Captains make or break the competition’s success – how the team captains at the ground approach the match decides if it is memorable for the right or wrong reasons.

Part B – Rule 25 of the Competition Handbook defines the official duties of captains:

25. Duties of Captains

  1. Prior to the commencement of play, the competing Captains shall toss a coin to determine which side bats first, confirm starting time (see Rule 19), confirm the number of overs to be bowled in each innings (see Rule 20), confirm the opposition understands the wide and no-ball rules in force (see Rule 16), and inspect the opposing team’s cricket ball (Rule 15).

  2. Upon the completion of play, the competing Captains shall ensure that the scores are agreed to.

  3. In the best interest of the Association and of cricket, Captains are to ensure that matches are played:

    in the spirit of the game and in accordance with its Laws

    in a friendly manner, and

    in a manner that encourages active participation by all team members.

  4. Captains are responsible for the conduct of their players during matches, including ensuring that players conduct themselves lawfully and in a manner consistent with community standards of acceptable public behaviour.

Competition Handbook

Detailed rules are in the Competition Handbook, available here. Captains must know two rules in particular:

  • All matches are 40 overs a side (unless otherwise notified by the Grade Coordinator or reduced by mutual agreement of captains to no fewer than 20 overs a side). Matches are played under the current Laws of Cricket, with the main exception that any ball that bounces above chest height (not shoulder height) or passes over waist height on the full (regardless of pace) is a no ball. This applies to all grades. The ACTSSCA does not play under One Day International (ODI) or other special format rules.

  • If necessary, in self-umpired matches the fielding captain may ask the opposing captain to replace an umpire and the captain of the batting side must do so. Any decision made by the replaced umpire to that point stands. Use this rule with discretion.

Guidance for no-ball rule

The Association strongly discourages short-pitched bowling. It has amended the fast, short-pitched bowling (‘bouncer’) rule so that any delivery, which after pitching, passes or would have passed over the chest of the striker standing at the crease is a no ball (Rule 16.2).

Under a resolution of the Annual General Meeting of 28 August 2015, the square leg umpire is to use the batsman’s armpit as the visual marker in judging whether a delivery that bounces has or would have ‘passed over the chest of the striker …’

Captains must ensure that their players understand this interpretation before they stand as umpire.

Guidance for scoring 

Under Part A – Rule 3 of the Competition Handbook, scores must be kept in a physical scorebook. An electronic app can be used in addition, but a physical scorebook must be maintained.

Forfeits and rescheduling

If your team needs to forfeit, call (do not just email or text) the opposing Captain as early as possible. Show respect to the opposition – their time is valuable too – and if at all possible avoid leaving it until match day to forfeit.

If a match does not start due to bad weather, those team captains must inform both the Grade Contact and the President on the day the match was due to be played. This allows the ACTSSCA to claim a refund on ground hire.

Requests to reschedule a match must be submitted by email to the President, cc: the Grade Coordinator, and will only be considered if:

  1. A match did not start due to weather (‘wash-out’), the Grade Coordinator and President were informed of this on the day the match was due to be played, and both captains are agreed on a proposed replacement date that falls before the last round of the regular season. OR

  2. A match is yet to be played, both captains are agreed on a proposed replacement date that falls before the last round of the regular season, and the request is made at least 5 working days before the original match is scheduled to be played.

Matches started but not completed due to weather will not be rescheduled. A regular season match started but not completed due to weather is a scoreless draw. A semi-final or grand final started but incomplete due to weather is a win to the higher-ranked team.

Refer to the Competition Rules for washed-out finals.

Insurance

Team captains should be aware of the risks in playing cricket, and ensure team members are also aware of these risks. Captains must pass on any information from the Association about insurance options to players.

For insurance cover details refer to the Cricket Australia Insurance Program available here.

Use of Grounds

Captains must ensure grounds are left in a clean and tidy state. Use bins where available. If there is also a skip at a ground, empty bins used into the skip before leaving.

If on arrival a ground is in an exceptionally untidy state, take a photo with your phone before play starts and send it to the Grade Coordinator so we can raise the matter with ACT Sportsgrounds.

No glass bottles

In the interests of safety and in compliance with ACT Sportsgrounds strict ground hire policies, do not take glass bottles on the field. Glass on the field may result in immediate or subsequent injury to users of grounds, including to juniors, and to loss of ACTSSCA access to grounds. Taking glass bottles on the field may trigger a forfeit loss under rule 10d in the Handbook.

Use barbeques over grass

If using a barbeque, it must be set up over grass and not over the concrete apron at a facilities block. Any spillages of grease onto concrete areas at grounds will attract a $110 fine from ACT Sportsgrounds, which will be charged to the team responsible.

Spirit of Social Cricket

Captains are to step in and stop any incidents before they start.

In particular, there is no place for racial abuse in cricket under any circumstances. Report any incidents of racial abuse in matches to both the Grade Coordinator and the President as soon as possible after the incident. The Committee reserves the right to impose penalties on teams that engage in such behaviour, up to and including expulsion from the competition.