1 TITLE

The Competition will be known as the Nat West Trophy.

2 PRIZES

Winner of the Competition £45,000

Losing finalist £22,500

Each losing Semi-finalist £11,250

Each losing Quarter-finalist £5,500

In addition, the following 'Man of the Match' awards will be made:

In each of 16 First Round matches £275

In each of eight Second Round matches £350

Quarter-finals £400

Semi-finals £450

Final £1,000

Participants will be reimbursed for Employer’s National Insurance contnbutions borne on the above prize moneys.

3 ADMINISTRATION

(i) Entrants

Entrants to the Competition will be confined to the eighteen First-Class Counties, Ireland, Scotland, Holland and the first I I Minor Counties in season l996. Entry to the Competition shall be contingent on each County agreeing to its Members paying ground admission to all matches in the Competition. The Competition will be played on a knock-out basis.

(ii) The Draw

(a)The Chief Executive of E.C.B. or his nominee will carry out the draw.

(b)The draw for the 1st and 2nd Rounds will be announced in September of the previous year.

(c)The draw for the Quarter and Semi-Final Rounds will be made on the first available day following the previous Round.

(iii) Venues

(a)The matches in all Rounds except the Final will be played on the grounds of the teams drawn first, with the exception that any match involving Holland, up to and including the Semi-Finals, will be played at the ground of their opponents.

(b)The Final will be played at Lord’s.

(iv) Umpires

E.C.B. will appoint umpires from the First-Class List.

(v) Status of Matches

Matches in the Competition will not be considered First-Class.

(vi) Qualification of Cricketers

The Regulations for Governing the Qualification and Registration of Cricketers for Competitive County Cricket (Regulation B) shall apply, except in the cases of Scotland, Ireland and Holland.

A Cricketer shall be qualified to play in the competition for Scotland, Ireland or Holland as the case may be (notwithstanding that he may also be qualified to play for another team and without in any way affecting his qualification to play for England pursuant to Regulation 13 of Regulation B) if:

(a) he was born there; or

(b) he is residing there and has been resident there for the preceding two consecutive years, or

(c) either (i) his father or mother was born there; or (ii) he is residing there and has been resident there for the preceding twelve consecutive months; and in the case of Scotland and Ireland if Regulation 13(1) of Regulation B were amended so as to refer throughout to the “British Isles” instead of “Great Britain” and he would be qualified to play for England pursuant to that Regulation as so amended.

For these purposes, “Ireland” comprises both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; “the British Isles” comprises Great Britain as defined in Regulation B, Scotland and Ireland; and “residing" and “resident” have the same meanings as in paragraph 1(c) of Regulation B including the application by reference (mutafis mutandis) of Regulations 2(h) and 13(l)(h), but excluding any rule equivalent to those contained in Regulations 2(l) and 13(1 (i).

A Cricketer qualified to play for more than one team in the competition shall be entitled to choose which team he plays for, but he shall not, save with the consent of the Board, play in the NatWest Trophy and the Benson and Hedges Cup Competition for more than one team in the same season.

Ireland, Scotland and Holland may each play in any match in this Competition not more than one Cricketer who is not qualified under (a), (b) or (c) above.

(vii) Complimentary Tickets

Each participant shall receive for its own use, 60 complimentary tickets giving free admission to the ground for all matches including the Final. Umpires to receive four complimentary tickets for the Final and two complimentary tickets for all other matches.

(viii) Allocation of Tickets

The allocation of tickets for all matches except the Final shall be a matter for negotiation between the home and away sides, save that in the event of agreement not being reached the away side shall be entitled to purchase a maximum of one-third of the total seating available at the ground on which the match is staged.

4 FINANCIAL CONDITIONS

(i) Central Account

There will be a central NatWest Trophy account controlled by E.C.B.

(ii) Ground Admission and Stand Charges

(a) Ground admission charges for all rounds, and stand charges for the Final only, shall be approved by the Board.

(b) Ground admission charges will be as follows:

1st Round - £8.00

2nd Round - £11.00

Quarter-Finals - £14.00

Semi-Finals - £16.00

Final - - £22.00

The minimum and maximum reserved seat prices for the Final will be £29.00 and £50.00 respectively (Restricted view- £12.00).

