Devon Cricket Board - Exmouth backing Devon Cup rule change

Exmouth backing Devon Cup rule change

EXMOUTH will be backing a proposal to change the Devon Cup rules after they lost on the toss of a coin to Paignton.

Exmouth, who won the cup last year by beating arch rivals Sidmouth in the final at Plymouth, were 13 for one after five overs when their tie was called off last Sunday due to rain.

Competition rules say if a game starts and doesn’t finish the skippers toss a coin to decide who goes through.

A different rule states that when a game does not start at all, a reply has to take place before the next round is due to be played.

Richard Baggs, the Exmouth captain, said to have two rules covering the same situation with a different outcome was ridiculous and needed changing.

“We have already been on to the league management and they have a lot of sympathy for our case,” said Baggs.

“Because we started we had to toss a coin, but at Bradninch they didn’t start the game so they get to have another go.

“Having spoken to the league chairman, he agrees the rules need changing.

“I will leave it to someone else to sort out the exact wording, but what we would like to see is the chance of a replay for all rained off games that don’t go a minimum distance and a bowl out if the replay is hit by rain as well.

“You would probably have to have a toss-of-the-coin option as a last resort – and that’s what it has to be. A last resort.”

Stuart Munday, the league chairman, said the abandonment rules were discussed at an executive meeting on Monday night when it was agreed they needed amending.

“The rules have been changed in the past and no one seems to have realised they have become out of date,” said Munday.

“No one on the executive can remember this issue coming up before – which is why no one realised there was a problem.

“We would back a change with the toss of a coin as a last resort. Now we need a club to draw something up and to get it proposed and seconded.”

Exmouth take on Sidmouth tomorrow in a Premier Division top-of-the-table clash looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s defeat by Exeter.

Sidmouth beat Plymouth to move in at the top of the shop and knock Exmouth down to second place.

Baggs is again without seamer Matt Webb (pictured), who looks like he needs surgery on a knee problem, and holidaying medium pacer Ollie Dawe.

Exmouth are a bit thin on the ground for replacement and Baggs admits they face a tough task against Sidmouth.

“Sidmouth probably have the best balanced side in the Premier Division and are hard to beat at anytime, so with a couple missing it will be tough for us,” said Baggs.
“Having said that we have beaten them before and will be looking to do it again.”
"Sidmouth is always help for seamers, so starting earlier should be an advantage to the side winning the toss.

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