Over Rates

Picture: Ray Spencer

34 OVERS & OVER RATE
First teams: No bowler may bowl more than 15 overs in an innings. If the start is delayed and overs are reduced, the maximum number of overs permitted per bowler will be adjusted as follows:

Second teams
Premier Division: No bowler may bowl more than 15 overs in an innings. If the start of a match is delayed and overs reduced, the maximum number of overs permitted per bowler is indicated above.
Championship One & Two: No bowler may bowl more than 14 overs.
Conference: No bowler may bowl more than 12 overs.

Over rates
All First Team division and Second Teams Premier Division, 50 overs MUST be bowled in 3hours 10 minutes (includes all breaks).
Championship One and Two Second teams: 45 overs in 2hours 51 minutes
Conference Second Teams: 40 overs in 2hrs 32mins
Captains and players must be made aware of and observe MCC Laws of Cricket 41.9 and 41.10 which are shown below.

41.9 Time wasting by the fielding side

41.9.1 It is unfair for any fielder to waste time.

41.9.2 If either umpire considers that the progress of an over is unnecessarily slow, or time is being wasted in any other way, by the captain of the fielding side or by any other fielder, at the first instance the umpire concerned shall

- if the ball is in play, call and signal Dead ball.

- inform the other umpire of what has occurred.

The bowler’s end umpire shall then

- warn the captain of the fielding side, indicating that this is a first and final warning.

- inform the batsmen of what has occurred.

41.9.3 If either umpire considers that there is any further waste of time in that innings by any fielder, the umpire concerned shall

- if the ball is in play, call and signal Dead ball.

- inform the other umpire of what has occurred.

The bowler’s end umpire shall then

either, if the waste of time is not during an over, award 5 Penalty runs to the batting side and inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for this action

or, if the waste of time is during the course of an over, direct the captain of the fielding side to suspend the bowler immediately from bowling. 

The bowler thus suspended shall not be allowed to bowl again in that innings.

If applicable, the over shall be completed by another bowler, who shall neither have bowled any part of the previous over, nor be allowed to bowl any part of the next over.

Additionally, the umpire shall inform the batsmen and, as soon as is practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred.

The umpires together shall report the occurrence as soon as possible after the match to the Executive of the offending side and to any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain, any other individuals concerned and, if appropriate, the team.

41.10 Batsman wasting time

41.10.1 It is unfair for a batsman to waste time. In normal circumstances, the striker should always be ready to take strike when the bowler is ready to start his/her run-up.

41.10.2 Should either batsman waste time by failing to meet this requirement, or in any other way, the following procedure shall be adopted.  At the first instance, either before the bowler starts his/her run-up or when the ball becomes dead, as appropriate, the umpire shall

- warn both batsmen and indicate that this is a first and final warning. This warning shall apply throughout the innings. The umpire shall so inform each incoming batsman.

- inform the other umpire of what has occurred.

- inform the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred.

41.10.3 If there is any further time wasting by any batsman in that innings, the umpire shall, at the appropriate time while the ball is dead

- award 5 Penalty runs to the fielding side.

- inform the other umpire of the reason for this action.

- inform the other batsman, the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred.

The umpires together shall report the occurrence as soon as possible after the match to the Executive of the offending side and to any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain, any other individuals concerned and, if appropriate, the team.

Delayed starts
When the start of a match is delayed by weather, the ‘target times’ will be reduced as required. Once the game has commenced and further stoppages occur the ‘target times’ will not be affected. Similarly, any game which does start on time and is then interrupted by weather, the ‘target time’ as stipulated for each division in this rule remains unaffected.