SMCA Logo 1Kindly Provided To All Clubs By The

South Metropolitan Cricket Association (Inc.)

For The 2016/17 Season


This document provides helpful information for captains, but it is the responsibility of clubs to ensure captains are aware of and compliant with the By-Laws of the Association.

A downloadable copy can be found here


Team Captain:

The team captain is responsible for the discipline of his team, and answerable for any unfair play done by any of them. Should a player be reported and a P&D convened, the player’s captain is required to attend the P&D along with the player/s involved. A captain must make himself reasonably available to the opposition captain and the umpire to discuss issues after the match. It is not reasonable for a captain to leave the ground before an umpire has the opportunity to discuss any issues after the match.


Match Day Referee:

All captains of teams where there is no officially appointed umpire should be aware of the details for the Match Day Referee. For the 2016-17 season the Match Day Referee is Ray Howe, phone 0407 774 044. Should a captain deem it necessary to contact the Match Day Referee the opposing captain must also be available to speak with the Referee.

The Match Day Referee can receive a number of calls on match days. If a person cannot get through to the Match Day Referee they are welcome to contact other members of the Executive.


Unofficial Umpires:

There are not enough umpires to go through all the grades and therefore unofficial umpires are an important part of our game. These players/umpires must do their best to ensure the well being of each match. However, mistakes can be made, sometimes by the unofficial umpire and sometimes by the fielding team believing that someone is out when perhaps he was not. Captains do not have the right to order an unofficial umpire off the ground should he disagree with a decision. All parties should be aware of the spirit of the game and work towards the well being of our game.


Official Umpires:

Official umpires should not have to seek payment after the match. They should be paid the correct amount no later than the end of the tea break.


Match Day Checklist:

Both captains must complete and submit a Match Day Check List, prior to the commencement of each days play, using the JLT Cricket Match Day App.


Naming A Team:

Both teams shall be responsible for submitting a team list, using MyCricket, before the commencement of the match. The hard copy team list, as provided in past seasons, must also be provided to the official umpire or opposition captain.


Playing A Player Under An Assumed Name:

Playing a player under an assumed name is deemed to be a serious offence.

In the event of a club playing a player under a false name, then all games participated in by that club in that round will be forfeited. The Captain of the offending team in which the player participated is to be suspended for six days play. The Protests, Disputes and Appeals Board may deal with the player who has offended.


Registration Of Players:

All players must be registered with the SMCA prior to the commencement of the match. The minimum age for a player to qualify for registration to the SMCA is 14 years old.


Delayed Match Start & Coin Toss:

Any club not ready to start playing within thirty minutes of the scheduled time shall forfeit the match to the opposing team unless the club can furnish a satisfactory explanation to the Association. 

If the Captain or a Deputy is not available to toss fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled start time, then that team loses the toss and shall be fined.


Fielding Restrictions:

In one day matches played in two-day grades fielding restrictions are now applicable.

At the instant of delivery there may be no more than five fieldsmen outside the Fielding Restriction Area and no more than five fieldsmen on the leg (on) side.

The restriction area shall be in a circle 27.43 metres from the stumps at each end.

The ends of each semi-circle are joined to the other end on the same side of the pitch by a straight line drawn on the field.


Wet Weather Guidelines (When No Official Umpire):

In short; the SMCA By-Laws covers the rules in relation to weather-affected matches. Where no official umpire is at the match the captains should discuss the situation keeping in mind the condition of the ground, equipment and safety of the players.

Issues that may particularly influence the captains decision are extreme weather such as lightning, player safety, the condition of the ball as well as what may be happening if there are adjoining grounds with matches being played. Captains should consider the spirit of the game and not use the conditions to try and contrive a result against what the condition may dictate.

It is important to remember the By-Laws, which states;

Where the captains can reach no agreement and there are no official umpire/s the match day referee shall be contacted to make a decision and this decision will be conveyed to both captains and the decision shall be final.

If there is no play on the first day of a two-day match a new coin toss and team list shall be submitted on day two even if there was a coin toss and team list submitted on day one.

A one-day match is subject to a minimum of twenty (20) overs bowled to each team before a result can be achieved. Should captains agree to play a match that does not involve 20 overs bowled to each team then the result shall be a draw.


Afternoon Tea:

Captains should be aware of By-Law 24 in relation to hours of play in one-day games. It is understood that where Clubs have shared grounds, having afternoon tea at the same time is convenient. However, By-Law 24a states (in part) that;

in the event of the innings of the team batting first being completed prior to 3.30p.m, a twenty (20) minute tea break between innings will be taken immediately. The scheduled time for stumps shall be adjusted to allow the team batting second an innings of two hours and thirty minutes.


