What do I need to know to play senior (adult) club cricket in the Central Gauteng Lions leagues? Leagues and formats, transfers and clearances, overseas players, helmets, juniors in adult games, conduct, discipline and lightning.
Central Gauteng Lions (CGL) is the provincial cricket union for Johannesburg and surrounding areas such as Vereeniging, Heidelberg and Randfontein. Its 2025/26 senior club fixtures cover:
Every match is played under the MCC Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 3rd Edition, 2022) as changed by one of four CGL playing conditions documents:
| Format | Key points |
|---|---|
| 50 overs | One innings each; max 10 overs per bowler; 09:15 to 16:45 |
| 35 overs (men's and ladies) | Max 7 overs per bowler; Saturday One to Six play 13:00 to 18:00 |
| 20 overs |
| Max 4 overs per bowler; at least 5 overs each for a result |
| Time cricket | Two innings each in a day (09:15 to 18:00); first innings capped at 65 overs if you chose to bat, 75 if you chose to field |
Promotion and relegation are at the CGL Board's discretion. If two teams finish level on points, the place in the final goes to the team with more wins, then fewer losses, then more match points, then more bonus points, then the head-to-head result, then a coin toss.
Under the CGL By-laws, the same process applies in season and out of season:
Tertiary institution exception: if you're awarded a bursary for a recognised course, you can move to the tertiary institution's club without the 14-day wait. You still need a clearance from your old club, and must tell the CGL office in writing, with proof of the bursary, before your first game. The same applies when you leave the tertiary club after finishing or stopping your studies. Any debts in your name must be cleared first.
Penalty for playing before you're cleared: the club loses the points for that match (during the season), is fined R500 and loses a further 3 points, and you're suspended until CGL grants the clearance.
Generally no. Under the CGL By-laws:
Penalties: for playing for more than one club, or for a club in another union, the club loses the points for that match, is fined R500 and loses a further 3 points, and the player is suspended. Playing for two clubs without CGL permission is also a Level 2 code of conduct offence.
Yes, within limits set by the CGL By-laws:
Penalty for breaking the demotion rule: the club loses the points for that match, is fined R500 and loses a further 3 points, and the player is suspended for a match.
Yes, with the CGL Board's prior consent. Under the CGL By-laws:
The CGL 2025/26 playing conditions (all formats) say:
Under the CGL By-laws, players under 18 must wear a helmet with a faceguard when batting or keeping wicket standing up, and parental consent to play without one is not accepted.
Juniors can play in CGL adult matches, with these safeguards from the CGL By-laws and playing conditions (age groups are based on the player's age at midnight on 31 August before the season):
The CGL Code of Conduct applies to players, umpires, team officials, managers, spectators and ground staff at any match played under CGL. Participants must not:
Attempting a breach counts the same as committing one.
The CGL Code of Conduct has four levels:
| Level | Examples | Sanction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dissent at an umpire's decision; obscene language or gesture; abusing equipment or fixtures; excessive appealing or time-wasting after a warning; aggressively pointing towards the pavilion after a dismissal | At least an official reprimand, at most a 1-match suspension |
| 2 | Serious dissent; public or social media criticism of a match incident or official; deliberate physical contact; charging at an umpire; throwing the ball dangerously at a player; playing over-age, under-age or unregistered players; playing for two clubs without CGL permission; serious or repeated slow over rates (captain) | 2 to 4 matches |
| 3 | Intimidating an umpire or match referee; threatening to assault another participant; racial, religious or similar vilification; ball tampering | 4 to 8 matches |
| 4 | Physical assault or any act of violence; threatening or assaulting an umpire or match referee; serious vilification based on race, religion, gender, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin | 10 matches up to a life ban |
The panel may suspend part of a sanction. If you've been found guilty of the same or a similar offence in the previous 24 months, the panel may apply the next level's penalty. A captain with more than two disciplinary actions in a season can also be moved up a level.
Suspensions apply to the next regulated matches after the finding.
Under the CGL Rules and Code of Conduct:
Appeal: send written notice of appeal, with your grounds, to the Convener within 72 hours of being told the decision. The sanction is suspended while the appeal is pending. The Appeal Board can dismiss the appeal, change the finding or increase the penalty, and its decision is final.
If you represent any CSA affiliate, the panel can also rule you ineligible for selection until your sanction is served.
The CGL Lightning Policy (revised 1 September 2025) applies zero tolerance to lightning, whatever the state of the match. Where no official umpires are appointed, the captains take on the umpires' role.
Play stops immediately (or does not start or resume) as soon as the umpires:
Players and umpires must leave the field straight away for a safe place, such as a brick or concrete building. Nobody can be expected to cover the pitch once play is suspended for lightning; covers go on only if the call was early enough to do it safely, under the umpires' direction.
Resuming play: play does not restart until 30 minutes have passed with no lightning within 20 km of the venue. Where a venue has a lightning detection system showing the storm moving away beyond 20 km, the umpires may resume when they agree it is safe. The approved app is Lightning Alarm.
Because electronic devices aren't allowed on the field during play, scorers and team managers or coaches must watch the app and warn the umpires.