With the county youth programme in full swing and demand on young players increasing we would like to remind clubs at the December 2004 meeting of the Devon Cricket Board the following criteria, in respect of player availability, was agreed. This will apply to all affiliated cricket in Devon.

•  In order to optimise the standard, performance and development of cricket and cricketers in Devon, and to avoid any ambiguity or undue pressure on players when fixture clashes arise, the Board has agreed priority criteria that are to be applied to all affiliated clubs. The criteria will apply to all matches in competitions under the auspices of the ECB, MCCA, and Devon CB (which includes, by definition, competitions organised by the Devon Cricket League / WCA on the Board's behalf), but not to friendly or trial matches.

•  The criteria are, quite simply, that a player should play for teams for which he or she is selected in the following order: 1. Country; 2. County; 3. Club/School. Thus, for example, if a player is selected to play for Devon , or a county age-group team, and his club on the same day, he should play for the County team, and may not play for his club on that day. Similarly, if a player is selected for, say, England U17, he may not play for his county, county age-group or club on that day.

•  It should be noted that, notwithstanding the above, the Board will continue to act to avoid fixture clashes wherever possible, in coordination with the other agencies involved.

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