Injured Batsman – Runner:

The SMCA allows for the use of a runner. A runner can only be used if the batsman becomes injured or ill during the match. 

▪ The runner must be a member of the batting side, but not the twelfth man
▪ He must already have batted in the innings, if possible.
▪ The runner must wear all the external protective equipment worn by the batsman and must carry a bat.

If either the injured batsman or his runner is out of his ground, the batsman is liable to be run out or stumped.


Bowler Breaks The Non-Striker Wicket:

The umpire is to call ‘No ball’ whenever a bowler breaks the non-striker’s wicket during the act of delivery.


Wide Ball – Leg Side:

In one-day matches, any delivery that passes outside the leg stump and behind the striker shall be called a “wide”. 

By-Law 27c


Dangerous & Unfair Bowling – One Day Match – By-Law 28:

Short pitched ball: If a ball passes, or would have passed above the shoulder of a batsman standing upright at the crease, the umpire standing at the bowlers’ end shall call and signal “no ball”.

Full Toss: If a bowler bowls a fast high pitched ball which passes or would have passed on the full above waist height of the striker standing upright at the crease the umpire at the bowlers’ end shall call and signal “no ball”.

Wide balls: if the ball bowled hits the edge or wider than the edge of the prepared playing surface, the umpire at the bowler’s end will call and signal “no ball”.


Dangerous & Unfair Bowling – Two Day Match – By-Law 18:

A bowler shall be limited to two fast short-pitched balls per over.

Short pitched ball: A bowler shall be limited to two fast short pitched balls per over. A fast short pitched ball is defined as a ball which passes, or would have passed clearly above the shoulder of the striker standing upright at the crease.

Full Toss: If a bowler bowls a fast high pitched ball which passes or would have passed on the full above waist height of the striker standing upright at the crease the umpire at the bowlers end shall call and signal “no ball”.

Wide balls: if the ball bowled hits the edge or wider than the edge of the prepared playing surface, the umpire at the bowler’s end will call and signal “no ball”.


Protests & Disputes:

Should a player be reported and a P&D convened, the player’s captain is required to attend the P&D along with the player/s involved.


Cautions (Official Umpires Only):

An official SMCA appointed umpire(s) may issue a caution to any player who has committed a minor breach of the code of conduct, spirit of cricket or the playing rules of the SMCA in a club competition match. The umpire shall notify either the captain, club official or the player at the time of the offence. The umpire shall request the notified person to sign the Player Caution Form to signify his notification of the caution. Refusal to sign the Player Caution Form will invoke an immediate four playing date suspension on the player cautioned and also the team captain.


Prescribed Penalties (Official Umpires Only):

In the case of Prescribed Penalties, should a player wish the matter be heard by the P&D notification should be made to the Association Administrator, by e-mail or text message, prior to 9.00pm on the day of play in which the player was reported. A lack of notification to the Association Administrator by the deadline will invoke the penalty for the offence, which that player was reported for.


Reports (Not By An Official Umpire):

In the case of anyone other than an appointed SMCA Umpire making a report of another person every effort should be made to advise the reported person or his captain at the ground. The report should then be made to the Association Administrator, through the club committee, by e-mail or text message, prior to 9.00pm on the day of play in which the player was reported. The Administrator shall provide a log in to the SMCA Web Site so the report can be submitted on-line.


Split Player Option – See By-Law 11C For Full Details:

Teams may name, prior to the coin toss; two players (11A and 11B) to split the duties of a regular player in two-day qualifying matches.

Neither player plays in any other grade on either of the two fixtured playing days; except a player who last played in a one day only grade who can play in a one day only grade on the other day.

Only player 11A can participate on day one, with player 11B only participating on day two. Only one of the split players may bat in each innings. Bowling and fielding, including wicket keeping is unrestricted.

This rule is intended to allow players playing in two-day fixtures to play only one day of a two-day fixture. The intention is not for a player who is playing in the two-day competition to play on the other day in a one-day grade only fixture.

The captain must advise the umpire and opposition captain the name of the two players – 11A for week one and 11B for week two – prior to the coin toss. Should there be no official SMCA appointed umpire then the opposition captain must be advised of the name of the two players prior to the coin toss and a text message be sent to the SMCA Administrator 0402 851 957 prior to the commencement of the match advising of the Grade, the Club and the name of the 11A player (playing first week) and the 11B player (playing second week).