Ground Authorities staging matches in all rounds except the Final may, having first consulted the Board and their opponents, exceed these admission charges. Reduced prices may also be offered for these matches, if agreed by the Board, to encourage advance purchasing.

The above charges are for the whole match and if play continues beyond the first day, arrangements will be made to admit those who have paid on the first day.

Children under 16, and old age pensioners on production of their pension books, will be admitted to all matches except the Final at half the ground admission charge. Ground Authorities may, at their discretion, reduce ground admission charges after 4.15 p.m. on the first day or at any time on the reserve day(s), depending on the state of the game.

Ground authorities should offer a credit card facility. A handling charge of£ 1.00 per application should be applied for telephone applications and for postal applications where a stamped addressed envelope is not enclosed.

(c)Members of County Clubs will pay the ground admission! reserved seat price for all matches including the Final.

(iii) First, Second Round, Quarter, Semi-Finals

(a)Ground authorities staging Quarter- and Semi-final matches will have tickets available for purchase in advance. Ground authorities staging 1st and 2nd Round matches are encouraged to sell in advance, but this is not mandatory.

(b)Revenue from matches, together with a Statement of Account, shall be forwarded to the Accountant, E.C.B. within 21 days of a match taking place. In the event of these moneys not being received by the Board within 21 days, the Ground Authority responsible will pay to the Board, interest on the moneys outstanding at the rate of ½% per week, or part of a week.

(c)All teams shall be responsible for their own expenses, except that the following will be allowable charges against the Central Fund:

(i) Whole or part of the cost of erection of temporary stand accommodation, provided authority is given, in advance, by E.C.B. These seats should normally be of the ‘bucket’ variety in order to enable the cost to be liquidated by charging a premium for their reservation.

(ii) Both ‘home’ and ‘away’ Counties/participants will be paid 7½% commission on their respective advance ticket sales (excluding V.A.T.).

(iii) Credit Card commission on ticket sales.

(d) Income from matches will include all ground and stand admissions, but not receipts from car parking and scorecards.

(iv) Final

(a) Each County in the Final will receive an allocation of 4,500 reserved seat tickets, for which payment shall be made to M.C.C. within 14 days of the match taking place net of credit card commission incurred. In the event of payment not being received within 14 days, the County concerned will pay to the Board interest on the moneys outstanding at the rate of ½% per week, or part of a week.

(b) Payments to be made by the Ground Authority staging the Final on behalf of the Board out of match receipts:

(i) Miscellaneous expenses - as for Texaco Trophy, except in respect of guest lunches and teas which shall not be charged to the Board.

(ii) Special authorised expenditure - as for Texaco Trophy, except in respect of lunches and teas for oflicial guests and advance selling commission, which shall not be charged to the Board.

(iii)The Ground Authority staging the Final shall retain five per cent of the net receipts, after deduction of seating commission.

(iv) Submission of moneys by the Ground Authority staging the Final to E.C.B. - as for Texaco Trophy.

5 PLAYING CONDITIONS

The Playing Conditions for Britannic Assurance Championship matches will apply, with the following exceptions:

(A) Duration

The matches will consist of one innings per side and each innings will be limited to 60 overs. The matches are intended to be completed in one day, but two days will be allocated in case of weather interference, except for the Final for which three days will be allocated.

Cup Final only:

In the evcnt of the match starting not less than half-an-hour nor more than one and a half hours late owing to weather or the state of the ground, each innings shall be limited to 50 overs. If, however, the start of play is delayed for more than one and a half hours, the 60 over limit shall apply.

(B) Hours of Play and Intervals

(i) Scheduled hours of Play will be l0.30 a.m. to 7.l0 p.m.

(ii) Each innings is scheduled to last for 3 hours 45 minutes. (16 ovcrs per hour).

(iii) Cessation of Play will normally be at the conclusion of the match. (iv) If in a delayed start or interrupted match, the Umpires are satisfied that a result cannot be obtained on that day, the timing for Cessation of Play will be 8.00 p.m.

NOTE: The Captains of the two sides in the Final will be warned that heavy shadows may move across the pitch towards the end of the day and that no appeal against the light will be considered in such circumstances.

