Middlesex Development League – The MDL
Competition Rules & Regulations 2016
1
Title: the title of the competition shall be the Middlesex Development League or The MDL for short.
2
Management: these rules apply to The MDL only and all decisions by Middlesex Cricket are final.
3
Entry: entry to The MDL shall be open to all clubs/teams affiliated to Middlesex Cricket in 2016.
4
Pitch: clubs are to use fine turf pitches only for their home matches.
5
Competition Structure, Formats and Start Times
5.1
Group Stage: Regionalised groups of four, playing double round-robin, 1.30pm start.
5.2
Knockout Phase: Group Winners (8) progress to Trophy Quarter-Finals; Group Runners-up (8)
progress to Shield Quarter-Finals. All matches 1.30pm start.
5.3
Finals Day: the County winners shall be determined by Trophy and Shield County Finals.
6
Eligibility and Age Group Definition
Any club that fields an ineligible player shall be penalised and the result of the match forfeited to the
opposition. Only those that have played in a Group match are eligible to play in the Knockout Phase.
6.1
Age: Each side to include a minimum of seven players in the age group of Under 21 (U21) and below.
Age groups are decided by the player’s age on the 1st September in the year prior to the start of the
season. Prior to the commencement of the season (minimum of 1 week before the club’s opening
fixture), each club will register their players with The MDL, via the club’s play-cricket site. There are
no limits to the number of players that can be included in the squad.
6.2
Club Members: A cricketer shall only be eligible to play for one club in The MDL and they must be a
member of that club. Clubs with limited numbers of MDL players can merge with, or invite players
from other clubs from Middlesex. Clubs merging in this way must seek prior approval from Middlesex
Cricket.
6.3
Ineligible players - The following list of players are ineligible:



6.4
Players that receive payment to play any form of cricket.
Players that are contracted to a First Class County.
Players that have played in a First Class match, T20 Blast or Royal London One Day fixture in 2015
or 2016.
Overseas players: a maximum of one overseas player is eligible to play.
The MDL uses the MCCL definition of an “overseas” player as “a non-resident player...not
permanently resident in the British Isles for the 24 month period immediately before that player's first
game.” The MDL reserves the right to apply the following rule flexibly when it might not be in the
spirit in which it was intended.
If the overseas is U21, they must not be selected at the expense of other U21s in the XI. Therefore,
when an overseas player is selected, a maximum of 3 resident over 21 players are permitted in the XI.
7
Balls: matches will be played with the Tiflex ‘Windsor’ pink cricket ball.
The Home and Away side shall provide at least one new cricket ball for each match. A new ball must
be used at the start of each innings.
If the pink ball is lost during an innings then every effort should be made to play with a similar type of
pink ball but red balls may also be used as a spare if needed.
8
Clothing
It is mandatory that each player wears a minimum of a coloured shirt for the competition that can be
any colour except pink, red, or white. It is recommended that clubs buy complete coloured kit.
9
Umpires
The home side only is responsible for selecting one umpire for each fixture. The umpires shall be
selected for the whole match and may not play in the match. Middlesex Cricket will supply an
additional panel umpire, the cost to be borne by the home club. If the home side fails to supply an
umpire, the panel umpire will stand at both ends and be paid double the agreed Middlesex Cricket
panel umpire rate by the home club.
10
Scorers and Match Result
10.1
Scoring - Each team shall provide their own competent scorer in all matches. If possible, scorers
should endeavour to score the match electronically.
10.2
Results on Play-cricket.com
The Home side will enter the result and full scorecard details onto play-cricket.com within 24 hours of
the match being completed. The only way a result can be notified is through the play-cricket website.
11
Fixtures
Group fixtures and County Finals will be organised locally by Middlesex Cricket. The clubs will be
responsible for ensuring that all fixtures are agreed and the dates are changed to the actual date on
Play-cricket.com. Fixtures will be uploaded on The MDL play-cricket site and appear in your own
club’s play-cricket fixtures section. The Home side will need to change these fixtures to the agreed
date no later than the 30th April.
11.1
Re-arrange League fixtures
Matches where no result can be achieved on the scheduled date can be re-arranged to be played by
the final Group Matchday. In the event of no decision being reached in the match because of
weather, inability to re-arrange a fixture before the deadline date or, for another reason, then the
result shall be determined as an Abandoned fixture.
11.2
County Finals: The County Finals Day will be arranged by Middlesex Cricket.
12
Team Sheets
Each side must provide the umpire with a team sheet before the start of the match identifying any
player who has not reached the age of 18 on the date of the match and showing the specific age
group of all players.
