ESCA Under 14 (Year 9) Inspiresport Cup

The rules

  1. The Competition is called “Inspiresport U15 One Day Cup” and is administered by ESCA.
  2. Entry is open to all schools.
  3. The Competition will be played each year in two phases.  In the first phase a competition within each county will be played between pupils who are under fourteen years at midnight on the previous 31st August.  The pupils must be on the school roll at the commencement of the County Competition.  This phase of the competition is called the COUNTY COMPETITION.  All rounds, including the final, must be completed by 30 September in the year of the County competition, so that County winners can be passed on to the National Draw.
  4. In the second year, a competition will be played between County winners of the previous year and be open to pupils under fifteen years at midnight on the previous 31st August.  This phase of the competition will be known as the NATIONAL COMPETITION.  Counties that have not completed all rounds, including the final, in phase one will forfeit the opportunity to be represented in phase two, the National Competition.

Playing regulations

The Laws of Cricket (including the size of bat, ball and wicket, and length of pitch) will apply, with the following exceptions:-

  1. A team can consist of 12 players of whom 11 may bat and only 11 field at the same time.
  2. The length of the innings shall be 40 overs (fewer by arrangement IF NECESSARY).
  3. No Player may bowl more than 8 overs (reduced proportionately for reduced over matches).
  4. If a bowler breaks down, the remaining balls will be bowled by another bowler.   Such part of an over will count as a full over when working out each bowler’s limit.
  5. The side which scores the most runs shall be the winner.
  6. If the scores are level the teams shall compete in a one over per side eliminator to determine the winner.
    1. The team batting second in the match will bat first in the one over eliminator.
    2. The loss of two wickets in an over ends the team’s one over innings.
    3. In the event of the teams having the same score after the one over per side eliminator being completed the process will be repeated until a winner is decided.
    4. The side that scores the most runs will be the winner.
  7. If the start is delayed by rain, overs will not be deducted until one hour after the scheduled start. From that time they will be reduced at the rate of one over per further 3 ½ minutes lost to a minimum of ten overs per side remaining. 
  8. If rain interrupts play, overs will be reduced at the rate of one over per 3 ½ minutes lost from the time of the interruption, unless such an interruption occurs in the first hour.  Should the interruption occur in the first hour then regulation 7. will apply. 
  9. If rain curtails a match, the following rules will be applied:
    1. If the stoppage occurs during the first innings overs will be reduced to enable both teams the opportunity to face the same number of overs (ensuring this is a minimum of 10 overs for each innings)
    2. If the stoppage occurs during the second innings, overs can be reduced accordingly to ensure a result is obtained
    3. If the number of overs for the team batting second has to be reduced to fewer than the number of overs allocated to the team batting first, then the target score shall be reduced according to the innings run rate of the team that batted first
    4. If a minimum of 10 overs per innings cannot be achieved a bowl-out will be organised.  In the last resort the captains will toss a coin to decide the winner.

Bowl-Out Regulations

  1. Team shall consist of 6 players.
  2. A toss will be taken.  Winner of the toss may choose to bowl first or second.
  3. All players shall bowl at 3 stumps from a distance of 22 yards.
  4. The ball shall not bounce more than twice to be a legitimate delivery.
  5. A ball which hits the side or top netting (indoors) shall be called a no-ball, but no extra ball shall be bowled.
  6. The winning team shall be the one which scores most hits in 6 balls.
  7. If after both teams have bowled the scores are level, then bowling will continue alternatively as a sudden death situation.

10. In the National Final, if both sides have agreed to ignore the regulations regarding a rain affected match, then should the game be rained off the trophy will be shared.  There will not be a re-arranged final.

11. The decision of the Executive Committee is final in regard to any disputes or infringement of the rules.

Note:  The ESCA regulations concerning CLOSE FIELDERS will apply in all matches.  The ECB regulations regarding the use of helmets for batsmen and wicketkeepers will be adhered to.