(v)Lunch - 12.45 p.m.- l .25 p.m. This may be varied if, owing to the weather or state of the ground an alteration has been agreed upon by the Captains or ordered by the Umpires.

(vi) Between innings - l0 minutes. In an uninterrupted match the scheduled time for the cessation of the first innings will be 2.55 p.m.

(vii) Tea - 20 minutes.

(a) In an uninterrupted match, the tea interval will be taken at

4.30 p.m. or after 25 overs of the innings of the side batting

second, whichever is the later. (In the event of a wicket

falling during the 25th over of the side batting second, after

4.28 p.m.. the tea interval will be taken immediately.)

(b) In a match where the start is delayed or play is suspended for such a length of time as to make it impracticable to adopt (a) above, owing to the unlikelihood of completing the match on that day, the tea interval will be taken at 4.30 p.m., except in the following circumstances:

(i)If nine wickets are then down or no more than six overs of an innings remain to be bowled, the tea interval will be taken at the end of the innings, or after 30 minutes play, whichever is the earlier.

(ii) If, between the hours of 3.45 p.m. and 4.30 p.m., play is suspended (this includes a suspension which may be in progress at 3.45 p.m.), the tea interval of 20 minutes will then be taken.

NOTE: The timing of any interval may be delayed for a maximum of 15 minutes on the second or third day of a match, if the Umpires consider that a finish can be obtained within that time.

(C) Length of Innings

(i)In Uninterrupted Matches (i.e. matches which are neither delayed nor interrupted):

(a) Each team shall bat for 60 overs unless all out earlier.

(b) If the team fielding first fails to bowl the required number of overs by the scheduled time for the cessation of the first innings, play shall continue until the required number of overs has been bowled. Unless otherwise determined by the Umpires, the team batting second shall only have available to it the number of overs that it bowled by the scheduled time for the cessation of the first innings. The over in progress at the scheduled cessation time shall count as a completed over. The Umpires shall have the discretion to increase the number of overs to be bowled by the team bowling second if both of them agree that events beyond the control of the team bowling first (including time-wasting by the team batting first) prevented that team from bowling the required number of overs by the scheduled time for the cessation of the first innings.

(c) If the team batting first is all out, and the last wicket falls at or after the scheduled time for the commencement of the interval, the innings of the team batting second shall, subject to the discretion of the Umpires as provided for in (b) above, be limited to the same number of overs bowled to the team batting first at the scheduled time for the interval. The over in which the last wicket falls will count as a completed over.

(d) If the team batting first is dismissed in less than 60 overs, the team batting second shall be entitled to bat for 60 overs except as provided for in (c) above.

(e) If the team fielding second fails to bowl 60 overs, or the rescheduled number of overs as provided for in (b), (c) or (d) above by the scheduled time for the cessation of the second innings (normally 7.10 p.m.), the hours of play shall, subject to conditions of ground, weather and light, be extended until the required number of overs has been bowled or a result has been achieved.

(f) Penalties shall apply for slow over rates (see rule 6).

(ii) In Delayed or Interrupted Matches:

(a)General

(i)Any rearrangement of the number of overs that may be necessary due to a delayed start or one or more interruptions in play as a result of adverse ground, weather or light conditions or any other reason, shall only be made on the final scheduled day of the match with the exception of the Final (See 5(A)).. The timing and duration of all suspensions of play (including all intervals) or delays on any day will be taken into account when calculating the length of time available for either innings.

(ii) The object shall always be to rearrange the number of overs so that, if possible, both teams have the opportunity of batting for the same number of overs.

(iii) Except as provided for in Clause 5 (C) (ii) (c) below, the calculation of the number of overs to be bowled shall be based on a rate of 16 overs per hour in the total time available for play up to 7.10 p.m. on the last scheduled day of the match. A minimum of 10 overs must be bowled to the team batting second (subject to it not being all out earlier) in order to constitute a match, except if the provisions of Clause 5 (C) (ii) (b) (ii) apply (i.e. if the innings of the team batting second is reduced to less than 10 overs as a result of that team having earlier failed to bowl the required number of overs (minimum 10 overs) by the scheduled time for the completion of the first innings).

