The Hamilton Cricket Association By Laws
1. Definitions
For the purpose of these By Laws:
(a) “The Association” means the Hamilton Cricket Association Incorporated.
(b) “The Board” means the management of Hamilton Cricket.
(c) “Club or Clubs” means any club affiliated to the Association.
(d) “Higher representative match” means any match in which a player is representing
District or Major Association or New Zealand (whether age group or otherwise) but shall
not include a match where players are selected for an occupational group eg University or
Armed forces.
2. Laws of Cricket:
The 2000 Code of the Laws of Cricket (including any revision) and the current New
Cricket First Class Playing Conditions shall apply to the association’s competitions
unless such laws or conditions are inconsistent with these by laws.
3. Entry and Grading of teams:
After each Annual meeting the board shall nominate a date by which all clubs wishing to
play shall notify in writing to the Association of the teams the club wish to enter and in
which grades. The board shall determine in which grade each team entered shall compete,
may divide any grade into sections, and may at any time vary the grading of any team and
the form of the competition. Furthermore the board may impose criteria and
responsibilities on clubs wishing to enter teams.
4. Qualification of players:
(a) The Board has the right to permit or decline any person to play within the jurisdiction
of the Association.
(b) No club shall permit any players to play for a team in any Association competition
until he has been registered as a member of that club.
(c) No player shall be eligible to play more than one game conducted by the Association
on the same day.
(d) No player shall be eligible to play in a club final if he has not played five (5) or more
playing days during the season in that grade, (rained off matches and 20/20 matches will
not count). This rule applies throughout the grades; however the board will reserve the
right to make allowances under extenuating circumstances.
5. Transfer of players:
(a) No player may play for two clubs during the same season without transferring from
one club to the other.
(b) Any player may transfer from one club to another during the course of any one season
on obtaining the consent of both clubs involved. Any transfer not receiving the consent of
both clubs shall be submitted in writing to the board for its decision. It shall be the
responsibility of the club to which the player is transferring to advise the Association of
the change or of the failure of the clubs to agree to the transfer.
(c) School pupils must obtain clearance from school in order to play club cricket. A copy
of a written clearance must be presented to the Association.
6. Substitutions:
(a) If a player has been selected to play in a higher representative match it shall be
permissible for him to be replaced for a club match or part of a club match and for his
replacement from another grade to be replaced but subject to the following conditions:
(i) If a player is not out at the end of the first days play no continuation of his innings is
allowed by the replacement player.
(ii) The name/s of the player/s to be replaced and the/their replacement/s are to be
provided to the opposition captain prior to the commencement of the days play.
(b) Notwithstanding condition 6 (a) premier teams shall be allowed to replace three
players on the second day of a two day match and five players may be replaced from any
other division.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in paragraphs (a) and (b), players may be substituted with
prior consent of both captains.
(d) Any member of a club who is selected for a higher representative match and who
declines selection in such a match shall obtain approval of the board before playing in
any club match in lieu of such a higher representative match.
(e) No replacements are permitted during any club final.
7. Player absence (late arrival/s)
Premier teams must name their eleven prior to the match commencing by providing their
team list to the official umpires or opposing captain should an official umpire not be
standing. On this basis any named player who arrives late may play an immediate part in
the game.
Senior A-C grades must notify the opposing captain of any shortfall in their numbers
prior to commencement of play. On this basis any player arriving late may play an
immediate role in the game.
It must be noted that:
(a) The late arrival has not played in any other HCA fixture on that day apart from acting
as a 12th man.
(b) The captain advises the opposing captain of any 12th man commencing play at the
start of the days play so that he may be replaced by a player arriving late.
8. Conduct of Matches:
The order of draw, points and playing times for matches shall be decided by the Board
before the commencement of each competition. The order in which teams meet shall be
decided by lot unless otherwise determined by the Board.
9. Grounds:
(a) All matches must take place on the grounds and pitches allocated to them. Where
grounds are affected by weather or other circumstances an HCA official may decide the
time of commencement and the ground at which matches shall be held.
(b) No match will be held on a ground which has been closed.
(c) If the majority of games in senior cricket are cancelled then all games are deemed
cancelled, however this rule only applies if all senior games are being played at the same
venue.
(d) Where no official umpires are present for a match and a dispute arises as to the
playing conditions, then any other official umpire or an official of the Association shall
determine if and when play shall take place. If neither is available then play shall take
place when both captains agree. The object is to play as much cricket as possible.
(e) The condition of all parks and changing sheds are the responsibility of those clubs
using the facilities. All parks and changing sheds are to be left in a tidy state using
rubbish receptacles provided. Facilities are to be left secure and locked at the end of the
days play. Failure to comply with this instruction will render teams liable for penalties as
imposed by the board.
10. Cessation of play:
Regardless of the agreed number of overs or hours of play all matches must cease by 7.00
pm normal time.
11. Score books:
Captains shall be responsible for the correctness of score books if an official umpire is
not standing.
12. Results:
All premier teams and Senior A must complete their score sheets and submit the original
copy to 72 Galloway Street at the completion of the days play. All other grades must
phone in their result no later than 12.00 pm on the Monday following the completion of
the match. In the event of a breach of this by law the board may impose any penalty it
sees fit.
13. Attire:
The dress for Premier; Senior A and Senior B must be authorised by the Association and
no other attire shall be acceptable.
14. Stumps:
Wooden stumps of the prescribed length shall be used in all games.
15. Balls:
All grades shall use four piece leather balls in accordance with the Associations ruling.
16. Lost balls:
In the event of play being delayed by reason of a lost ball, the match shall recommence
after three minutes at the request of either captain and no claim for lost time shall be
allowed.
17. Trees:
If during any match a ball struck by a batsman hits any part of a tree within the boundary
on the full, it shall be deemed a six, and if not on the full, it shall be deemed a four.
18. Covers:
Teams shall be responsible for covers as specified in the playing conditions and failure to
adhere to those specifications will result in fines and/or loss of points.
19. Disputes and Complaints:
In the case of any dispute or complaint from any club, umpire or board member
concerning these by laws or any match conducted by the Association, the required
procedure shall be as follows:
(a) The dispute or complaint shall be put in writing and shall clearly state all the facts.
(b) In the case of a dispute or complaint from a club it must be signed by any two officers
of that club.
(c) The dispute or complaint must be lodged with the secretary within three days of when
the matter actually occurred.
(d) The Association shall immediately send a copy of the dispute or complaint to the
other party.
(e) That party shall have the right to reply in writing to the Association within three days
of receiving notice from the Association.
(f) The board may impose any penalty it thinks fit including debarring a player, team or
club from participating in matches conducted by the Association for any length of time,
forfeiture of points whether for the match in question or otherwise, or a monetary fine.
(g) There shall be no right of appeal.
20. Right of delegation:
The powers or functions vested in the Board by these by laws may be delegated to any
person appointed by the Board.