Suffolk County Cricket Board

ALTHOUGH the new cricket season is only a few weeks' old, several umpires have already expressed their disappointment of players' dissent over decisions and the voicing of opinions about the ability of officials.

The views expressed have been passed on to the committee members of the Association of Suffolk Cricket Umpires and Scorers and a reminder will be given to all captains in future matches about the need to respect the Spirit of Cricket.Under the ECB Code of Conduct, which applies to all teams in the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship, it is against the spirit of the game to dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or gesture.

It is also against the spirit of the game to direct abusive language towards an umpire, to appeal knowing the batsman is not out, or advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing.

Showing dissent at an umpire's decision is a Level One offence and any player who is reported for that will receive a letter from the league as to their future conduct, which will serve as a warning for the rest of the season.

More serious offences carry severe punishment and Mick Blows, the association's chairman, has reiterated that any offender must be reported by the game's umpires.

He said: "The league has a disciplinary committee in place and anyone who transgresses the Spirit of the Game must be dealt with in the appropriate manner.

"We are asking all umpires to report any player who they feel is expressing outward dissent about a decision as this is the only way the matter can be properly dealt with.

"None of us want to get involved in writing reports about players after games, but if it has to be done then we will do it and we already have a system in place for those sort of occasions.

"We will not tolerate that type of behaviour and I hope that what has been experienced by some of my colleagues in the first few weeks of the season will now diminish. 

"All our umpires go through a strict training programme and we have constant revision sessions throughout the winter months.

"Everyone makes mistakes, and that includes the players, but we don't berate them for bowling badly, dropping catches or hitting across the line and getting bowled.

"I hope the message gets home to all concerned and that may well lead to an improvement in behavior which will make it a better game for all."