Proposed by: The League Management Board
Rule 14.1
Change From: No club is permitted to cancel a scheduled match due to the unavailability of players unless it has first cancelled a match involving a team of lower rank or seniority.
Change To: Clubs wishing to cancel a scheduled match due to the unavailability of players must obtain permission from the League Management if they wish to still go ahead with a fixture in a lower division without breaking team strengthening rules.
Note: To allow matches to take place in lower divisions taking ECB Disparity Regulations into account. The current rules force clubs to use players from lower divisions in divisions above their playing standard. This is deemed to be unsafe by the governing body and safeguarding regulations.
Ballot Result: Yes 115, No 15, Abstain 4
Proposed by: The League Management Board
Rule 31.3, 31.4, 31.5
Change from: 31.3 Where umpires are not appointed from either Umpires’ Panel, clubs will be responsible for providing a non-playing umpire for each of their teams and must satisfy themselves as to the ability of such umpires. Such umpires will umpire for the whole match. 31.4 If there is only one designated non-playing umpire then the two captains will agree that he/she will umpire for the whole match either; I. changing ends and acting as bowler’s end umpire for the whole match with players acting as striker’s end umpire for the whole match. II. staying at one end and alternating between bowler’s end umpire and striker’s end umpire with players alternating between bowler’s end umpire and striker’s end umpire at the other end.
Change To: 31.3 In Division 1 and below, each club will be responsible for providing a non-playing umpire for each match and must satisfy themselves as to the ability of such umpires. Such umpires will umpire for the whole match. 31.4 In Division 1, if only one team provides a non-playing umpire then that team can decide whether or not their umpire acts as the bowler's end umpire for the entire match, and the other team must accept their decision. This decision cannot be reversed once the match starts. If the sole non-playing umpire does act as the bowler's end umpire for the entire match then the team that has not provided a non-playing umpire must pay £25, before the match starts, to the team that has provided a non-playing umpire. However, if the sole non-playing umpire does not act as the bowler's end umpire for the entire match then no such payment is required. Either way, players from the batting team will act as the other umpire. 31.5 In Division 2 & below, if only one team provides a non-playing umpire, the captains must reach agreement as to whether that umpire will act as the bowler's end umpire for the whole match, or remain at one end. This decision may not be changed once the match starts by either captain. Either way, players from the batting team will act as the other umpire. The mandatory payment described in 31.4 will not apply, though teams are encouraged to reach a fair agreement regarding any sharing of any costs.
Note: To remove confusion when there is only one umpire in a D1 match.
Ballot Result: Yes 112, No 14, Abstain 8
Proposed by: The League Management Board
Rule 21.1 [iii]
Change From: In the ECB Premier Division & Premier Division II the cost of teas will be borne by the host club.
Change To: In all divisions the cost of teas will be borne by the host club. Note: To resolve continual issues over the payment of teas.
Ballot Result: Yes 105, No 22, Abstain 7
Proposed by: Hornsea Cricket Club
Rule 19.1 [ii]
Add ‘Championship’ to this rule
19.1 [i]
Remove ‘Championship’.
Note: Reduces the number of overs at Championship level. Very detailed research has been carried out by the Hornsea club which is on a separate document.
Ballot Result: Yes 6, No 28, Abstain 2
Proposed by: Hornsea Cricket Club.
Rule 18.1 [ii]
Change from ‘and at 1:00 PM in the First Division and lower divisions, unless adverse ground or weather conditions prevent this’
Change to ‘and at 1:00 PM in the Championship and lower divisions, unless adverse ground or weather conditions prevent this’ This rule will only come into effect if the proposal by Hornsea CC to reduce overs in the Championship is carried.
Ballot Result: Yes 11, No 23, Abstain 2
Proposed by: The League Management Board
Rule 8.5 [V]
Introduce: In the Beckett Divisions there shall be 12 teams in Division One and 10 teams in all other divisions except Division Four where the number may vary.
Note: The Beckett teams took part in a recent ballot which confirmed that the majority supported this method of team allocation.
Ballot Result: Yes 27 , No nil, Abstain nil
Proposed by: Knaresborough Cricket Club
Rule 23.1
Change from: In all divisions, bowlers will be restricted to a maximum of one-quarter of the overs allocated for the innings (fractions of an over to count as one over).
Change to: In all divisions, bowlers will be restricted to a maximum of one-quarter of the overs allocated for the innings (fractions of an over to count as one over) except the two ECB Premier Divisions where the restriction will be 30 percent of the overs.
Note: This rule change has been proposed to bring YPLN into line with the other 31 ECB Premier Leagues.
Ballot Result: Yes 6, No 14, Abstain nil
Cricket Balls
We have now had three years of using the ‘Dukes’ range of cricket balls. At the time of writing no complaints have been received for products supplied in 2025.
Ballot Result:
Dukes 125
Reader 7
Lords 2
New Clubs
Mulgrave [2026] Yes 120, No 4, Abstain 10
Heworth III [2026] Yes 121, No 2, Abstain 11
The Century Club [2026] Yes 114, No 2, Abstain 18
Eggborough Power Station [2027] Yes 117, No 4, Abstain 14
Old Sharlston [2027] Yes 117, No 4, Abstain 14
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