A new directive aimed at protecting young bowlers from injury has been causing confusion among league clubs.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has introduced restrictions on the number of overs a young fast bowler can bowl and has also issued instructions on technique, physical preparation and equipment.

To prevent "overbowling", players at under 14 and 15 level can only bowl two spells of five overs in a match, with an equivalent break in between the spells. There are similar quotas for all youth cricket up to under 19 level.

Clubs have welcomed the ECB's stance, which was introduced at the start of the season, but some have only just been made aware of the new recommendations.

Danny Coyle, of Osborne League club Eastcliff, said: "Personally I think it's an excellent idea, but we had an experience when nobody knew about it. At Witham they had a young fast bowler who was running through us.

"Then I remembered this ruling and thought 'he shouldn't be bowling'. None of the Witham players were aware of it, nor their officials.

"The only reason I knew was because I'm vice-chairman of the Tendring and District Umpires' Association."

But as Coyle pointed out, the directive has its faults. In its leaflet distributed to clubs, the ECB describes a fast bowler as "a bowler to whom a wicketkeeper in normal circumstances would stand back to take the ball".

Coyle said: "Good wicketkeepers will stand up to fairly quick bowlers. For example, at Clacton, Michael Gillespie's not a slow bowler but Danny Rock will stand up to him because he plays for Essex under 19s."

Colin Foster captains Colchester and East Essex's 3rd XI in Osborne League division four and has a number of youngsters affected by the directive. He said: "We've abided by the ruling and are well aware of it.

"But I can imagine there could be some sides who won't."

Foster said promising hopefuls such as 16-year-old Donald Parish and Ed Warren had had to cut back their spells from ten overs to a maximum of six.

Both will be in action this weekend as Foster's team take on Witham tomorrow at the Garrison ground and then host Cavaliers at Mill Road on Sunday.

The directive aims to reduce the number of injuries such as the one Colchester and East Essex's Graham Napier suffered.

The county starlet has only just recovered from a stress fracture of the back.

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