Please note: Regulations for the 2021-22 season are subject to change in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
CRI i The BUCS Cricket Championships shall be conducted in accordance with the following BUCS sport specific regulations, the BUCS general regulations, and the MCC Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 2nd Edition – 2019), together with any permanent or experimental conditions approved by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the recreational game.
CRI ii In the event that these regulations contradict the BUCS general regulations, these BUCS sport specific regulations will supersede, unless specifically stated otherwise.
CRI iii In the event that these regulations contradict the MCC Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 2nd Edition – 2019) or any permanent or experimental conditions approved by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the recreational game, these BUCS sport specific regulations will supersede, unless specifically stated otherwise.
CRI 1 There shall be separate Team Championships for Men and Women. The programme for each Championships shall include leagues and knockout competitions as per BUCS general regulations, Appendix 1 (‘BUCS Competition Offer and Associated BUCS Points’) and Appendix 10 (‘BUCS Promotion, Relegation and Knockout Information’).
CRI 1.1 Women playing in men’s teams
CRI 1.1.1 Women may play for either men’s or women’s teams, however once an individual is selected (listed on a team sheet) for a team in a specific Championships (Men's or Women's) they may not then compete for a team in the other Championships for the remainder of the season.
CRI 1.1.2 Up to a maximum of four women are permitted in a team of 11.
CRI 2 University Centres of Cricketing Excellence (UCCEs)
CRI 2.1 The University Centres of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE) scheme is an initiative of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). BUCS’s (formerly BUSA) General Council agreed in June 2000 that the UCCEs would compete in the BUCS Men’s/Women’s Team Championships. This included allowing those which constituted of multiple institutions to field joint teams, i.e. a single team would represent the UCCE regardless that players within that team may come from different institutions in membership of BUCS.
CRI 2.2 Individual institutions involved in the UCCE scheme will be permitted, should they so wish, to enter other men’s/women’s teams to represent their institution, with the first of these being designated as their 1st Team. These teams may only comprise players eligible under BUCS regulations to represent that individual institution. These additional teams will always play at a level of the Championships below that of the UCCE team. The fixtures of the UCCE team will always take priority.
CRI 2.3 Subject to BUCS General Regulations concerning the selection of teams (note REG 11.1), the selection of teams within institutions that are constituent parts of a UCCE shall be a matter for those institutions with the following exception. Each of the UCCE teams must supply BUCS with the names of three players, who, as their better players, will not be permitted to play at a level below that of the UCCE team regardless of circumstance. This form must be submitted and received by BUCS no later than the date published in the BUCS Sport Specific Affiliations Document.
CRI 2.4 CRI 2.2–CRI 2.3 will also apply to any non-UCCE institutions that have been granted permission by the BUCS Cricket Sports Advisory Group to field a joint team and who then choose to enter other teams within the Men’s/Women’s Team Championships.
CRI 3 Minimum number of players for a fixture to start A match shall be able to commence if one or both sides nominate eight, nine or ten players. A match shall not commence if either team is unable to nominate at least eight players. If, during the match and for whatever reason, a side is reduced to fewer than the original number of nominated players, the match shall continue as long as it is possible to do so under these regulations and the MCC Laws of Cricket.
CRI 4 Officials
CRI 4.1 For all Men’s National and North/South league matches, Men's Championship and Trophy Semi-Final matches, the Men’s North/South playoff match and the Men’s National Playoff match, umpires will be appointed by the ECB Regional Appointment Officers or Cricket Scotland and all appointments detailed on www.whostheumpire.com (WTU). Institutions/Playing Entities must ensure that they are signed up to WTU in order to access appointments details and to communicate with officials, including advising them of timings and venue.
CRI 4.1.1 Payment of officials is the responsibility of the home team and follows the below procedure:
- Host teams communicate directly with the appointed umpires to confirm fixture details and provide the umpires with the BUCS Cricket Umpire Reimbursement Pro Forma.
- Umpires complete the reimbursement pro forma and present it to the host team for payment before the fixture commences.
- To enable teams to budget, the rate for umpires will be a set rate with no additional travel allowance.
Men’s National, Championship Semi Final, North/South Playoff and National Playoff – £50.00 per match per umpire
Men’s North/South and Trophy Semi-Final – £40.00 per match per umpire*
*This is based on the standard flat rate plus the average travel costs incurred over previous BUCS seasons.
