Bradford League's anomaly continues

1:03pm Friday 21st November 2008

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The anomaly of sides being ‘punished’ for being too good will continue in the JCT600 Bradford League next season.

If sides bowl first and dismiss their opponents for 118 or under, they will only be able to gain a maximum of 15 points.

The ‘full house’ of 20 points, however, will still be collected if a side dismiss their opponents for, say, 225 and knock the runs off, despite being less efficient.

Nevertheless, the move towards 20 points for a victory regardless is getting closer.

Spen Victoria’s proposal, seconded by Woodlands, that the victors will receive 20 points and that the losers would be the only ones to get bonus points went to a recount at the league’s annual meeting at Pudsey Congs.

With a simple majority needed, the original vote was 16-16 but, after a recount, the proposed rule change was defeated 17-16.

The rule change also included five points for a tie plus bonus points, and four points for an abandoned or incomplete match plus bonus points.

A proposal by the captains and the Umpires’ Association, seconded by East Bierley, that start times be brought forward half an hour to 1pm, except in September, was defeated 18-16.

The introduction of fielding circles and leg-side wides for league matches proved unpopular, both proposals falling, but Farsley’s proposal that matches cannot start if more than 60 overs have been lost was carried 21-7.