Playing And Competition Rules Twenty 20 Internationals
The World Blind Cricket Council
Core Document 11
Ratified
Second Revision, Written Jan 2008
This document was written by:
Tim Guttridge for the World Blind Cricket Council
In this document He, His, Him, Player, Batsman Fielder, and Bowler all refer to both genders.
No individual will be excluded from any level of international competition due to Race, Religion, Gender or Age.
QUOTE FROM THE MCC LAWS OF CRICKET 2003
The Spirit of Cricket
“Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.
There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team's conduct firmly on the captain.
RESPONSIBILITY OF CAPTAINS
The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.
1. Players’ conduct
In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decisions of an
umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain, and instruct the latter to take action.
2. Fair and unfair play
According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play. The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.
The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:
■ Time wasting
■ Damaging the pitch
■ Dangerous or unfair bowling
■ Tampering with the ball
■ Any other action that they consider to be unfair
The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:
■ Your opponents
■ Your own captain and team
■ The role of the umpires
■ The game's traditional values
It is against the Spirit of the Game:
■ To dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or gesture
■ To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
■ To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:
(a) To appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
(b) To advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
(c) To seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by
harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise
Under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own
side
Violence:
■ There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.
Players. Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.”
PLAYING AND COMPETITION RULES TWENTY 20 INTERNATIONALS
CONTENTS
1. The Team And Players
2. Sight Classification
3. Identifying Classification On The Field Of Play
4. The Composition Of The Team
5. The Umpires
6. The Scorers
7. Twenty 20 Competition Rules
8. Twenty 20 Rules Of Play
9. Fielding Restrictions
10. The Substitutes And Runners
11. The Over
12. The Scoring And Penalty’s
13. The Catch
14. Dismissals
15. The Wide Ball
16. The No Ball
17. The Pitch
18. The Bat
19. The Ball
20. The Wickets
21. Protective Clothing
22. The Batsman
23. The Fielder
24. The Bowling And The Bowler
25. The Wicket Keeper
26. Player Eligibility To Play For Another Nation
1. THE TEAM AND PLAYERS
A match will be played between two teams of 11 players’, comprising:
A minimum of:
4 totally blind players (B1s)
3 partially blind players (B2s)
A maximum of:
4 partially sighted players (B3s)
2. SIGHT CLASSIFICATION
B1 Players
No light perception in either eye up to light perception, but inability to recognise shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction
B2 Players
From ability to recognise the shape of the hand up to a visual acuity of 2/60 or visual field of less than five degrees in the better eye after correction
B3 Players
From visual acuity above 2/60 up to visual acuity of 6/60 or a visual field of less than 20 degrees in better eye after correction.
3. IDENTIFYING CLASSIFICATION ON THE FIELD OF PLAY
B1 Players will be distinguished on the field of play by a white wrist band to be worn on the right wrist or by one white stripe on the right upper arm of the playing shirt.
B2 Players will be distinguished on the field of play by a red wrist band to be worn on the right wrist or by two white stripes on the right upper arm of the playing shirt.
B3 Players will be distinguished on the field of play by a blue wrist band to be worn on the right wrist or by three white stripes on the right upper arm of the playing shirt.
4. THE COMPOSITION OF THE TEAM
4.1 Team sheets must be handed to the umpires immediately before the toss.no later than thirty minutes before the start of play and must include the following information:
4.1.1 The team of 11 players including their sight category.
4.1.2 A 12th man from each sight category.
4.1.3 A list of runners.
4.2 Batting order: In every cycle of three in a batting order, one player from each category is to be played.
5. THE UMPIRES
5.1 The organisers will arrange for umpires that are acceptable to the participating teams. A match will have to be officiated by two umpires and a match referee. The umpires and referee will have to be well versed with the Current MCC laws of cricket and also with the WBCC Twenty 20 International playing rules.
5.2 Officiating umpires must audibly call the number of runs scored after each scoring shot or sundries scored. This is in conjunction with the visual signals they make to the scorers.
6. THE SCORERS
The organisers will arrange for the scorers for the match. However a representative of both the teams participating in the match will be required to assist the scorer to identify the players and help keep the score.
