MORE OVERS FOR UNDER-15s

ECB eases restrictions for 2010

Young bowlers throughout Lincolnshire will benefit from changes in the restrictions placed on them by the ECB.
Club representatives attending the Lincs League AGM this week received the news from Lincoln umpires' representative Steve Massingham.
The Lincolnshire League, and clubs, had yet to be told by the governing body in London.
Steve reported the new limits, coming into effect at the start of next season, will be:

Under-13s: Five overs a spell (10 maximum per match).

Under-14s/under-15s: Six overs a spell (12 in a match).

Under-16s, under-17s, under-18s, under-19s: Seven overs a spell (18 in a match).

These so-called 'fast bowling' directives do not apply to spin/slow bowlers, for whom a keeper of his age group could comfortably stand up to the stumps.
The ECB says the fast bowling directives have changed following a two-year consultation process. The outcome is that bowlers up to under-15 level are now able to bowl longer spells and more overs in a day.
Under the new guidelines bowlers at under-16 and under-17 level are now permitted to bowl an extra over per spell, but those in the under-18 and under-19 category have had the total number of overs they can deliver per day reduced from 21 to 18.
These guidelines will come into effect for the start of the 2010 season.
The fast bowling guidelines are designed to raise awareness of the need to nurture and protect young fast bowlers through their formative years. Research has shown that fast bowlers are by far the most likely players to be missing playing and training time due to injury.
Lincs Cricket Latest has located the relevant information on the ECB website, and here's a helpful link to take you straight there, if you wish to read more
Fast bowling directives