1 G e n e r i c Generic Rules R u l e s These rules relate to all ECB Non First Class Competitions for Men and Boys unless otherwise indicated. 1 Management 1.1 The control of the Competition shall be undertaken by the P&G Committee and all decisions relating to these rules or to matches played in the Competition shall be final and binding on all concerned. These rules apply to all competitions in this book together with other County Age Group matches within the age groups U9 to U17. 1.2 The ECB and P&G Committee may delegate any of their powers and duties. 2 Entry 2.1 Entry into any of ECB’s County Competitions shall be open to those County Boards recognised by the ECB. 2.2 Counties who participated in the previous year’s Competition shall automatically be included for the following season unless written notification to the contrary is given by 1st October in the year prior to the Competition. A County wishing to enter or be re-admitted to a Competition must give written notice to that effect to the ECB Competitions Department by 1st October in the year prior to the Competition. 2.3 It shall be a condition of entry that the Club is a bona-fide cricket club, affiliated to their local County Board, having a recognised home and away weekend fixture list and playing on a home ground of suitable standard. Clubs must play their home matches on the main square of their home ground unless prior permission has been obtained from the ECB Competitions Department to move the fixture to an alternative ground. If such permission is not given ECB will order the match to be 3 1 G e n e r played on the opponent’s ground. Should the umpires cricketer under local rules similar to Regulation 3 in the i c report a pitch as being unfit, the ECB shall have the ECB Regulations Governing the Qualification and R u l option of ordering the match to be replayed on the Registration of Cricketers (First Class Cricket) or in any e s opponent’s ground, if time permits, or of awarding the other circumstances approved by the ECB; and match to the opposition. (d) he makes, whenever requested by the ECB, a declaration Under these rules County Cricket Academies are in the form set out in Annex B in the ECB Regulations ineligible to play in ECB club competitions. Governing the Qualification and Registration of Cricketers (First Class Cricket); and If a Club fails to fulfil their administrative responsibilities or any fixture in the competition, other than due to bad (e) he is also qualified for England pursuant to the provisions weather, they will be banned from entering the laid down from time to time by ICC governing competition for the following season. qualification for Test Matches, One Day International Matches and International T20 Matches. 3 Qualification of Players (Men and Boys) (f) In the case of a Cricketer seeking to become qualified 3.1 Regulations Governing the Qualification of through residency above he will (until he has become Cricketers for England qualified to play for England) only be treated as having been resident within England and Wales for the relevant Subject to the overriding discretion of the ECB, acting consecutive period if he has spent a minimum of 210 with the consent of the International Cricket Council, a days in each year within England and Wales (for which Cricketer will only be qualified to play for England in a purpose "year" shall mean a year ending 31st March). Test Match or in a One Day International Match if: 3.2 Regulations governing the Qualification of (a) he is either a British citizen or an Irish citizen; and Cricketers for Competitive County Cricket (b1) he was born within England and Wales; or Subject to the overriding discretion of the ECB and subject as provided below, a Cricketer will (b2) he has been resident in England and Wales for the only be qualified to play in a Competitive immediately preceding four consecutive years if his County Cricket match (a Qualified Cricketer) if: residence commenced prior to his 18th birthday and or seven years if his residence in England and Wales (a) he is a European Economic Area (EEA) national (other commenced after his 18th birthday; and than a Croatian national), a national of Croatia who is able to exercise a treaty right as a worker in the United (c) he has not during the relevant period of residency Kingdom without restriction or a national of a state which pursuant to Regulations 2(b)(i) or 2(b)(ii) (as applicable) (or, is a party to an agreement with the EU and its member in the case of those qualified through Regulation 2(b)(i), states providing that their nationals lawfully employed during the immediately preceding four consecutive years) within the EEA shall have employment rights equal to either those of EEA nationals; and (i) played cricket for any ICC Full Member Country except (b) he has not, within the 12 months leading up to April 1st England at under 17 level or above; or immediately before the season in question, or at any time (ii) played First Class Cricket in any Full Member Country subsequently before applying for and being granted his outside England and Wales, except as an overseas registration with his country either (i) played cricket for 4 5 1 G e n e r any Full Member Country outside the EEA at U17 level or (d) Any other similar competition authorised by and i c above, or (ii) played Professional Cricket in any Full designated as Competitive County Cricket by the ECB. R u l Member Country outside the EEA except for First Class e 3.3.2 Qualification to play for England refers to matches s Cricket or other Official Cricket or Approved Cricket as played in the course of: an overseas cricketer under local rules promulgated by the relevant governing body of the Full Member Country (a) The Minor Counties Championship. similar to Regulation 3 in the ECB Regulations Governing 3.3.3 England and Wales means England, Wales, the Channel the Qualification and Registration of Cricketers (First Islands and the Isle of Man. Class Cricket), or in any other circumstances approved by the ECB or (iii) played Professional Cricket in any 3.3.4 The EEA means the European Economic Area and country which is not recognised as Official Cricket or includes each of its member states as from time to time Approved Cricket; and applicable. Currently the EEA comprises the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the (c) he does not, during the currency of his contract with his Republic of Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, County or his registration with his County either (i) play Luxembourg, France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Greece, cricket for any Full Member Country outside the EEA at Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Norway, U17 level or above, or (ii) play Professional Cricket in any Liechtenstein, Iceland, Cyprus (Greek part), Czech Full Member Country outside the EEA except for First Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Class Cricket or other Official Cricket or Approved Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania and Cricket as an overseas cricketer under local rules includes each of its member states as from time to promulgated by the relevant governing body of the Full time applicable. Member Country similar to Regulation 3 in the ECB Regulations Governing the Qualification and Registration 3.3.5 Residing and resident mean the occupation of a bona of Cricketers (First Class Cricket), or in any other fide home (i.e. the only or main home of the Cricketer circumstances approved by the ECB or (iii) play concerned) and the acquisition of temporary Professional Cricket in any country which is not accommodation during the season may not fulfil this recognised as Official Cricket or Approved Cricket; and requirement. (d) he makes, whenever requested by the ECB, a 3.3.6 Full Member Country means a country which is a full declaration in the form set out in Annex A to the ECB member of the International Cricket Council. Regulations Governing the Qualification and Registration 3.4 Qualification Criteria for Junior Cricketers (Boys of Cricketers (First Class Cricket). and Girls) 3.3 Definitions The qualification criteria for all County Representative 3.3.1 Competitive County Cricket refers to matches played cricket for the Under 17 age group and below is as in the course of: follows: (a) The County Championship 3.4.1 A player may only represent one County in any one Competition in any one season. (b) The Royal London One-Day Cup and Vitality T20 Blast (c) The Under 17 County Championship 6 7 1 G e n e r 3.4.2 A player shall be eligible to play for a County provided:- 3.5.1 The "entire preceding season" membership requirement i c means that club membership during the current season R i) The player is permanently resident within, or was born u l does not count and players must have become a bona e within, that County. s fide member of the club no later than 1st May during the ii) Alternatively, the player is attending an educational preceding season. establishment within that County (this does not include 3.5.2 Playing membership of a club includes membership of a international exchange students who remain ineligible). Kwik Cricket or ‘Junior Colts’ section if the club has one, iii) Alternatively, the player has been a bona-fide playing and includes match play against other clubs.