Umpiring and Scoring 2017: Summary Changes

There has been a lot of work done over the winter by the Leinster Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association to prepare for the coming season. The good news is that more umpires have been trained and it is hoped that a record number of matches will be covered by official umpires in 2017. There is still a way to go before all adult matches are covered, but progress is being made towards this objective every year. 

This year will also see a big push to increase the number of scorers. In part this is driven by the amendment to the requirement in the Playing Regulations that for Open Competitions D1 - D4 and equivalent Cups / T20s there must be a scorer nominated from each side who will fulfil that function throughout the match. The broader issue, however, is that scorers are in ever greater demand for representative fixtures and at the highest levels may be called upon to carry out a range of responsibilities including ensuring that Duckworth/Lewis calculations are available, producing output for Live Scores and submitting scorecards / match results to Cricket Leinster. 

The main changes being introduced this season are:

[a] a streamlined system for submitting umpires reports. The Captain’s Feedback Form is now submitted online and is required for all matches where there are official LCUSA umpires. There is a registration process for captains and all captains are advised to complete this part of the process before the start of the season. If you haven’t already been notified about how to do this you show contact kevindgallagher@gmail.com

for matches involving LCUSA umpires, the captains of the two teams will be notified as to who will be officiating on the Thursday each week. If for whatever reason the match is called off on or before the match day it is the responsibility of the home club to notify the LCU&SA by calling Peter Thew on 0863054164. Failure to do so will result in the full umpiring costs of the match having to be met by the home club. 

[c] changes to the playing regulations for OCD1 - OCD4 [and equivalent Cups and T20] matches mean that each club must nominate a scorer at the start of play. If a team does not have a scorer then one of the players will have to act as scorer for the day [see below],

[d] there are some changes in the interpretation of how the minimum overs to constitute a match are arrived at [see below] and 

[e] there are changes to the regulations regarding cricket balls [see below].

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Scorers Regulation applicable to D1-4 and Cups

New Regulation:

When team lists are exchanged, as per the Laws of Cricket, a scorer or scorers will also be nominated. If a team does not nominate a separate scorer, they must select a nominated player to act as scorer and play with one player less.

The player nominated as scorer shall fulfil that function throughout the match and will take no part in the match as a player. Should that player nominated to be scorer not be available for any portion of the match, a second nominated player shall replace him as scorer and will be treated as a player under the applicable “Fielder absent or leaving the field” regulations should they be in a position to act as a nominated player again

Principles

• a) The Laws say there should be two scorers
• b) Two scorers are need to make sure the game is scored properly. Even if it was not in the Laws, Cricket Leinster (and the LCU&SA) sets its aims high, and wants to do its best to make scores correct
• c) IACUS and CI are making it their aim to make sure there are more scorers. This is vital for the development of the sport in Ireland, and is needed to ensure there are enough scorers to fulfil our obligations. This is a vital cog in that process

Scenarios

1. The captain says that a scorer will be here ten minutes after the start. Can we not nominate a scorer?

• No. A scorer must be nominated before the toss. However, it is likely that if the scorer turns up within a short time of the start that the opposition captain would be asked to allow a change to the nominated team.

2. The captain says that a scorer will need to leave 30 minutes before the end (or will be missing for 30 minutes in the middle)

• A player must be nominated to replace them. In the second innings, that will sometimes be a batsman who has already batted. There is not much we can do about that. If the scorer returns then the player is treated as if they were off injured – so cannot bowl/bat for a period of time.

3. A captain nominates a scorer, but there is no one in attendance when the game starts. 

• The game will be stopped and the captain will need to nominate a player to act as scorer

4. You look up as see there is no scorer in attendance for a team. The captain replies that the scorer has had to take a break.

Common sense says we have to accept that. But if a scorer hasn’t appeared in ten minutes, then a player will have to be nominated

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Div 1-4 – Regulation 15.2 Minimum Overs to Constitute a Match

• The number of available overs may not fail below a total of 40 overs. If at any time, the umpires feel that the remaining overs cannot be completed (due to ground/weather/light conditions), the match shall be abandoned as null and void.

Previous Interpretation

• Reduce the overs to 20 in the second innings, but the game is not abandoned until the Umpires think there is not enough time given the GWL conditions to complete the overs

New Interpretation

• Once enough time elapses so that there are no more than 19 overs available in the second inning the match is abandoned

Why?

• Following discussion with members of the OCC
• In an attempt to keep consistency and equality across all matches
• To bring us in line with methodology in other regions and internationally

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The Cricket Ball

Changes to Regulations

• Divisions 1-4 and associated cups:
• For matches in Divisions 1-4, Senior, Senior 2, Alan Murray and Tillain Cups a new ball must be used in each innings unless there is an agreement otherwise as per law 5.3
• Other Divisions and associated cups Law 5.3 applies except that regarding the right of either captain to demand a new ball does not apply

Management at the Toss

• Captains must now provide the match balls for both innings at the toss
• In D1-4 etc if either team wishes to use an old ball then the agreement of the other captain must be obtained. If there is no agreement then a new ball must be used
• In other competitions there is no right of a captain to insist on a new ball being used
• There is still an onus on each captain to use a ball of suitable wear and good condition