13
Helmets and/or Faceguards
Any player under the age of 18 playing in The MDL shall be bound by the ECB Directive (see section 19
of the current Non First Class Regulations and Playing Conditions).
14
Code of Conduct
All Captains, Vice-Captains and panel umpires will sign up to, and all other players, team officials and
club supporters shall be bound by:


MCC Spirit of Cricket
ECB Code of Conduct.
Any contravention of either could lead to Disciplinary action and minus Fair Play pts (see 16)
15
Blast Points (Teams do not score Blast Points in The MDL)
16
Fair Play Points
All teams’ behaviour will be marked by the standing panel umpire after each Group match:
+5
+2
0
-2
-5
General behaviour of fair play throughout AND at least 1 act of great sportsmanship
General behaviour of fair play throughout
No, or limited evidence of fair or unfair play
Evidence of poor behaviour, but not leading to an umpire’s report being submitted
Poor behaviour leading to submission of an umpire’s report.
Any team scoring a net total of -7 or worse will be ineligible for progression to the Quarter-Finals.
17
Registration: all players must be registered with The MDL, via each club’s own play-cricket site.
Middlesex Development League – The MDL
Playing Rules 2016
1
1.1
Duration (80 overs)
Group Matchdays: 1 innings per side, the side batting first may bat a maximum 44 overs.
Knockout Phase: 1 innings per side, each limited to a maximum of 40 overs and a minimum
of 20 overs (if reduced due to inclement weather).
1.2
Teams have 2 hours 30 minutes to bowl 40 overs (16/hr). Umpires will provide hourly
updates to the fielding captain. Having first taken into account any delays beyond the fielding
side’s control, the umpire will apply penalty runs at the rate of 5 runs for every 5 minute
period, or part thereof, late in the event of 40 overs taking longer than 2 hours 45 minutes.
2
Rearrangement of overs due to inclement weather
If the start of a match is delayed, or a match is interrupted due to adverse pitch or weather
conditions, the umpires will agree before the rescheduled start time to extend the close of
play by up to 30 mins. The latest a match can commence without overs being lost is 2pm.
For the next hour, the overs to be deducted for time lost (in hrs: mins) is as per the table
below. After 3pm, the game is a reduced Overs (win/lose) match, based on total time lost
excluding the 30 mins. grace. The new deductions are designed so that in the event of rain,
no match should finish later than 7.30pm.
Time lost
0:01-0:03
0:04-0:07
0:08-0:10
0:11-0:15
0:16-0:18
0:19-0:22
0:23-0:25
0:26-0:30
2.1
Overs
lost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Time lost
0:31-0:33
0:34-0:37
0:38-0:40
0:41-0:45
0:46-0:48
0:49-0:52
0:53-0:55
0:56-1:00
Overs
lost
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Time lost
1:01-1:15
1:16-1:30
1:31-1:45
1:46-2:00
2:01-2:15
2:16-2:30
2:31+
Overs
Game
30
28
26
24
22
20
Abandoned
Variable Run Rate. In the event of the number of Overs being reduced for the second
innings, the target score (to win outright) is set by applying the Variable Run Rate Calculator,
using the below formula (available to download to Smartphones, for easy calculation):
Worked Example: 1st Innings – 40 Overs batted, 200 scored, Run Rate 5.00.
2nd Inns
Overs Avail.
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
Required
Run Rate
5.06
5.12
5.18
5.24
5.30
5.36
5.42
5.48
Target
Score
198
195
192
189
186
183
179
176
2nd Inns
Overs Avail.
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
Required
Run Rate
5.54
5.60
5.66
5.72
5.78
5.84
5.90
5.96
Target
Score
172
169
165
161
157
152
148
144
3
Fielding restrictions (Knockout Phase matches only)
Power play fielding restrictions with 30 yard circle required.
3.1
For the first 8 overs of each innings only 2 fielders are permitted to be outside the circle.
3.2
For the remaining overs of each innings only 5 fielders are permitted to be outside the circle.
3.3
If the number of overs of the batting team is reduced, the number of Fielding Restriction
Overs shall be reduced and will apply to both innings:
Available
39-35
34-30
Restriction
7
6
Available
29-25
24-20
Restriction
5
4
4
Bowling and Batting restrictions
4.1.1
ECB Fast Bowling Match Directives apply to young cricketers and the number of overs they
can bowl in one spell are to be rigorously enforced in all MDL fixtures.
