequent interruption, the captains may agree to a lesser number of overs, the minimum being 15.
(m) If a match that has started is abandoned before each side has completed 20 overs then Rule 12 applies.
(n) Exceptionally, if a match is abandoned by the umpires in the circumstances where the side batting first is all out after 20 overs, and the side batting second has scored one run fewer than the first side’s completed inning’s total after 21 overs with no wickets lost, the side batting first shall have its total score divided by the full allotment of 40 overs to establish their run rate.
(o) Five penalty extras shall not be awarded in rounds one to four of the competition, with the exception of those awarded under Law 41.3 – protective helmets belonging to the fielding side.
(p) ECB directives concerning young cricketers must be adhered to. This includes the directive on young bowlers and protective helmets.
(q) All teams are required to hand a team sheet to the umpires and/or the opposing captain before the start of play. These are to include the age of the player and whether or not they are required to wear a protective helmet.
12 If rain prevents a result, the match will be replayed on the following Sunday, or an agreed earlier date. All replays will be held on the ground of the original VISITING side unless otherwise agreed, regardless of whether the match was postponed before or after the start of play. Captains may on the other hand agree to decide the result by a bowling competition. In this event, regardless of weather, each member of both teams will bowl one ball at a wicket. (NB. A wicket consists of THREE STUMPS and two bails.) The side breaking the wicket the greater number of times will be the winner. Umpires will officiate to ensure fair play (including no-balls). All players MUST bowl over-arm.
13 Umpires and scorers
In rounds one to four inclusive, each team will provide an umpire. In round 5 (Group Finals) and thereafter the organisers will arrange all umpiring appointments. Each team MUST provide a scorer in all matches. Umpires and scorers must be CRB checked in accordance with legal requirements
14 In rounds 1 to 9 inclusive, each club will provide one ball. Umpires must agree that the condition and quality of the balls are similar. The organisers will provide cricket balls for the final.
15 If a team has to travel more than 100 miles there and back, the organisers will contribute to the cost of a TEAM coach to a maximum of £100. This contribution is for the transport of a maximum of 15 persons (i.e. 11 players, 12th man, scorer and two others). All claims in respect of this rule must be sent to The Wisden Cricketer office immediately after the expense has been incurred, on club headed paper, enclosing a receipted bill on which the claim is based.
16 Difficulties or disputes should be referred to the organisers immediately but will only be considered if submitted in writing by a responsible club official with a copy sent to the secretary of the other side concerned. The decision of the organisers on all matters affecting the competition, whether included in these rules or not, is final and binding.
17 Matches must be played on the dates laid down in the draw, or earlier by agreement in writing between clubs (in which case the alternative date is binding and either side cancelling must give a walk-over to the other.)
18 Result cards from BOTH sides must be returned to the organisers immediately after the match has been played. In the event of replay the organisers must be informed as to the agreed date and venue.
19 The highest standards and best spirit of the game as specified in the ‘Preamble to the Laws of Cricket’ must be observed both on and off the field. In the unlikely event of any team failing to uphold these standards, the organisers reserve the right to disqualify them.
Npower Village Cup is organised by The Wisden Cricketer. 2nd Floor, 123 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 9SL. Tel: 020 7705 4911, Fax: 020 7233 9110.
Schedule 1. Exclusion list of leagues.
Clubs that compete in the top division of the following leagues may NOT in the same season compete in the npower Village Cup. If in doubt please contact the organisers.
• Airedale & Wharfedale League • Bradford Cricket League • Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League • Central Lancashire League • Central Yorkshire League • Cheshire County Cricket League • Cornwall Cricket League • Derbyshire Premier League • Devon Cricket League • East Anglican Premier Cricket League • Essex Cricket League • Home Counties Premier League • Huddersfield Cricket League • Kent Cricket League • Lancashire League • Leicestershire Premier Cricket League • Lincolnshire Cricket Board Premier League • Liverpool & District Cricket Competition • Middlesex County Cricket League • Northamptonshire Cricket League • North East Premier Cricket League • Northern Cricket League • North Staffs & South Cheshire League • North Wales Premier League • Nottinghamshire Cricket Board Premier League • Southern Premier Cricket League • South Wales Premier Cricket League • Surrey Championship • Sussex Cricket League • West of England Premier League • Yorkshire ECB County Premier League
