SERIAL 3
Competition Rule G4: delete from first sentence ‘unless the match involves a team that does not play on Sundays, in which case it shall be arranged for the third Friday’[Soft Break][This would make the fourth Sunday the automatic rearrangement date for all matches, unless the teams involved agree an earlier date. It would remove the automatic third Friday date for teams not playing on Sundays.
It is emphasised that the Serial is intended to avoid obligatory full length games being played on Fridays with the inevitable disruption to work etc.
It is appreciated that this Serial is a sensitive issue both for individuals and some clubs due to the knock-on effect of the playing of Sunday cricket.
The Board has been approached by a number of sources including several clubs to reconsider the position. Having revisited the matter the Board remain of the view that avoiding the full game re-arrangement on Fridays is desirable anddoes meet the expressed desire of the vast majority of clubs.
However, the Board have considered the following proposal from Ballymena Cricket Club and supported by a number of other clubs:-
Competition Rule G4 shall be amended to read as follows:
'Matches shall be rearranged for the fourth Sunday following the postponement or
abandonment, unless the match involves a team that does not play on Sundays, in
which case,if the match as rearranged is Match 1, it shall be played on two
consecutive nights prior to the fourth Sunday, or, if Match 2, as a weekday match prior to the fourth Sunday. The teams may agree to play on an earlier date in either case. The Section Secretary may impose an earlier date than that agreed by theclubs where there is an intervening Saturday on which both teams are free and thereappears to him to be no good reason why the match should not proceed.'
[This would mean that, unless both teams agree otherwise, a postponed or
abandoned match involving a team that does not play on Sundays would be
rearranged, if Match 1, as a weekday two-night match or, if Match 2, as an eveningmatch on a weekday.]
After due consideration the Board has agreed that the above proposal addresses the Friday cricket issue as well as the sensitivities of the playing of Sunday cricket.
Under General Rule 8 the Board cannot propose an amendment to Serial 3 which was not submitted before the due date, however the proposalmay be madeto the AGM by way ofan amendmentto the proposed Serial 3 under General Rule 8(i) provided same is proposed and seconded from the floor.
In order to clarify the position of re-arrangements and the affects of the amendment to be proposed to Serial 3, this Serial will be considered after consideration of Serial 5.
The Board would ask clubs to consider the Ballymena CC proposal in advance of the AGM and to take into account the legitimate competing interests and the sensitivities of the matter for individuals and clubs.
