PAIRS FORMAT

Players: Two teams of 8/10 players

The pitch shall be 17 Yards for u11; 19 yards for u13

40m boundary

Game length: The game should last one innings of 16-20 overs per team.

BATTING

Each pair bats for four overs, with the coaches doing their bit to ensure players share the strike

If a player is given out five runs are added to the fielding teams score but they continue to bat

Batters swap ends at the end of each over

When a player is given out they swap the strike

Batters can be given out in the following ways - bowled, caught, run out, stumped and hit wicket • No Leg Before Wicket (LBW) unless the batter deliberately blocks the ball with their leg or foot

Once the four overs are done, the next pair take the field.

Once the 16/20 overs are complete and all three pairs have batted, the innings is over.

BOWLING

All players bowl two overs each, all from the same end.

Umpires should encourage players to bowl with a straight arm

Keep run-ups short to ensure a fast-paced match

There are only six deliveries per over

No balls and wides are not re-bowled apart from in the final over.

NO BALLS AND WIDES

No balls should be called if:

The ball bounces over head height when the batter is in their normal batting stance (bouncer)

The ball reaches the batter above waist height without bouncing (beamer)

The bowler oversteps the crease

The ball bounces 3 times before it gets to the crease

A wide is called if the ball goes either side of the wide markers at the batter’s crease. If the batter manages to hit it, the ball doesn’t count as wide. Players should be encouraged to only swing at wide deliveries if they feel they can score more than two runs – improving their judgment as well as their technique.

No balls and wides add two runs to the batting team’s score, but do not result in extra deliveries.

Extra deliveries are only re-bowled during the final over of each innings.

FREE HITS There are no free hits in pairs cricket regardless of age group.

T20 FORMAT

CO-VID INDUCED RULES.

5 overs will be bowled consecutively from one end, after which a sanitising break will take place.

Playing Conditions

The Laws of Cricket (2017 Code 2nd Edition - 2019) shall apply with the following exceptions:

1 In All Matches

1.1 The pitch shall be 17 Yards for u11; 19 yards for u13 and 22 yards for u15's & 17's

1.2 The ball shall weigh 4.75oz. for u11 and u13 and 5.5oz for u15's

1.4 Matches shall consist of one innings per side.

1.5 Each innings shall be a maximum of 20 overs in duration. A minimum of 5 overs per side will constitute a match.

1.6 No bowler shall bowl more than four overs in a match.

In matches of less than 20 overs a side the number of overs per bowler will be reduced pro rata.

1.6.1 The provisions requiring an equivalent number of overs from the same end to have elapsed before a subsequent spell can commence shall not apply (e.g. in any age group competition where a maximum of 4 overs per bowler is allowed these may be bowled at any time in the innings irrespective of the number of spells bowled).

1.7 IN A DIVISIONAL MATCH: When a batsman reaches or passes the personal total of (30 runs at u11 and u13 and 50 at U15's and 17's) they must ‘retire’ and will not be allowed to return (to be listed at ‘retired not out’ on the final scorecard, see 3.1.1). A batsman can continue their innings beyond 30/50 if their ‘retirement’ would end the innings before the agreed number of overs have been bowled.

1.7.1 IN A SHIELD/KNOCKOUT MATCH: There are no retirement restrictions

1.8 The team scoring the most runs in its innings shall be the winner.

1.9 Restrictions on the placement of Fieldsman

1.9.1 Two semi-circles shall be drawn on the field of play. The semi-circles shall have as their centre the middle stump at either end of the pitch. The radius of each of the semi-circles shall be (25 yards for u11 and u13's and 30 yards for u15's). The ends of each semi-circle shall be joined to the other by a straight line drawn on the field on the same side of the pitch. The field restriction area should be marked by painted white ‘dots’ at five-yard intervals, each ‘dot’ to be covered by a white plastic or rubber (but not metal) disc measuring seven inches in diameter.

1.9.2 At the instant of delivery, there may not be more than five fielders on the leg side.

1.9.3 For the duration of the innings only five fielders are permitted to be outside the field restriction marking at the instant of delivery.

1.9.4 In the event of an infringement of the above fielding restrictions, the umpire at the striker’s end shall call and signal ‘No Ball’.

1.10 Junior Fielding Restrictions

1.10.1 No young player in the Under 11 or 13 age group or younger shall be allowed to field closer than 11 yards (8 yards for u15) from the batsman’s position on the popping crease on a middle stump line, except behind the wicket on the off side, until the batsman has played at the ball. A fielder shall be allowed to move into the restricted area to make a catch or field the ball provided that they were outside the area when the stroke was made.

1.10.2 These minimum distances apply even if the player is wearing a helmet.

1.10.3 Should a young player in these age groups come within the restricted distance the umpire must stop the game immediately and instruct the fielder to move back.

3.In the event of the scores of each team being equal the winner shall be determined as follows:

3.1.1 The team which has taken the greater number of wickets. Batsmen that have retired will be declared ‘retired not out’ and therefore should not be included in total wickets lost.

3.1.2 If still equal, the side with the highest score at the end of 19 overs, if still equal, at the end of 18 overs, 17 overs, etc.

3.1.3 If still equal, 5 players shall be nominated to bowl alternately at the wickets from the bowler’s end and the team scoring the most hits shall be the winner. In the event of the number of hits being equal, the above 5 bowlers shall be nominated to bowl alternately in a sudden death bowl-out, until a winner has been achieved.

3.2 In the event of a rain curtailed match:

3.2.1 The match can be rearranged if, before the original game has been started, both sides can mutually agree a reserve date before the deadline date of that round.

3.2.2 Or, if weather permits, the winner shall be decided by bowl-out, as defined in 3.1.3 above.

3.2.3 Or, if a bowl-out is not possible, the winner shall be decided by the toss of a coin.

4. A player can only play for one team across the age groups. However, should the player's primary club not enter a team in a particular age group, the player may play for an alternative club.

Age group info:

A team shall consist of 11 players. At Under 15 & 17 , up to three of these may reach the age of 16 or 18 respectively, no later than 31^st August of the current year, none of these three players shall have played for a County Board or Regional squad (eg Wales, Gloucester, Gwent, East Wales etc) during the preceding and/or current season.

Girls may play one year below their actual age.

Fee Hits apply in the cup matches and can be decided by coaches in divisional matches