Start times put back by 30 mnutes

CRICKET: CLUBS in the new Pennine Cricket League have voted for a later start time.

Matches due to get underway at 1pm will now begin at 1.30pm. This was one of only two amendments — there were only a handful altogether — approved by clubs at a special meeting of the PCL held at Middleton Cricket Club.

The other was that no bowler will be able to bowl more than 30 per cent (amended from 33 per cent) of the overs available to them in an innings.

The alteration to the rule which says that Premiership clubs must register one professional was defeated. Uppermill CC sought a change so clubs in the Premiership could choose not to sign a pro — it’s not compulsory in the lower division — as they argued that forcing top-flight clubs to engage a paid man could cause financial difficulty.

The league will adopt a player points system for 2016, after no amendment was submitted. Player groups have been defined and will be published in the league handbook.

The maximum number of points for any first XI fixture must not exceed 21, reducing to 18 in season 2018.

Meanwhile, the top eight clubs in the Premiership at the end of this season will qualify for next year’s LCB Cup. The number of clubs to compete in the 2017 renewal has risen to 68 from 59.