Captain's Guide to Cricket Australia Community Club Cricket All ages 2026/27

Under Law 1.2 of the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026):

• Nominate in writing: each captain nominates their players in writing to one of the umpires before the toss.
• Changing a player: no player may be replaced after the nomination without the consent of the opposing captain. If consent is given, the captain of the team making the change informs the umpires and scorers.
• The replacement is treated as the same player: a replacement cannot bat in an innings in which the player they replaced has completed their innings, and inherits any unserved Penalty time, warnings or suspensions that applied to the original player.
• If you are unavailable: if the captain is not available to nominate the players, any person associated with the team may act as deputy to do so (Law 1.3.2).
• Numbers: a side has eleven players including the captain, though by agreement sides may have fewer or more than eleven, and no more than eleven may field at any time (Law 1.1).
• Who may bat and bowl: only a nominated player may bat or act as a runner (Law 25.1), and a substitute fielder may not bowl or act as captain (Law 24.1.2).

Under the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026):

• When and where: the captains toss a coin for the choice of innings on the field of play, in the presence of one or both umpires, not earlier than 30 minutes nor later than 15 minutes before the scheduled or any rescheduled start of play (Law 13.4).
• Who: after the players are nominated, only a nominated player can deputise for the captain, including at the toss (Law 1.3.3).
• The decision: as soon as the toss is completed, the winning captain decides whether to bat or field and notifies the opposing captain and the umpires. Once notified, the decision cannot be changed (Law 13.5).
• Before the toss the umpires meet both captains and determine the balls, hours of play and intervals, the timepiece, the boundary and boundary allowances (including any obstacle within the field), use of covers, and any special conditions (Law 2.3.1).
• Pitch inspection: the Ground Authority must grant suitable facility to the captains to inspect the pitch before the nomination of their players (Law 10.1).
• Fitness of the pitch is for the umpires alone to judge (Law 6.2), and the pitch may be changed during the match only if the umpires decide it is dangerous or unreasonable and both captains consent (Law 6.4).

Under the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026):

Declaring (Law 15.1): with the exception of the final innings of the match, the captain of the batting side may declare an innings closed, when the ball is dead, at any time during the innings. A declared innings is a completed innings.

Forfeiting (Law 15.2): with the exception of the final innings of the match, a captain may forfeit either of their side's innings at any time before that innings begins. A forfeited innings is a completed innings.

Notifying (Law 15.3): you must notify the opposing captain and the umpires of any decision to declare or forfeit. Once notified, the decision cannot be changed.

Follow-on (Laws 14.1 and 14.2): the side batting first has the option of requiring the other side to follow on if it leads by at least: 200 runs in a match of 5 days or more; 150 runs in a match of 3 or 4 days; 100 runs in a 2-day match; 5 runs in a 1-day match. You must notify the opposing captain and the umpires, and once notified the decision cannot be changed.

Limited-overs and agreed formats: the number of innings and any limit on overs or time can be agreed before the match under Law 13.1, and the agreement must also set criteria for determining the result when no side wins outright.

Under the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026):

• Start of each innings: unless an agreement to the contrary was made before the match, either captain may demand a new ball at the start of each innings (Law 4.3).
• Matches of more than one day: in a match scheduled to be of more than one day's duration, the fielding captain may demand a new ball when the number of overs bowled with the old one (excluding part overs) is 80 or more (Law 4.4).
• Lost or unfit ball: if the ball cannot be found or the umpires agree it has become unfit for play through normal use, the umpires replace it with a ball that has had comparable wear, and inform the batters and the fielding captain (Law 4.5).
• The umpires hold the balls throughout the match, and the umpire signals to the other umpire, the batters and the scorers whenever a new ball is taken into play (Laws 4.2 and 4.4).

The size of ball is determined by the Governing Body responsible for the match; if none has been determined, the umpires decide (Law 4.6).

The Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026) say:

• Fewer than 11: a match is between two sides of eleven, but by agreement it may be played between sides of fewer or more than eleven, with no more than eleven fielding at any time. If during the match a side is reduced below its nominated number, the match continues as long as that is possible under the Laws or any agreements made before the toss (Law 1.1).
• Captain not available: a deputy acts for you. Before nomination, any person associated with the team may deputise to nominate the players. After nomination, only a nominated player can deputise, including at the toss (Law 1.3).
• Fielder who is late: if a fielder fails to take the field at the start of play or later, an umpire must be told the reason. The fielder cannot come on during a session without the umpire's consent, and cannot bowl until they have served Penalty time on the field (up to 90 minutes), unless the absence incurs no Penalty time under Law 24.3 (an external blow during the match, or another wholly acceptable reason in the umpires' opinion, not illness or internal injury).
• Late batter: after a wicket or retirement, the incoming batter must be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready, within 3 minutes, otherwise they are out Timed out (Law 40.1). If no batter comes to the wicket, the umpires follow the Law 16.3 procedure for awarding a match.
• Toss: it is held not earlier than 30 minutes nor later than 15 minutes before the scheduled start (Law 13.4).

Under the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026):

Substitute fielder (Law 24.1): the umpires allow one if satisfied a fielder has been injured or become ill during the match, or for any other wholly acceptable reason; in all other circumstances not. A substitute cannot bowl or act as captain, and may keep wicket only with the umpires' consent.