(iv) If the team fielding second fails to bowl the required number of overs by the scheduled cessation time, the hours of play shall, subject to conditions of ground, weather and light, be extended until the overs have been bowled or a result has been achieved.

(v)The team batting second shall not bat for a greater number of overs than the team batting first, unless the latter has been all out in less than the agreed number of overs.

(vi) Fractions are to be ignored in all calculations re the number of overs.

(b) Delay or Interruption to the Innings of the Team Batting First

(i)If the number of overs of the team batting first is reduced, a fixed time will be specified for the completion of its innings, as calculated by applying the provisions of Clauses 5(C) (ii) (a) (i), (ii) and (iii).

(ii) If the team fielding first fails to bowl the required number of overs by the rescheduled time for the cessation of the first innings, play shall continue until the required number of overs has been bowled and Clauses 5(C) (i) (b) and 5(C) (i) (c) shall apply.

(iii) If the team batting first is all out, and the last wicket falls at or after the rescheduled time for the cessation of the first innings. Clause 5(C) (i) (c) shall apply.

(c) Delay or Interruption to the Innings of the Team Batting Second

If it is not possible for the team batting second to have the opportunity of batting for the same number of overs as the team batting first, the overs to be bowled shall be reduced at a rate of 16 overs per hour for playing time lost bearing in mind the provisions of Clauses 5 (C) (ii) (a) (i) and (iii).

Note: The Home Authority will provide a Match Manager. After any hold up in play, the Umpires will notify the Scorers of the number of overs lost and the Scorers will perform the Duckworth/Lewis calculations required (see Regulation H(iv)). The Umpires will both satisfy themselves as to the correctness of all such calculations before allowing play to take place. The Match Manager will notify the Captains, Scorers and all others concerned of such decisions. The Match Manager should understand the Duckworth/Lewis method and be able to assist the Umpires in checking calculations.

(D) The Result

(i)When there is no interruption during the course of the match and when both sides have had the opportunity, subject to the provisions of Clause 5(C) (i) (b) above, of batting for the same agreed number of overs, the team scoring the higher number of runs shall be the winner. In the event of a tie, the following shall apply:

(a) The team losing the lesser number of wickets shall be the winner.

(b) If both teams are all out, the team with the higher overall scoring rate, based on the respective number of balls that each team has received, shall be the winner.

(c) If the result cannot be decided by (a) or (b), the winner shall be the team with the higher score after 30 overs, or if still equal after 25 overs, or if still equal after 20 overs etc.

(ii) If, due to suspension of play after the start of the match, the number of overs in the innings of either team has to be revised to a lesser number than that originally allotted (minimum 10 overs), then a revised target score should be set for the number of overs which the team batting second will have the opportunity of facing, this revised target being calculated by the Duckworth/Lewis method as described in Regulation H(iv). Only if the second innings score is equal to the target score can the result be a Tie.

(iii) If a match is abandoned before it has been played to a conclusion and before the team batting second has received its allotted number of overs (providing that it has received not less than 10 overs) the result shall be decided by the Duckworth/Lewis method (see Regulation H(iv)).

(iv) In the event of a Tie when the Duckworth/Lewis method has been used clause D(v) will apply.

(v)In the event of no result being obtained within this rule in a knockout match, the Captains should, if circumstances (outdoors or indoors) permit, agree (in case of disagreement the Umpires shall decide) to the following form of ‘bowl-out’ contest to achieve a result: five players from each side will bowl overarm two deliveries each at a wicket (conforming to Law 8) from a single stump pitched at a distance of 22 yards with, if practicable, bowling, popping and return creases (conforming to Law 9). The side which bowls down the wicket (as defined in Law 28.1 (a)) most times shall be the winner. If the scores are equal, the same players will bowl one ball each alternately to achieve a result on a ‘sudden death’ basis. If circumstances make the contest impossible, the match shall be decided by the toss of a coin. The following shall also apply in respect of ‘bowl-outs’:

(a) The same suitably acceptable ball (not a new one) will be used by both teams.

(b) If a bowler bowls a ‘no ball’ it will count as one of his two deliveries but will not count towards the score of the team.

(c) If the original match has started, the five cricketers to take part in the ‘bowl-out’ must be selected from the original II cricketers and the 12th man. If there has been no play in the original match (the toss has not taken place), the five cricketers may be selected from any of a County’s registered cricketers.

