Welcome to another season of cricket with the Mid Kent Cricket League Firstly, let me congratulate Rainham C.C and Sevenoaks Vine MKL II on winning their respective Divisions last year and to all the individual trophy winners for their achievements. For Rainham, it has meant promotion to Kent League Division 3 but sadly not for Sevenoaks Vine. As the Kent League rules stand at present, the Vine already have two teams within the higher divisions and so are prevented from taking their rightful place. Their loss has been Offham C.C's gain - as runners-up in Division Two they have been invited to fill the vacancy. I wish them every success and hope that a solution can be quickly by found to enable the Vine to be promoted in the near future.
The end of the season saw for the first time direct promotion to the MKL from Division Five of the Kent League (Central League). Thus we welcome Upchurch C.C and also Herne Bay C.C who successfully applied for membership of this League. I wish them very success in the years to come.
The AGM in November endorsed the recommendation to split Division One in to two halves and so for the first time, Clubs will be playing not only for promotion and relegation but also against each other home and away in the same season. Until such time as relegation from Division 3 of the Kent League takes place, three Clubs will be promoted but only two relegated between the two Divisions. Divison 2 (2nd XI's) will continue to play everyone just the once. Let us give it a try - if it doesn't work we can always change it back!!
The winter has been one of the wettest on record and together with the Foot and Mouth outbreak there must be some doubt as to if, and when the season can start. As far as the weather is concerned - you all know when your own grounds are playable or not and as for the Foot and Mouth, although the ECB are producing guide lines, we should all be respecting the restrictions where they apply.
The winter also saw the introduction of the revised Laws of Cricket. The changes, apart from the odd one or two apply immediately and hopefully, you will all have had a chance to attend a lecture or two on the revised Laws during the closed season. If, you have not done so, then it is imperative that you acquaint yourself with the many changes before the season starts.
The Laws now place greater emphasis on the responsibility of the Captains. To quote the Laws,
"The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws."
Breaches of the Spirit of the Game will involve the Captain being reported to the 'relevant authority'. Beware - if this breach involves 'bad behaviour' then, under the Voluntary Code of Conduct you will find youself suspended!!!
There is no need for any of this to happen if the game is played in the correct manner - Captains take responsibility for your players and Clubs - appoint the right person as your Captain.
It is not possible to cover all of the Law changes in this handbook but I do think it will be of benefit for everyone, player, umpire, scorer, spectator, etc to at least read "The Preamble - The Spirit of Cricket". I have therefore included this and the Voluntary Code of Conduct (copied in its entirety from the Kent League Handbook) in this handbook. Please take the time to read them both - it might save you from having some cricket 'free' weekends.
Finally, cricket is a game of sport. Despite all the Law changes and the Spirit of the Game it is worth pondering the definition of 'sport' or its derivatives in the dictionary:-
| 'sport' | n game, activity for pleasure, competition,exercise, enjoyment , cheerful person, good loser. |
| 'sporting' | behaving with fairness and generosity. |
| 'sportsman' | one who engages in sport, good loser. |
Enough said I think!!.
I hope that you and your Clubs have a successful and enjoyable season.