Competitive Women’s Competition Regulations

Board Discretion

The Board of ECB retains ultimate discretion over these Regulations and the Playing Conditions for ECB Competitions and shall be entitled at any time to amend or vary them on reasonable notice to interested parties as well as in exceptional circumstances when the Board shall be entitled to immediately do so on notice to the interested parties.

1 All Women’s Elite Domestic Structure Teams to Participate

Each of the 8 Women’s Elite Domestic Structure (WEDS) Teams, agrees to participate (as per the signed Regional Host Agreement) in the Women’s Elite Domestic Competitions in paragraphs 4 and 5 of these Regulations.

2 Full Strength Teams and Arrival of Teams

All WEDS Teams shall field a full-strength team in all matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Women’s Regional T20. Both full teams shall arrive at the venue at a time so that the match can commence at the schedule time. (see also ECB Directives).

In normal circumstances a maximum of 30 minutes shall be allowed for a late arriving team to prepare for the match.

3 Competitive Women’s Cricket

The Regulations Governing the Qualification and Registration of Cricketers for Competitive Women’s Cricket and their Qualification for England shall apply in the Competitions specified in these Regulations.

4 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

4.1 Title

The Competition will be known as The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

4.2 Competition Structure / Entrants

The The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy shall be competed for by the 8 Women’s Elite Domestic Structure Teams. Each team will play 7 group matches, playing the other 7 teams in the group on a home or away basis.

The group is as follows:-

Central Sparks Lightning South East Stars Sunrisers Thunder

The first-place team from the group stage shall qualify for the Final. A play off shall take place between the second-place team and third-place team, with the winner qualifying for the Final. (See Playing Conditions re: tiebreakers in the event of teams finishing on equal points)

4.3 Umpires

Umpires will be appointed by ECB to all matches.

4.4 Match Referees

Match Referees will be appointed by ECB to all matches from the ECB Match Referee Panel. When it is not possible to do so, the appointed Umpires will fulfil the areas of responsibility of the Match Referee. The Match Referee will facilitate for each to complete a report on both Umpires after each match for submission to the ECB.

4.5 Status of Matches

Matches in this Competition will be considered as Competitive Women’s Cricket.

4.6 Regulations and Playing Conditions

These Regulations and Playing Conditions shall be decided annually by the ECB.

5 Women’s Regional T20

5.1 Title

The Competition will be known as the Women’s Regional T20.

5.2 Competition Structure / Entrants

The Women’s Regional T20 shall be competed for by the 8 Women’s Elite Domestic Structure Teams, divided into 2 groups of 4. Each team will play 6 group matches, playing the other 3 teams in their group on a home and away basis.

The groups are as follows:-

Group A Group B Central Sparks Northern Diamonds Southern Vipers Western Storm South East Stars Thunder Lightning Sunrisers

The first-place teams from each group stage and the best second-place team shall qualify for the Finals Day. The best first-place team shall qualify for the Final. The other first-place team and best second-place team shall play off in the Semi-Final for the remaining place in the Final. (See Playing Conditions re: tiebreakers in the event of teams finishing on equal points)

5.3 Umpires

Umpires will be appointed by ECB to all matches.

5.4 Match Referees

Match Referees will be appointed by ECB to all matches from the ECB Match Referee Panel. When it is not possible to do so, the appointed Umpires will fulfil the areas of responsibility of the Match Referee. The Match Referee will facilitate for each Captain to complete a report on both Umpires after each match for submission to the ECB.

5.5 Status of Matches

Matches in this Competition will be considered as Competitive Women’s Cricket.

5.6 Regulations and Playing Conditions

These Regulations and Playing Conditions shall be decided annually by the ECB.

6 Competition Technical Committee

A Competition Technical Committee appointed by the Board of the ECB shall be responsible for making recommendations to the Board of the ECB on Curtailment Decisions (as defined below)

Curtailment Decisions shall mean decisions which the Board of the ECB is required to take in connection with the competitions in paragraphs 4 and 5 above and/or a match in those competitions not taking place as originally planned.