Runner (Law 25.5): the umpires allow one if the batter has sustained an injury during the match that affects their ability to run, or for any other wholly acceptable reason. The runner must be a member of the batting side and, if possible, have already completed their innings.

Retiring (Law 25.4): a batter may retire when the ball is dead, and the umpires must be told the reason first. A batter who retires through illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause may resume their innings. If a batter retires for any other reason, they may resume only with your consent, as the opposing captain, otherwise they are recorded as "Retired - out". A retired batter can resume only at the fall of a wicket or the retirement of another batter.

Replacing a nominated player (Law 1.2.2): no player can be replaced after nomination without the opposing captain's consent, and you must then tell the umpires and scorers.

Absent fielders (Law 24.2): a fielder who leaves the field cannot bowl until they have been back on the field for the Penalty time (up to 90 minutes), unless they left because of an external blow during the match or another wholly acceptable reason in the umpires' opinion (not illness or internal injury).

On the field, accept it. The Spirit of Cricket in the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026) says to "accept the umpire's decision" and respect the authority of the umpires. An umpire's decision, once made, is final, although an umpire may alter a decision promptly provided it does not contradict Law 20.6 (Law 2.12). Where there is disagreement or dispute about any matter, the umpires together make the final decision (Law 2.11). The umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play (Law 2.6).

Showing dissent is an offence. Showing dissent at a decision by word or action is a Level 1 offence under Law 42, and serious dissent is Level 2. A team's first Level 1 offence brings a team-wide warning, and later offences bring 5 Penalty runs to the opposition.

How to raise it. Cricket Australia's Players Code of Behaviour says "Never argue with an umpire" and that if you disagree you raise it through your captain, coach or manager, during a break or after the game. Cricket Australia's Umpires Code of Behaviour asks umpires to be consistent, objective and courteous.

Appeals you have made: the fielding captain may withdraw an appeal only with the consent of the umpire concerned, before the next delivery (Law 31.8).

Sources: https://play.cricket.com.au/community/resources/codes-of-behaviour/players and https://www.lords.org/mcc/the-laws-of-cricket

Under Law 42 of the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026), the umpires summon and inform you, as the offending player's captain, whenever an offence occurs (for a batter, they summon you to the field):

• Level 1 (for example dissent at a decision, offensive language, excessive appealing): the team's first offence at any Level brings a first and final warning, which applies to all members of your team for the rest of the match. A Level 1 offence after any earlier offence by your team brings 5 Penalty runs to the opposition.
• Level 2 (for example serious dissent, deliberate physical contact with a player, seriously insulting language): 5 Penalty runs to the opposition, and a warning that any future Level 1 offence by your team means 5 more.
• Level 3 (intimidating an umpire, threatening to assault a player or other person except an umpire): you must remove the player immediately, for 10 overs in a match not limited by overs, or one fifth of the innings' overs in a limited-overs match. No substitute is allowed for a fielder, and 5 Penalty runs go to the opposition.
• Level 4 (threatening or making deliberate contact with an umpire, assault or any act of violence): you must remove the player for the rest of the match, with no substitute for a fielder, and 5 Penalty runs go to the opposition.

The umpires report each occurrence after the match to your team's Executive and any Governing Body responsible, who may take further action against the captain, other individuals and the team. If you refuse to remove a player under Level 3 or 4, the umpires can award the match to the other side (Law 42.6.1).

Under Law 16.3 of the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026):

• A match is lost by a side that concedes defeat, or that in the umpires' opinion refuses to play. If so, the umpires award the match to the other side.
• If an umpire considers an action by any player or players might be a refusal to play, that umpire calls Time and the umpires together find out the cause. If they decide together that it is a refusal, they tell that side's captain, and if the captain persists the umpires award the match.
• If you refuse to remove a player after a Level 3 or Level 4 conduct direction, the umpires invoke Law 16.3 (Law 42.6.1).
• If both captains refuse to carry out such instructions over the same incident, the umpires instruct the players to leave the field, the match is not concluded, and there is no result under Law 16 (Law 42.6.2).

If a match is decided by a side conceding or refusing to play, the result is stated as Match Conceded or Match Awarded (Law 16.7).

Cricket Australia's helmet recommendations page says, for community cricket:

• Since 2019 Cricket Australia has "strongly recommended" British Standard BS7928:2013 helmets when batting, keeping wicket up to the stumps, and fielding.
• Cricket Australia is now strongly recommending that community cricket participants wear a neck protector alongside a British Standard helmet.
• These are recommendations, not mandatory, for community cricket.

Mandatory requirements apply in Cricket Australia-managed and sanctioned competitions. Since the 2019/20 season, Cricket Australia, state and pathway players in those competitions must wear BS7928:2013 helmets when batting, keeping wicket up to the stumps, and fielding close to the batter. Since 2023-24, batters in all Cricket Australia-sanctioned competitions must wear the neck protector fitted to the rear of the helmet when facing fast or medium pace bowling.

The page adds that associations can use these resources to enforce helmet use for batting, neck protectors for batting, and helmets for wicket-keeping or fielding close to the stumps.

Source: https://play.cricket.com.au/community/resources/player-safety/helmet-recommendations