Please see the BCL rules below (Updated January 2025):

League Operation
The league will run based on the principles set out below:
• Each team will play once against the other teams in the league
• Matches to be played on Sundays and Monday evenings in the majority of cases.
• Rained off matches will only be re-scheduled if fixture capacity allows
• Results will be scored as 3 points for a win, 1.5 points for a tie or rained off match and 0 for a loss.
• If a team is unable to field a side, the 3 points will be forfeited to the opposition unless agreed to share points
• The groundsman has the final say as to the fitness of the ground prior to any match.
• Each team to pay £4 match fee per player - under 18s are exempt from match fees
• The top four teams qualify for the knock-out stages on Finals Day - 1st vs 4th & 2nd vs 3rd in the semi-finals
• The next four teams (positions 5-8 in the league) will take part in the Plate Finals Day – 5th vs 8th & 6th vs 7th in the semi-finals.
• If teams finish the league on equal points, the final positions will be deiced on head-to-head results.
• The Main Competition and Plate Finals will be held in early September as the season closes

Team Captain Responsibilities
• Organising their teams for all matches as per the fixture list issued by the league manager
• Ensuring the safety and welfare of the young members of their team
• Providing match scores / results through the team captain WhatsApp group ASAP after each match
• Upholding the rules of the league, ‘spirit of the game’ and ensuring safely of all players in each match
• Payment of the correct match fees for the team on the day of each match at the bar (contactless)

Match Rules
• A maximum of 2 players may be regular club cricketers. This is defined as anyone who regularly plays Devon League Cricket or any level above. This doesn't apply to a player under 16 on 1st September of previous year
• Teams are able to play with a minimum of 7 players but will ordinarily comprise of 11 players.
• 5 bowlers will bowl 4 overs each and bat at positions; 7 8 9 10 & 11 with the wicket-keeper batting at 6.
• If a team has less than 11 players, the bowlers will occupy the last 5 batting positions.
• There will be no LBW decisions in any BCL matches.
• The maximum number of overs per innings is 20.
• All overs will consist of 6 balls with wides and no balls counting as 2 runs plus any additional runs scored from the delivery. The only exception is the final over where wides / no balls will be counted as 1 run and an additional ball will be bowled until an over of six legitimate balls is completed.
• Coloured “wide lines” will be painted on the pitch, if the ball is delivered outside of these lines on either side of the wicket a wide must be called.
• Batsmen will retire upon reaching an individual score of 30, regardless of whether they are in the last pair and overs remain (if this is the case, the innings will be complete once the batsman retires).
• The batting team will be responsible for providing two umpires, a scorer and keep the scoreboard updat-ed at the end of each over.
• Overs displayed on the scoreboard should be those remaining in the innings, counting down from 20.
• For finals days only: Any tied match will decided by a super over where each team picks their best two batters and bowler. Should the super over be tied the next best batters and bowlers complete another super over and so on until the match is decided

Safety and Eligibility
• Players must be aged 14 or over on the 1st September the previous year to be eligible to play in the league (as per ECB guidance)
• Players under 18 on the 1st September the previous year must wear a helmet when batting or keeping wicket.
• Any player may only play for 1 team throughout the competition, being ‘cup-tied’ for the season after playing one match for any team
• A player must have played in at least one league match in order to be eligible for finals day matches.