The request for information has shown that the results from 64 clubs running a Saturday team/teams:

51 have opted NOT to provide a tea in between the innings – just tea/coffee or a soft drink.

13 have opted to revert to providing a tea between the innings.

Additional information provided:

• In some instances a tea will be provided at the home club ground but this may not be possible where one of their teams is playing at an alternative venue.
• Several clubs have said they will provide a snack (cake/biscuits) as well as a drink but not a full tea.
• 1 club has said that they will revert to providing a tea if the majority of clubs in their league opt to do so. There is no clear majority for the provision of a tea in the league in which this club competes.
• 1 club has opted to provide a tea but not if a majority of clubs in their league opt not to do so. There is no clear majority not to provide a tea in the league in which this club competes.

The logistics of how exactly this will work out will follow later.  Should any club wish to change their stated option in view of the above then please contact me

There are changes imposed by the ECB/Home Office in respect of visa type and Player Category

The visa changes tend to be rewording of visa type or changes as a result of the UK leaving the EU…… The following visa changes however are significant:

1. The Tier 5 Creative and Sporting (Player Coach) which is the normal route used in the Championship for Player/Coaches is now renamed the International Sportsperson Visa (Player/Coach). We understand that the conditions/requirements are exactly the same as they were last year so it will not affect Player/Coaches returning for a second or subsequent season.
2. Tier 2 IT/MOR is replaced by a Skilled Worker visa.
3. There is a new Health & Social Care Visa.

All visa types could be subject to restrictions imposed by the Home Office and the Championship which can be found in the document TwoCountiesOverseasRegulation2021_5 under the More tab on the website.

With regard to the ECB classification of Category type, the Category 3 (Exempt) is removed and all players are now either Category 1 (defined as Ordinarily Resident or Home Players) – or Category 3.  The implications of this change for the Championship can be found in the document Player Registration Category 2022-5 under the More tab on the website.

In brief though all clubs can apply to register one Category 3 player per team each year and all other Category 3 players seeking registration to enable them to play in the Championship will need dispensation from the MSC. This dispensation will be given readily if the conditions outlined in Player Registration Category 2022-5 document are met.

A new 2 part Amateur Declaration form (AmateurDeclaration_2022) for completion where appropriate can also be found under the More tab on the website.

Clubs intending to register any Overseas Player under the Category 3 type or even if they are not sure should contact Rick Jones (Secretary) at:

secretary@twocountiescricket.co.uk

This posting will also be sent to Championship Reps.

To remove perceived ambiguity the following wording is now applicable:

1. Requests for exemption for Weddings, Stag and Hen Do’s, Tours etc will NOT be granted.
2. Requests for exemption for football/rugby will NOT be automatically granted.
3. Requests for non availability of a ground for village fetes or similar with shared facilities will be considered but CANNOT be guaranteed.
4. The MSC will specify the 22 weeks of each season and all matches will be played within this fixture window and any team playing in a 12 team league will have fixtures arranged on each Saturday in the 22 weeks of the season.
5. Any 12 team league who is unable to play a fixture as arranged can contact their opposition and arrange a mutually agreed replacement date on any of the Bank Holidays or on a Sunday. If this is not possible then they must find an alternative day and/or venue within the 22 week season or (in the case of the home team) concede home advantage.  All clubs are asked to show consideration and willingness to compromise and the MSC will be available for advice to teams.
6. Teams in an 11 team league will have the same criteria as in paragraph 4 and 5 above applied – the only difference here being that there will be 2 Saturdays when a club will not have a fixture.  The Fixtures Secretary will ATTEMPT to help clubs out here as advised above but this cannot be guaranteed and if it is not possible then the conditions in paragraph 5 will apply.
7. Teams in a 10 (or less) team league have even more flexibility as there could be 4 (or even more) Saturdays when they do not have a fixture.  It will be ATTEMPTED to arrange these fixtures to allow a smaller window but this cannot be guaranteed and if it is not possible then the conditions in paragraph 5 will apply.

In an attempt to improve the structure to the flow of emails to the MSC, the following are now email addresses to use if you want to contact the following five MSC officers.

Please could all amend your contacs and use the above from today’s date.  Should you have reason to contact any of the above on a private matter not related to MSC business then the existing email addresses will still be in operation.

Could I please remind all clubs that any application to register an Overseas player or a Tier 5 Player/Coach should be emailed to me in the first instance so we can do our checks.  The deadline for applications is the end of February.

There are some changes both to Visa types (mainly as a result of Brexit) and registration Category.  These will be published this week when they have been finalised.

Fixtures Secretaries Ros and Stuart Coker have asked me to remind you as below:

“Fixtures 2022.

This is a gentle reminder should  you need to make any alterations to any of your  fixtures. If a fixture needs  to be moved to a bank holiday or Sunday, you will need to contact your  opposition, make the necessary arrangements between yourselves and then we would ask that both clubs written consent to the change is sent to us, Rick Jones and Alan Rogers via email by the 16^th January.  After this date we cannot guarantee to support any change suggested.

Information as to any ground changes for  fixtures where the home venue is unavailable would also be most useful.

Your support with this is very much appreciated.  Any queries please email us.

alan.t.coker@btinternet.com

Kind Regards

Ros and Stuart Coker”

These have been posted under the Seniors’ News tab on the Menu Bar.

Happy New Year to all …….!

Just by way of a gentle reminder to those who have not responded, the attached regarding tea provision for next season asked for a response from all clubs by Friday 14^th Jan.  If an answer to 2 and 3 is not received by the deadline then the defaults in 1 and 4 will apply.

One or two clubs have indicated that they wish to retain the option of providing a tea on some occasions during the season and the MSC would encourage this – if your club is in this category then please let me know.

I would like to come up with a definitive list and publish same so that all clubs, players and officials will know the exact situation – I will of course copy the Umpires Panel so that they are also aware of the decisions made by all clubs.

Teas-2

All clubs in Divisions 1 to 9 should by now have received a copy of their fixtures and we thank Ros and Stuart Coker for their superb efforts on your behalf.  Whilst there still some issues to iron out this was inevitable considering nearly 1300 fixtures have been allocated and the constraints of football, ground share and the Queens Jubilee.  Our thanks once again……

The “straw poll” at the recent AGM clearly indicated that the historical precedent for Two Counties clubs to provide a tea between innings must be reconsidered.  These views cannot be disregarded but nor can the views of those clubs who wish to retain the status quo with regard to the provision of teas.  It should also be pointed out that there is no actual Championship rule on this – it has just developed over time into an accepted norm.

The MSC discussed the matter in some detail and the following will apply from the start of the 2022 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 this is a matter of considerable importance which changes the way that catering in cricket matches has traditionally operated, we would ask that all clubs discuss this issue and advise Rick Jones of their intentions with regard to catering for the 2022 season in respect of 2 and 3 above.

We would ask that your answers, together with any other observations you wish to make, would be returned by Friday 14^th January.  This narrative has also been sent to all Championship Representatives.

The MSC is delighted to appoint Jeremy Jayasuriya from Easton CC to fill the vacancy as a Suffolk Representative.  Jerry is well known in local cricketing circles and we are confident that he will take a full and active part in the decision making process.  His contact details can be found under the Manangement Committee tab above……