The maximum overs per spell and day for each age group are given in the following table:
Age
Up to U13
U14 – U15
U16 – U19
[U20 – U21]
Max. overs per spell
5
6
7
[7]
Max. overs per day
10
12
18
[18]
For the purpose of these Directives a fast bowler is defined as a bowler to whom a wicket
keeper in the same age group would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball.
Once a bowler covered by these Directives has bowled in a match he cannot exceed the
maximum number overs per day for his age group even if he subsequently bowls spin.
Captains, Managers and Umpires are to ensure these Directives are followed at all times.
For guidance it is recommended that in any 7 day period a fast bowler should not bowl more
than 4 days in that period and for a maximum of 2 days in a row.
4.1.2
Bowling Over 21s: in the MDL, spell & overs per day restrictions will also apply to ALL Over
21 bowlers, regardless of bowling action (see table below).
Age
Max. overs per spell
Overseas/Over 21 5
Max. overs per day
5
4.1.3
Bowling Knockout Phase: U21 Bowlers may bowl a maximum of 8 overs or, if the total
number of overs is reduced, no bowler may bowl more than one-fifth of the overs.
4.2.1
Batting Over 21s (retirement): when an Overseas/Over 21 batsman reaches or passes a
personal total of 50 they retire, and may NOT return on departure of the eleventh batsman.
4.2.2
Batting Over 21s (order): no more than two Overseas/Over 21s players may bat in the top 6
in the batting order.
5
Result and Points System (Group Stage)
5.1
Matchdays 1-6: the points for the Middlesex Development League are:
10
10
5
Win
Conceded Win
Tie (scores finish level)
4
3
1
Winning Draw (faster run rate)
Even Draw (equal run rate)
Losing Draw (slower run rate)
1
1
Abandoned – weather
Cancelled – weather
0
0
Loss
Conceded Loss.
5.2
In the event of rain and the side in the 1st innings batting for longer than the side in the 2nd
innings, the target score shall be decided by Variable Run Rate (see Playing Rule 2.1).
5.3.1
If teams finish tied on points in their Group, teams will be placed according to the following
tie-breakers, in order: Fair Play Points; Head-to-head result; Wins; Conceded Wins; Ties;
Winning Draws; Net Run Rate.
6
Free Hit after a foot-fault no ball (Matchday 6 and Knockout Phase only)
The delivery following a No Ball called for a foot fault shall be a free hit for whichever
batsman is facing it. If the delivery for the free hit is not a legitimate delivery (any kind of No
Ball or Wide), then the next delivery shall become a free hit for whichever batsman is facing
it. For any free hit, the striker can be dismissed only under the circumstances that apply for a
No Ball, even if the delivery for the free hit is called Wide.
7
Wide Ball (Matchday 6 and Knockout Phase only): Leg-side wides should be adopted.
8
Bouncers: 1 per over above shoulder height. All balls above head height will be called No Ball.
9
Full-pitched balls: Any full-pitched ball (regardless of pace) which would have passed above
waist height of the striker standing upright at the crease shall be called No Ball.
10
Tea: is scheduled to take up to a maximum of 30 minutes, taking place between innings,
unless inclement weather dictates otherwise. In the event of an innings finishing early, tea is
still to be taken between innings. The home side is to supply and pay for teas.
11
Lateness, the toss and penalty runs
Both Captains are to be present for the toss, carried out with the umpires at 1pm. If a
Captain is not present by 1.15pm, the toss will be awarded to the Captain present.
If one team is late to take the field at the start of play, the neutral umpire adds penalty runs
to the side present’s batting total, as follows:
1-5 minutes late
6-10 minutes late
11-15 minutes late
16-20 minutes late
5 runs
10 runs
15 runs
20 runs
21-25 minutes late
26-30 minutes late
31+ minutes late
25 runs
30 runs
Match forfeited
12
Drinks: will be provided by the home side after 20 overs of each innings and should not be
the subject of pre-match agreement, unless there is a risk to players’ health & safety.
13
Ties (Matchday 6 and Knockout Phase only): a Super Over shall be played until a winner is
found. Only (resident) Under 21s may bat or bowl.
FINALS DAY
14
Costs: of balls, stumps, umpires and teas will be supplied and paid for directly by Middlesex
Cricket for Finals Day. Clubs will still be expected to bring a scorer.
15
Trophies & medals: will be supplied by Middlesex Cricket. It will be the responsibility of the
previous year’s winning clubs to arrange and pay for engraving the club’s name on the
Trophy and Shield and for its return to the organisers a minimum 28 days prior to Finals Day.