7. TWENTY 20 COMPETITION RULES
7.1 The format of any competition will always depend on the number of teams participating.7.2 THE GROUP OR ROUND ROBIN STAGE
For any group or round robin stage of competition the following will apply:
7.2.1 POINTS AWARDED
2 Points for a win
1 Point for a draw or tie
7.2.2 BONUS POINTS
1 Batting Point for any team exceeding 200 runs win or lose
1 Bowling Point for any team taking 6 wickets or more win or lose
7.2.3 Any game not played for any reason will result in the game being declared a tie and both teams will be awarded 1 point each.
7.2.4 if the teams are level at the end of the game then wickets lost will decide the game. If the teams are still level then the game will be declared a draw and both teams will receive 1 point each.
7.2.5 POINTS TABLE
The finishing place of any team in the points table will be as follows:
Number of points
Then:
Wins against the team you are level with
Then:
Runs scored
Then
Wickets lost
7.2.6 The top 4 teams from any group stage will meet in 2 semi finals
Team 1 will always play Team 3
Team 2 will always play team 4
7.2.7 FINALS DAY
Finals day will consist of the two semi finals and the final
7.2.8 There will always be a reserve day for Finals Day
7.3 THE SEMI FINALS AND FINAL
If teams are level at the end of play the following will apply:
Wickets lost
Then:
Wins against your opponent in the earlier stage of competition
If teams are still level then a bowl out will apply
7.4 THE BOWL OUT
7.4.1 Each team will pick 5 bowlers from the 11 on the field at the end of play at least 1 must be a B1 player
7.4.2 Each team will bowl 5 balls alternately
7.4.3 A coin will be tossed to decide which team will bowl first
7.4.4 If the teams are still level then sudden death will apply players must bowl in the same order that was decided at the start of the bowl out
8. TWENTY 20 RULES OF PLAY
8.1 A Twenty 20 match will be of 20 over’s a side with duration of One hour and 30 minutes per side with no drink breaks.8.2 The umpires may add time to the innings at their discretion. (injury or any other delay they feel appropriate)
8.3 There will be a 10 minute break between innings
8.4 The team batting first shall bat their full quota of over’s, even if they are out of time. The team batting second will also bat their full quota of over’s, unless at the due time for the match to finish the team batting second has exceeded a winning score once penalty runs have been added. No penalty runs will be added to the score of the team batting second until allocated time for the innings has been reached.
8.5 For a match to be valid it shall have to be a minimum of 5 over’s a side.
8.6 If the team batting first has completed its innings and the match has to be stopped while the second team is still batting, then the match shall be valid only if second team has batted for at least 5 over’s.
8.7 The comparative scores of both teams till the stage the team batting second has played will be considered. The team with the better score will be the winner. If the scores are still level, then the wickets lost will decide the match. If the teams are still level then the match will be declared a draw.
8.8 When calculating after a delayed start or interruption due to adverse weather conditions, 1 over shall be lost for every 4 and a half minutes lost.
9. FIELDING RESTRICTIONS
9.1 For the first 6 over’s of each innings only 2 fielders shall be allowed to field outside the inner cercal.9.1.2 In shortened games, the table below shows fielding restrictions for 8.1
5 to 6 over’s 1 over restriction
7 to 9 over’s 2 over restriction
10 to 13 over’s 3 over restriction
14 to 16 over’s 4 over restriction
17 to 19 over’s 5 over restriction
20 over’s 6 over restriction
9.2 For the remainder of the innings a maximum of 5 fielders shall be allowed to field outside the inner circle.
9.3 At the instant of delivery, no more than 5 fielders are permitted on the leg side.
10. THE SUBSTITUTES AND RUNNERS
10.1 A B1 batsman shall have a runner and a B2 batsman has the option of a runner. However, a batsman who has opted for a runner cannot act as runner for another batsman.10.2 A runner is allowed to be changed only if all the other players are out.
10.3 Any nominated runner can run for as many batsmen as the Captain chooses.
10.4 When a batsman is at the striker’s end his runner must not stand closer than ten feet measured from middle stump. Broken white line markings shall be drawn to make an area which measures ten feet from the middle stump on both leg side and off side. This line is so marked to indicate that any runner for a batsman must stand beyond this line.
10.5 The fielding captain may ask the runner to stand on the other side of the pitch if necessary.
10.6 If a B1 fielder goes off the field, he can be substituted only by a B1 fielder.
10.7 A B2 fielder can be substituted by a B2 or a B1 fielder.
10.8 A B3 fielder can be substituted by a B1/B2 or a B3 fielder.
10.9 A fielder who goes off the field, on his return can bowl only after he has been on the field for the number of over’s he had been off the field.
