The new cricket season will feature an automatic one-up, one-down promotion and relegation in the two-tier system, with a play-off game determining the other promotion and relegation issue, the Bermuda Cricket Board has confirmed.

That match will involve the team finishing second from bottom (sixth) in the Premier Division and the team finishing second in the First Division to determine which team plays in the top division for the 2015 season.

A similar format was used in 2012 when a play-off match between Cleveland and Western Stars at Sea Breeze Oval determined which team played in the Premier Division last season. After adopting a one league format last year, the BCB have returned again to two leagues. Missing from the schedule, but set to be played at the end of the season is the play-off match and the Lindo’s Twenty20 tournament.

The season will start on Sunday with the Belco Cup first round matches, in the wake of the BCB’s decision to change the Belco Cup to a ten-team competition. Belco matches will be held over three weekends, with the final scheduled for May 18 at Lord’s.

The league programme will begin on May 11, when St David’s, the league champions, will begin their season at home to Somerset.

The teams in each division will play each other on a home-and-away basis, with the final round of league matches set for August 31.

The BCB, in conjunction with the BCUA, will be holding a meeting for all captains, coaches and club team management next Wednesday at Charities House on Point Finger Road at 6pm to explain the regulations that will be in use for the season.

Opening league matches

May 11

Logic Premier Division: St David’s v Somerset (Lord’s); Willow Cuts v Bailey’s Bay (White Hill); Southampton v St George’s (Southampton Oval). Cleveland have a bye.

Logic First Division: Western Stars v Warwick (St John’s Field); Devonshire Rec v Somerset Bridge (Devonshire); PHC v Flatts (PHC Field). Bermuda Under-17 have a bye.