CANCELLED/POSTPONED FIXTURES: In accordance with ECB guidelines – In the event a game is not completed, and an umpire has either commenced or completed their journey to the ground, the umpire will be reimbursed as above.
CRI 4.1.2 Should any Men’s National league match, Men’s North/South league match, Men’s Championship or Trophy Semi-Final match, the Men’s North/South playoff match or the Men’s National Playoff match be postponed/rearranged, then the home side shall be responsible for the appointment of both umpires. The home side should however liaise with the ECB Regional Appointment Officers or Cricket Scotland who will do their best to assist with these appointments.
CRI 4.2 For all Women’s North/South, Women’s Tier 1, and Men’s Tier 1 and below league matches, Women’s Playoff matches, and Women’s Championship Semi-Final matches, the home side is responsible for the appointment of both umpires. For Women’s North/South, Women’s Tier 1, Men’s Tier 1, and Women’s Championship Semi-Final matches, both umpires must be qualified members of an officials’ association recognised by the England and Wales Cricket Board Ltd. For all Tier 2 and below league matches it is a requirement that at least one umpire be a qualified member of an officials’ association recognised by the England and Wales Cricket Board Ltd.
CRI 4.3 Umpires for the Men’s and Women’s Championship Finals and the Men’s Trophy Final shall be appointed by the ECB and BUCS shall be responsible for payment of the officials.
CRI 4.3.1 Should the Men’s Trophy Final need to be postponed/rearranged, then the home side shall be responsible for the appointment of both umpires. The home side should however liaise with the ECB Regional Appointment Officers or Cricket Scotland who will do their best to assist with these appointments.
CRI 4.4 In all matches, each side shall be responsible for supplying its own scorer. In the Men’s National, North and South leagues, any side not supplying a scorer, who shall not be a player in the match, will be fined £30.
CRI 5 Balls The home team shall provide two new identical balls for all matches. The requirements of these balls are as follows:
CRI 5.1 Men's National league and Championship knockout competition matches The Kookaburra Pink Turf Ball shall be used.
CRI 5.2 Men's North/South league and Trophy knockout competition matches Grade A standard and English manufactured pink balls shall be used, unless agreed with the opposition to use red balls. BUCS recommends the Oxbridge Windsor Ball.
CRI 5.3 Men's Tier 1 and below league matches Grade A standard and English manufactured red balls shall be used, unless agreed with the opposition to use pink balls. BUCS recommends the Oxbridge Windsor Ball.
CRI 5.4 Women's North/South league and Championship knockout competition matches Grade A standard and English manufactured pink balls shall be used, unless agreed with the opposition to use red balls. BUCS recommends the Oxbridge Kensington Ball.
CRI 5.5 Women's Tier 1 league matches Grade A standard and English manufactured red balls shall be used, unless agreed with the opposition to use pink balls. BUCS recommends the Oxbridge Kensington Ball.
CRI 6 Clothing
CRI 6.1 Men's National league and Championship knockout competition matches Teams shall wear coloured clothing.
CRI 6.2 Men's North/South league and Trophy knockout competition matches All teams are strongly encouraged to play in coloured clothing although this is not mandatory, but all players within the team must be in the same kit. Coloured tops and white trousers, white tops and coloured trousers, or traditional whites are acceptable.
CRI 6.3 Men's Tier 1 and below league matches Teams shall wear whites unless agreed in writing with the opposition to wear coloured clothing.
CRI 6.4 Women's North/South league and Championship knockout competition matches All teams are strongly encouraged to play in coloured clothing although this is not mandatory, but all players within the team must be in the same kit. Coloured tops and white trousers, white tops and coloured trousers, or traditional whites are acceptable.
CRI 6.5 Women's Tier 1 league matches Teams shall wear whites, unless agreed in writing with the opposition to wear coloured clothing.
CRI 7 Wearing of helmets by young players No player aged under 18 on the day of the match shall be permitted to bat or to stand up whilst keeping wicket unless wearing a helmet. Please note: REG 4.1.2 must be complied with.