11. THE OVER
An over would consist of six legitimate balls, excluding wide's and no balls.
12. THE SCORING AND PENALTY’S
12.1 All runs scored off the bat by a B1 batsman shall be doubled and will be credited to the batsman.12.2 No balls will have a penalty of two runs.
12.3 Foot fault no balls will have a penalty of 2 runs, plus what has been scored, there will also be a free hit.
12.4 On a free hit the batsman cannot be out unless they are run out.
12.5 The umpire can impose a 5 run penalty for time wasting by the batsman.
12.6 Timed Out:
12.6.1 Any Incoming batsman that do not have a runner must be in position to take guard or for their partner to be ready to receive the next ball 1 minute 30 seconds after the fall of the last wicket. Failure to do so will result in the incoming batsman being given out by the umpire, Timed Out
12.6.2 Any Incoming batsman that require a runner must be in position to take guard or for their partner to be ready to receive the next ball 2 minute 30 seconds after the fall of the last wicket. Failure to do so will result in the incoming batsman being given out by the umpire, Timed Out
12.7 All sides are expected to be in position to bowl the first ball of the last of their 20 over’s within 1 hour 30 minutes playing time. In the event of them failing to do so the full quota of over’s will be completed, and the batting side will be credited with 10 runs for every whole B1 over that has not been bowled and 6 runs for every B2 And B3 Over not bowled in time. This will apply to both innings of the match. If the side batting second is credited with runs in this way and this consequently takes their score past that of the side batting first then the match shall be deemed to be won by the side batting second. All penalties in this regard will be imposed immediately the ball first becomes dead after the scheduled or re-scheduled cessation time for the innings.
13. THE CATCH
A “one bounce” catch by a B1 player will result in the batsman being given out.
14. DISMISSALS
A batsman can be out in all the ways as laid down in the Current MCC laws of cricket. The batsman can be given out if he is bowled, caught , lbw, stumped, run out, hit wicket, handling the ball, double hitting, obstructing the field, timed out. This does not apply to the free hit.
15. THE WIDE BALL
15.1 The Current MCC laws of cricket for a wide ball shall apply, that is:If the bowler bowls the ball so high over the wicket that, in the opinion of the umpire it passes out of reach of the striker, standing in a normal guard position, the umpire shall call and signal a wide ball as soon as it has passed the line of the striker’s wicket.
15.2 Balls bowled outside the wide ball lines shall be called a wide by the umpire.
15.3 If the bowler consistently bowls down the leg side then the umpire may call a wide at their discretion.
15.4 The umpire shall not adjudge a ball as being a wide if:
15.4.1 The striker, by moving from his guard position, causes the ball to pass out of his reach.
15.4.2 The striker moves and thus brings the ball within his reach.
16. THE NO BALL
16.1 Any no ball being called by the umpire, will result in 2 runs being added to the batting team.16.2 The bowling has to be underarm. At the point of delivery the arm has to be below the shoulder. Failure of this will result in a no ball being called.
16.3 The ball has to bounce once on either side of the mid pitch line before it reaches the batting crease. Failure to do so will result in a no ball being called.
16.4 If while bowling the ball bounces inside or on the popping crease then it results in a no ball being called.
16.5 If a bowler crosses the popping crease with his front foot at the point of delivery, a no ball will be called. This will also result in a free hit.
16.6 If the bowler delivers with both hands then it will result in a no ball being called.
16.7 The bowler has to say “ready?” to the batsman when he is set to bowl. To which the batsman has to respond by calling out “yes”. At the point of delivery the bowler must say “play”. Failure to do so will result in a no ball being called. A no ball will also be called if the call of “play”, is in the opinion of the umpire, early or late.
16.9 The bowler may not call the wicket keeper again for direction once the batsman has responded that he is ready, any calling by either bowler or wicket keeper after will result in a no ball being called.
16.10 No fielder shall dive, or lie down unless in the opinion of the umpire they are making a genuine attempt to field the ball. Violation of this rule or amendments to Law 41 (Current M.C.C laws of cricket) will result in a no ball being called.
16.11 If in the opinion of the umpire the bowler is deliberately taking more time between his saying “ready” and the actual delivery, with the view to confuse the batsman, then the umpire can decide to call a no ball.
16.12 If the delivery bowled by the bowler strikes a fielder before it has reached the batsman, then it will be called a no ball.
