WITH the start of the new Bradford Premier League season this weekend, here is a guide to what is new for the 2022 campaign.

The points system has received a tweak with the amount awarded for an abandoned game being raised from three to five and a tie from five to seven.

If two or more teams finish level on points and wins at the end of the season, their relative positions will now be determined by net run rate.

The net run rate of teams will be displayed on all league tables throughout the season.

In first team matches there will be a wide line marked on the pitch to help umpires with their interpretation of offside wides.

Umpires shall call a ball wide if they consider that the ball passed outside of the wide line on the off side when the striker is in a normal guard stance.

However, if the striker makes a significant movement and the umpire deems that in doing so, they could reach the ball, even if they subsequently miss it or do not play a shot, a wide will not be called even if the ball lands on or passes outside of the wide line.

The definition of a leg-side wide has been amended to make it clear that the ball must pass behind the striker as well as missing leg stump without hitting their bat or the person.

In the cup competitions, there will now be two powerplays instead of the one fixed powerplay at the start of the innings.

In the Priestley Cup, the first powerplay will be for the opening 10 overs of each innings during which only two fielders can be outside the fielding circle.

Each team then has a five over batting power play which is activated by either of the batsmen at the wicket and only three fielders are allowed outside the fielding circle.

If the batting side has not called its batting powerplay earlier, it will come in to force for overs 36-40.

For the non-powerplay overs, a side will only be allowed to have five fielders outside the fielding circle.

In the Jack Hampshire Cup and Priestley Shield, the first powerplay will be for the opening eight overs and the batting powerplay of four overs will come into force in the 27th over if it has not been called earlier.

In the Premier Division, there will be a post-match meeting between the two captains and two umpires to review the game.

Together they will complete an on-line match report form in which the captains will mark the umpires.

The match officials will award fair play marks to both teams, and they will jointly mark the pitch.

The aim is to improve communication between captains and umpires so that they can speak honestly and openly about the match in which they have been involved.

League chief executive Alan Birkinshaw said: “In the past captains and umpires have marked each other separately without either being aware of what was being submitted.

“Now there can be no surprises. The procedure is transparent, and we hope the dialogue will be constructive so that captains and umpires can achieve a better understanding of each other and the roles they play.”

If the meetings prove to be a success it is hoped that the procedure can be extended to the remaining divisions in future seasons.

The use of Duckworth Lewis Stern has all been extended to all first team cricket so Divisions Two and Three will be using it for the first time.