CRI 8 Ground and pitch conditions
CRI 8.1 Men's North/South league matches, Men’s Tier 1 and below league matches, Women’s Premier Tier matches, and Women’s Tier 1 matches Matches can be played on grass (turf) or artificial (non-turf) pitches. It is the responsibility of the first named (home) team when confirming the fixture (note REG 9.5) to advise the opposition team and all match officials of the playing surface and on any footwear restrictions and the type of surface to be used (note REG 9.3.3).
CRI 8.2 Men’s National league matches, the Men’s Championship Semi-Finals and Final, the Men’s North/South Playoff match, the Men’s National Playoff match, the Men’s Trophy Semi-Final and Final, and the Women’s Championship Semi-Finals and Final Artificial (non-turf) pitches may be used if available but only if the umpires and both captains agree that, as a result of inclement weather, no grass (turf) pitch would be playable but that conditions are otherwise acceptable.
CRI 8.3 Additional requirements for Men’s National league matches, the Men’s Championship Semi-Finals and Final, the Men’s North/South Playoff match, the Men’s National Playoff match, and the Men’s Trophy Final
CRI 8.3.1 Pitches must be of good quality. Umpires are to complete the ECB Pitch and Fair Play form on 'Who's the Umpire' after each match, which is completed against the ECB Pitch Marking Criteria. Any pitch marked poor or unsuitable will be investigated by BUCS who reserve the right to request reversed venues in further rounds should pitches receive two or more marks of these low level.
CRI 8.3.2 Sufficient ground staff (or equivalent) must be available on match days to provide the following duties: a) operate covers, b) roll between innings (if requested) and c) brush and remark pitch between innings.
CRI 8.3.3 Suitable sightscreens should be available.
CRI 8.3.4 There should be provision of sawdust.
CRI 9 Covers Should covers be available the pitch shall be completely covered during any interval or interruption of play. For all Men’s National and North/South league matches, Men's Championship and Trophy Semi-Final and Final matches, the Men’s North/South playoff match and the Men’s National Playoff match it is a requirement that covers be available.
CRI 10 Hospitality For the Men’s National League, the Men’s Championship Semi-Finals, the Men’s Trophy Semi-Finals, the Men’s North/South Playoff match, the Men’s National Playoff match, and the Women’s Championship Semi-Finals, the home team is required to provide hospitality (cricket teas) for its opponents and officials (minimum 12 opposition players plus manager/coach, two umpires and two scorers) free of charge. The home team should notify its opponents in writing prior to the match if hospitality will not be made available. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary proceedings.
CRI 11 Adverse weather and COVID-19 situation for league fixtures
CRI 11.1 Men’s National league fixtures
CRI 11.1.1 In the event that a match is called off up to and including the day of the match, before a ball is bowled, due to adverse weather conditions or one of the COVID-19 related reasons listed in REG 14.1.1, both teams will be awarded one league point each.
CRI 11.1.2 In the event that a match which has started is abandoned due to adverse weather conditions before the minimum number of overs (as per CRI 19) are bowled to obtain a result using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method (DLS) (note CRI 13 for the version to be used), then both teams shall be awarded one league point each.
CRI 11.1.3 Matches which fall under CRI 11.1.1/CRI 11.1.2 should be recorded on BUCS Play as 'Abandoned' and an email should be sent to [email protected] confirming why the fixture was 'Abandoned' and requesting the allocation of one league point to each team.
CRI 11.2 All other Men’s and Women’s league fixtures
CRI 11.2.1 In the event that a match is called off up to and including the day of the match, before a ball is bowled, due to adverse weather conditions or one of the COVID-19 related reasons listed in REG 14.1.1, then institutions/Playing Entities should rearrange fixtures according to REG 14. If a match does not start, is not rearranged, and no walkover is claimed/conceded, then the match will be deemed void and both teams shall receive zero league points.
CRI 11.2.2 In the event that a match which has started is abandoned due to adverse weather before the minimum number of overs (as per CRI 19) are bowled to obtain a result using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method (DLS) (note CRI 13 for the version to be used), and cannot be rearranged, then both teams shall be awarded one league point each.
CRI 11.2.3 Matches which under CRI 11.2.2 cannot be rearranged should be recorded on BUCS Play as 'Abandoned' and an email should be sent to [email protected] confirming why the fixture was 'Abandoned' and requesting the allocation of one league point to each team.