(d) No player shall be permitted to stand in front of or behind the wicket or tend the stumps in any way in order to act as a ‘target’ for the bowlers.

(E) Restrictions on the Placement of Fieldsmen:

(i)At the instant of delivery there shall not be more than five fieldsmen on the leg side.

(ii) At the instant of delivery a minimum of four fieldsman (plus the bowler and wicket-keeper) must be within an area bounded by two semi-circles centred on each middle stump (each with a radius of 30 yards) and joined by a parallel line on each side of the pitch (the fielding circle). The fielding circle should be marked by painted white ‘dots’ at five-yard intervals, each ‘dot’ to be covered by a white plastic or rubber (but not metal) disc measuring seven inches in diameter.

(iii) If one or more fieldsmen leaves the field for any reason other than because he has sustained an obvious, serious injury, and the five-over regulation regarding a substitute consequently applies (as provided for in First Class Playing Condition No. 7 - All Matches), the minimum number of fieldsmen required inside the fielding circle may be reduced correspondingly.

(iv) In the event of an infringement of any of the above fielding restrictions, the square leg Umpire shall call and signal ‘No Ball’.

(F) Number of Overs per Bowler

No bowler may bowl more than twelve overs, however, in a delayed start or interrupted match, where the overs are reduced for both sides or for the side bowling second, no bowler may bowl more than one-fifth of the total overs allowed (unless such a number has been exceeded before the interruption), except that where the total overs are not divisible by five, an additional over shall be allowed to the minimum number of bowlers necessary to make up the balance - e.g. after 16 overs, rain interrupts play and the innings is reduced to 32 overs. Both opening bowlers have bowled 8 overs. Two bowlers can bowl 7 overs and three bowlers can bowl 6. Bowlers 1 and 2 have already exceeded this limit. They count as the two bowlers who were allowed the extra over (7 as opposed to 6) and so any other bowlers are limited to 6 overs.

When an interruption occurs mid-over and on resumption the bowler has exceeded the new maximum allocation, he will be allowed to finish the incompleted over.

In the event of a bowler breaking down and being unable to complete an over, the remaining balls will be bowled by another bowler. Such

part of an over will count as a full over only in so far as each bowler’s limit is concerned.

The number of overs bowled by each individual bowler shall be indicated on the scoreboard from the commencement of an innings.

The allocation of overs per bowler will not be reduced as a result of the deduction of penalty overs.

(G) Declarations

Law 14 will not apply in this competition. The Captain of the batting side may not declare his innings closed at any time during the course of a match.

(H) Laws 24.8 and 24.11 - No Ball - Penalty and Batsman Given Out Off a No Ball

Theamendments to Laws 24.8 and 24.11 set out in First-Class

Playing Condition Nos. 28 and 29 will apply.

(I) Law 25.1 - Wide Ball - Judging a Wide and Law 25.2 - Penalty

Umpires are instructed to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation in regard to this Law in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket.

As a guide, if the ball passes either side of the wicket sufficiently wide to make it virtually impossible for the striker to play a ‘normal cricket stroke’ both from where he is standing and from where he should normally be standing at the crease, the Umpire should call and signal ‘Wide’.

A penalty of one run for a Wide shall be scored if no runs are made otherwise.

(J) Law 42.8 - The Bowling of Fast, Short-pitched Balls

In addition to Experimental Law 42.8, the following will apply:

If the ball passes, or would have passed, above the shoulder height of the striker standing upright at the crease, the Umpire at the bowler’s end shall call and signal ‘No Ball’.

5 OVER RATE FINES

All sides are expected to complete the bowling of their 60 overs within 3 hrs. 45 mins. playing time. In the event of their failing to do so, the full quota of overs will be completed, but the fielding side will be fined for every over which it has failed to bowl in the allotted time at the rates listed below.

If the innings is limited in advance to less than 3 hrs. 45 mins. (less than 60 overs), the calculations will be revised accordingly (the required over rate being 16 overs per hour for all playing time).

All fines levied will be divided equally between the County Club and the players, with the contribution to be made by each individual player to any fine being decided by the County concerned.