Fast bowling directive
The Fast Bowling Directives are designed to raise awareness of the need to nurture and protect our young fast bowlers through their formative years, and have been welcomed by a significant number of coaches and managers.
Statistics clearly show that fast bowlers regularly win International matches, and if England is to achieve the vision of becoming the most successful and respected cricket nation, every effort must be taken to produce bowlers to reach the goal.
The regulations for the number of overs to be bowled by a pace bowler in a spell and in a day (regardless of how many matches are played) are as follows:-
• Up to Age 13. Maximum of 5 overs per spell, maximum of 10 overs per day (regardless of how many matches played)
• Ages U14 and U15. Maximum of 6 overs per spell, maximum of 12 overs per day (regardless of how many matches played)
• Ages U16, U17. U18 and U19. Maximum of 7 overs per spell, maximum of 18 overs per day (regardless of how many matches played)
For the purposes of these Directives a fast bowler is defined as a bowler to whom a wicket keeper in the same age group would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball.
Having completed a spell the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs, to the length of his spell, have been bowled from the same end.
A bowler can change ends without ending his current spell provided that he bowls the next over that he legally can from the other end. If this does not happen his spell is deemed to be concluded.
If play is interrupted, for any reason, for less than 40 minutes any spell in progress at the time of the interruption can be continued after the interruption up to the maximum number of overs per spell for the appropriate age group. If the spell is not continued after the interruption the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell before the interruption have been bowled from the same end. If the interruption is of 40 minutes or more, whether scheduled or not, the bowler can commence a new spell immediately.
Once a bowler covered by these Directives has bowled in a match he cannot exceed the maximum number of overs per day for his age group even if he subsequently bowls spin. He can exceed the maximum overs per spell if bowling spin, but cannot then revert to bowling fast until an equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled from the same end. If he bowls spin without exceeding the maximum number of overs in a spell the maximum will apply as soon as he reverts to bowling fast.
It is incumbent on players or parents to ensure that the manager, captain and umpire of the match is aware of any overs you/your child have already bowled on that day. Players who exceed these Directives will be exposed to higher risk of injury.