CRI 12 Adverse weather and COVID-19 situation for knockout and playoff fixtures
CRI 12.1 For all fixtures a reserve day will be scheduled. If the match cannot be played on the scheduled date due to adverse weather conditions or one of the COVID-19 related reasons listed in REG 14.1.1, then it must be played on the advertised wet weather reserve day unless both institutions/Playing Entities agree with the BUCS Executive that an alternate date is suitable. Should a result not be achieved from the rearranged match a bowl out shall be undertaken (see CRI 27).
CRI 12.2 Where it is absolutely certain on a reserve day that there will be no play, or insufficient play to obtain a result under these regulations and that a bowl out will be required, if the home side advises the visiting side in sufficient time to prevent travel and if the visiting side accepts that there is no prospect of sufficient play, then the visiting side may opt not to travel. In these circumstances, both teams would be required to have a qualified umpire present to oversee the bowl out in two separate locations with the two teams concerned.
CRI 13 Use of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method (DLS)
CRI 13.1 The Standard Edition of the Duckworth-Lewis method (D/L) should be used and where applicable the G50 coefficient shall be 245. The Standard Edition of the Duckworth-Lewis method built in to the 'Result' section for each fixture on BUCS Play should be used. However, should this not be possible, then before the start of play the teams can agree on an alternative system to be used, such as Play-Cricket Scorer/PCS Pro, and inform the umpires of this and who will be responsible for any calculations. The home team is responsible for having a working computer/tablet/phone available to use for this purpose should it become necessary.
CRI 13.2 If a match is abandoned before the Close of Play and the minimum number of overs of the second innings (note CRI 19) have been bowled then the result shall be decided using the Standard Edition of the Duckworth-Lewis method (D/L).
CRI 13.3 If, due to suspension of play, the number of overs in the innings of either team had to be revised to a lesser number (note CRI 19 for the minimum number of overs permitted) than that originally allotted (note CRI 16), then a revised target score should be set for the number of overs which the team batting second will have the opportunity of facing. This target score shall be calculated using the Standard Edition of the Duckworth-Lewis method (D/L). An integral target will be set for the team batting second with one run less resulting in a Tie. If after the restart of play it is discovered that the wrong target has been set, the faulty target shall stand.
CRI 14 League points
CRI 14.1 Three points shall be awarded for a win, 1.5 points for a tie, one for an abandoned match (note CRI 11) and no points for a loss.
CRI 14.2 Where a walkover has been awarded/conceded (REG 13), three points shall be given to the non-offending team and three points deducted from the offending team.
CRI 14.3 No points will be awarded to either team in the case of a void fixture.
CRI 15 Calculating final league positions
CRI 15.1 Final league positions will be primarily based on league points accumulated. However, should there be any ties on points within a league, they shall be split by the following sequential system:
CRI 15.2 A team tied on points who has conceded at least one voluntary walkover shall automatically be placed below any other tied teams who have conceded fewer voluntary walkovers. If a tie still exists, then CRI 15.3 or CRI 15.4 shall be followed as applicable.
CRI 15.3 Tie between two teams
CRI 15.3.1 The result between the two teams will be the determining factor in placing one team above the other. Where this is not possible, e.g. That match was not played, was abandoned with no result able to be taken, or in the case of Women's Premier North/Premier South each team won one fixture (as they play both home and away in these leagues), then CRI 15.3.2 shall be used.
CRI 15.3.2 Where CRI 15.3.1 cannot be used to separate the teams, for whatever position in the league, the final standings for these teams shall be determined on Net Run Rate (NRR). Where a tie on points has been effected by any walkovers conceded to them or any void fixtures, all the relevant results against the team(s) which conceded the walkover(s) or the team(s) involved in the void fixtures (i.e. all the results between the teams tied on points and the team(s) conceding the walkover(s)/void match(es)) will be removed from the NRR comparison calculation for the purpose of determining league positions.
CRI 15.3.3 Where NRR is used, the higher placed team is the side with the higher net run rate as determined by the following formula:
Total runs scored MINUS Total runs conceded
Total overs faced Total overs bowled
An exception to this is that where a team is all out in less than its allotted number of overs (either the original number or revised number) it shall be deemed to have received its full allocation rather than the number it actually received. Where fractions of overs are involved, each legitimate ball bowled shall count as one sixth of an over.
CRI 15.4 Tie between three or more teams CRI 15.3.2 and CRI 15.3.3 shall be used.