16.13 The bowler must notify the umpire as to whether he is going to bowl over the wicket or round the wicket and whether he is going to bowl with his left hand or right hand. The umpire must inform the batsman of the same. Failure of the bowler to notify the umpire would result in a no ball being called.
16.14 The umpire must inform the batsman if the bowler is bowling with or without a run up. In the case of a run up, the batsman should be informed of the length of the run up.
16,15 Any infringement of the Fielding Restrictions will result in a no ball being called by the umpire.
16.16 No fielder shall dive, or lie down unless in the opinion of the umpire they are making a genuine attempt to field the ball. Violation of this rule or amendments to Law 41 (Current MCC laws of cricket) will result in a no ball.
16.17 Both umpires may call a no ball.
17. THE PITCH
17.1 All Twenty 20 International matches will be played on a surface mutually agreeable to the participating teams. Preference of the WBCC is always turf or synthetic grass surfaces.17.2 The middle of the pitch has to be clearly marked with a full white line across.
17.3 Broken white line markings shall be drawn to make an area which measures ten feet from the middle stump on both leg side and off side. This line is so marked to indicate that any runner for a batsman must stand beyond this line.
17.4 The pitch is 22 yards long and 3 yards wide.
17.5 Wide ball markings are made at both ends of the pitch on either side of the wickets at a distance of 3 feet from Centre Stump.
17.6 The boundary shall be a minimum of 45 yards to a maximum of 55 yards measured from the centre stump in a complete half circle from each respective wicket and should be joined by parallel lines. Sufficient boundary markings should be made to help identify the boundaries. The boundary markings shall be made using a rope of one-inch thickness, or a painted white line with coloured boundary markers.
17.7 An Inner circle of 20 yards be measured from the centre stump in a complete half circle from each respective wicket and should be joined by parallel lines. These markings should be a full or broken white line.
18. THE BAT
The regular cricket bat to be used with standard specifications.19. THE BALL
The ball that is approved by the World Blind Cricket Council shall be used in all international matches.20. THE WICKETS
20.1 Each wicket shall consist of three wooden stumps or plastic, if the match is being played on an artificial surface. The colour of the stumps shall be fluorescent orange or yellow.20.2 Bails will not be used in international blind cricket.
21. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
21.1 Whilst fielding all fielders are permitted to wear Helmet with Visor as protective clothing.21.2 All runners are permitted to wear Batting Gloves, Helmet with Visor and Leg Guards as protection, even though the Batsman may not be wearing same.
21.3 The Batsman or Runner must wear any other protective clothing under their playing uniform.
22 THE BATSMAN
22.1 A batsman while facing is required to stand on his feet with his bat held in his hand. He is free to keep the bat aloft or to place it on the ground while he bends over it.22.2 The batsman is allowed to adapt his position once “play” is announced by the bowler.
23 THE FIELDER
23.1 No fielder shall dive, or lie down unless in the opinion of the umpire they are making a genuine attempt to field the ball. Violation of this rule or amendments to Law 41 (Current MCC laws of cricket) will result in a no ball.24 THE BOWLING AND THE BOWLER
24.1 40% of over’s bowled in a Twenty 20 game must be bowled by a B1 bowler.24.2 No bowler shall bowl more than 1/5th or 20% or the total number of stipulated over’s in the innings.
24.3 Where the total number of over’s in an innings is not divisible by 5 then the maximum number of over’s that can be bowled by a bowler shall be determined by dividing the total number of over’s by 5 and adding one over, to one or more of the B1 bowlers quota to make up the remaining over’s. For example, if the total number of over’s is 17, then 3 bowlers can bowl 3 over’s and 2 B1 bowlers can bowl 4.
24.4 In the event of a bowler being unable to complete an over, another bowler will bowl the remaining balls. The incomplete over shall be counted as an over when it comes to counting the number of over’s bowled by each of the bowlers who shared that particular over.
25. THE WICKET KEEPER
As Current MCC laws of cricket.26. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR ANOTHER NATION
26.1 All players must be a resident of the Country for Two Years and not played any International Cricket for any other Nation for the same period.26.2 If any player wishes to change, for a second time their eligibility to play for another Nation, the current ICC rules would take Precedence over WBCC rule.
26.3 All Players must notify WBCC executive of their wish to make a change,
the WBCC executive will then notify all member countries.