This newsletter gives a summary of the June committee meeting
Start times
To clear up confusion: The league rules say that games start at 2 p.m., but captains may agree on an earlier start. The handbook shows which teams would prefer an earlier start time. Teams cannot insist their games start at 1:30, if their opponents want a 2 p.m. start. Realistically therefore, you are only likely to get a 1:30 start if both teams show that as their preference. Even then, skippers must agree beforehand. So if the skippers do not speak to each other beforehand, 2 pm is the start time. In Division 1 appointed umpires need also to be consulted.
Incomplete Scorecards
We are seeing a few very incomplete scorecards. If there is a scorecard on play-cricket with only players from one of the teams named, or batting scores and bowling figures for only one team, the home team has not been doing its job (whoever filled in the scorecard up to that point). The home team must ensure it has players names for the away team, and scorecard details for both teams, and get these put up on play-cricket.
Cash flow
To ease financial pressures on clubs the league is running down its reserves deliberately. Currently they stand at about £7,000. But we have bills of over £16,000 to pay in the close season, so we will be asking clubs for much more of the annual cost (e.g. affiliation fees, balls, dinner) to be paid up front in October / November - details are to be confirmed and will be notified to clubs in ample time before the AGM that will be asked to approve the changes.
How are the new balls?
Let your divisional reps (e-mail addresses in the handbook) know what you think about the new balls. For
next season do you think you will prefer
(a) As we are now
(b) Revert to cheaper balls, as we were last season - costs will go down
(c) Use 2 cheaper balls per game in lower divisions
etc.
Pitch etc markings
The new form has given increased chance for clubs to praise good things
and tell us about poor things. There have been a very healthy crop of
4's and 5's for pitches, outfields, facilities and teas. There have been
a few marks of 1 and 2 and the committee will study these to identify real
issues that must be sorted. Lists of marks for the first 6 games of the season will shortly be displayed on the web.
On the same theme, committee members will be filling in a report on all
grounds they visit during the season (you can see the form here) to
check the facilities against the league criteria.
Groundsmanship courses
In the last newsletter we announced we might have a mid-season workshop. This has not proved to be possible, but we do hope to run a course on autumn renovation.
League points adjustments
The committee confirmed points deductions for failure to attend umpire training for Cinderford, Tetbury, Nine Elms and Gladiators. The committee also confirmed points awarded for the Frampton (0) v Cirencester (20) game of June 6th.