Many of you will be aware of the announcement from the EAPL of their intention to form the EAPL Championship as a second tier of that competition.  The Management Sub Committee (MSC) are concerned about the lack of consultation and information given to us, as well as the viability of the plans and the impact that they will have on participating clubs and the Two Counties Championship. Two members of the MSC recently met with two members of the EAPL committee to discuss the proposed implementation but no substantial progress was made to allay our concerns or provide much further information. We have written to the ECB to explain our thoughts and concerns and we await a reply. That letter was copied to officers of the other two feeder league committees to ascertain their views on the announcement.  Since this notification we have received confirmation from the Chairman of the Cambridge and Hunts League that they too share our concerns. The MSC will continue to work on behalf of all our member clubs and will inform you as soon as we have more information to provide.

The information below will be also sent to Championship Reps by email.

As we are now a third of the way through the season, we would draw your attention to the following for immediate action please:

• There have been several complaints from both the umpires and from other clubs regarding the behaviour of players (and in one case supporters) in matches recently. This trend is considered totally unacceptable by the MSC and firm action will be taken henceforth.  You are reminded that captains are responsible for the conduct of players and that any offences by a player defined by the ECB Code of Conduct can also be imposed on the relevant captain.  You are also reminded that according to Law 42 any offence can also carry points deduction.  The relevant Law has been posted under the Rules tab on the website.
• You are reminded that all mid innings drinks are to be taken ON THE FIELD OF PLAY and the home club should facilitate this for each match. Now that all COVID restrictions have been removed, there is no need for players to leave the field of play except in exceptional circumstances for comfort breaks and certainly not to spend time on their mobile phones, have a fag break or even to start to pile into some of their tea!  You are also reminded that the home club should, in the event of a tea not being provided, make a hot or cold drink available for the players and officials between the innings.
• The relaxation of the rules on the provision of a non playing scorer as a result of travel restrictions during COVID has been removed and all matches where umpire or umpires officiate should have a non playing scorer from each team. Whilst we appreciate the difficulties involved for smaller clubs a match has traditionally been officiated and agreement reached by umpires and scorers jointly and we see no reason why this should not continue to happen.  Several fines have now been issued and you are reminded that a points deduction can be levied according to our rules for continual offenders.
• Finally you are reminded that before the commencement of a match, captains MUST exchange team sheets showing the names of all players and showing the age group of players aged under 19. All scorecards including those produced digitally MUST be agreed by both captains before the away team leaves the ground.  This should improve the quality of the submissions of scores to play-cricket and make the onerous task of the Results Secretary much easier.

There seems to be confusion about this….. The new rule stating that even if the batsmen cross when a wicket falls, the new batsman will be on strike does NOT come into force until October of this year.  So no change for this season …….

Now that the restrictions with regard to drinks breaks during play have been removed, all drinks breaks should now be taken on the field of play please as they were pre-COVID – this will decrease the length of the match and this has the added advantage of enabling players and officials to get to the bar sooner…………. !!

This is really good news and a top start to the season – well done to all who sent in their results ….. keep it up!!

This is just to advise all our member clubs that we have still not had any direct consultation or communication from the EAPL regarding the above …….

We have managed to obtain some information via their Twitter account however and this confirms the proposed plan will be for  1 club to be relegated from the EAPL1 and the balance of a 10 team EAPL2 will be drawn from 3 clubs each from the Two Counties, the Cambs league and the Norfolk league and the competition will consist of 50 over matches.

We do ask that clubs do not regard the proposed plan as a fait accompli as it is far from that and the MSC have received several emails of support and indications that in their view the proposed plan is flawed. 

Please watch this space for further information as we will be in contact with our “leading” clubs as well as those 6 clubs from the Championship currently in EAPL1 who must be allowed to have their say – if any are relegated from EAPL1 then they may not wish to drop to EAPL2 but prefer to rejoin their feeder league.  We will also be in contact with the other feeder leagues to ascertain their thoughts and pool our ideas.  The results will be forwarded to all our member clubs – and I can assure you that it will not be via Twitter feed as seems to be the case in some quarters ………..!

The content below was posted on December 3rd and is the current position regarding the provision of teas for the coming season.

1. The default will be for there to be no provision for teas by the home team in the break between the innings.
2. If a club wishes to provide teas for all participants, they must contact the opposition by the Tuesday of the week of the match to confirm that this is what they wish to do.  They should also inform at the same time any paid official, such as an umpire or scorer. Any cost will be the responsibility of the home club. There will be no requirement for the opposition to provide reciprocal facilities in a reverse fixture.
3. Whenever a home club decides that they would not provide a tea in the break between the innings but would instead provide catering facilities of any type after the match for the participants and officials then all should be advised by Tuesday of the week of the match. The cost for this will be met by those who participate.
4. It will be a requirement for all home clubs (regardless of a decision on the above) to provide tea, coffee or soft drinks for all players in the match in the break between innings.  This cost will be the responsibility of the home club.

As a result of Burwell and Exning CC’s withdrawal from the EAPL, teams in that competition will have two ‘Match Free’ weeks throughout the season.  To ensure the integrity of the Two Counties Championship is maintained, the MSC has decided to implement a new rule for this season.

“On a ‘Match Free’ Saturday, when a club’s EAPL team do not have a Premier League fixture, no player who has played 2 of the previous 3 EAPL games will be permitted to play in the Two Counties Championship on the Saturday of that weekend.  In addition, any Category 3 players registered by the EAPL on play-cricket will not be permitted to play on the Saturday of that weekend in the Two Counties Championship”

You may recall that during the winter of 2020/21, the Suffolk County Cricket Board conducted a player survey with regard to the possible creation of EAPL Division 2. Similar surveys were also conducted by the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire Boards.  Following the completion of their surveys, it was understood that the proposed Division 2 would be put on the “backburner”.

Without further consultation from the EAPL, the Management Sub Committee have now learnt that it is the intention of the EAPL to create this new division with a proposal to start in season 2023 and we understand that the make up of the new division will be by invitation and not based on the results of the current season. The implications are that this new division may well require a re-organisation of the Two Counties with particular regard to promotions and relegations.  

It is worth pointing out at this stage that the MSC have a lukewarm attitude to this proposed 2^nd division of the EAPL, just as we did during the winter of 2020/21 when this was first mooted.

However, if a club in any division has any views or input (either for or against the proposal) then it is very important that you do so by email to the Secretary, Rick Jones, as soon as possible.

Updated Rules (together with the ECB Model Disciplinary Regulations) can now be found on the Rules tab above…….. The ECB Guidelines for Young Cricketers and the ECB Fast Bowling Directives are posted on the same Rules tab.

This will now take place on Monday April 11th at Ipswich CC any time from 5.30 until 7.30

As we are now reasonably confident that the container with the balls will be docking in Felixstowe within a few days we can set the date for distribution for Monday April 11th at Ipswich Cricket Club  from early evening – full details will follow.  If your club has not sent your contact details to Alan Rogers please do so by Sunday  20th March at the latest.

A list of Category 3 players who have been accepted by the MSC to play in season 2022 can be found by following the link found under the Overseas Players tab above