Arising from concerns recently expressed about the standard of some scoring records, the Management Committee wishes to remind all clubs that maintenance of clear and accurate scoring records is required both by the Laws of the Game, and by the Rules of the Association.

Specifically, clubs are reminded that under Rule 17(h) of the Association, 2010 Handbook p 15, captains are expected to confirm and sign both scorebooks at the end of each innings; and failure to do so will be taken into account in determining any subsequent Protest or dispute.

Where there are no appointed umpires, should captains be unable to agree on the score, then it is even more important that both sign both books, if necessary subject to protest, confirming the jointly agreed score – or variant scores if no agreement can be reached.  In the latter event, which is hopefully exceptional, play should continue on the basis that the team batting second requires to exceed the higher figure postulated for the first innings in order to secure a definite victory; subject always to its right to lodge a Protest in accordance with Rule 15 if it fails to reach that but still exceeds a lower total that it believes it can prove is correct to the civil standard of proof – "more likely than not".

DM Jones
Honorary Secretary