This has not been a good week for Leinster cricket. A couple of well-considered and well-written articles have been published here on CricketLeinster which have provoked discussion and debate on a few issues that are bubbling to the surface. Whilst not wishing to add fuel to the fire, I do feel that these issues will be on-going and worthy of further debate, discussion and hopefully some action to reduce the tensions and pressures that are building.
For my part, this week’s column will be nothing more than repeating words I have previously written together with a selection of comments I have come across this week on social media and the cricketleinster website. Whilst most of this article seems to be about LBW decisions, it is really about all of it, including wides, run-outs, stumpings and well everything.
“One of the first things people look for over the winter is the new league structures when they are issued by the OCC. It is not just to see who you might be playing against, but just as importantly where you might be playing.”
“Matters were no doubt aided by the appearance of neutral umpires and their assessment man, Alan Tuffrey. I do hope we see a lot more official umpires during the season, although it is unlikely in Divisions 11 & 14 where I will mostly be plying my trade.”
“Player / Umpires have to differentiate between their two roles. As a player they will do whatever is needed to win the game (within the rules and within the spirit of the game of course); but as an Umpire they have to become impartial and act as a neutral umpire would.”
“Talk can turn to umpires, neutral or otherwise. It is the otherwise ones that usually provoke the most heated chat.”
“The Leinster Umpires and Scorers Association run educational courses for scoring as well as umpiring and will provide any assistance they can to any queries you have.”
“... LBW Law. How can you become exempt from this Law? (clue: you shouldn’t ever be exempt as the Laws apply to one and all equally or at least should) Statistics reveal that the probability of a batsman being dismissed lbw in a cricket match varies depending on where the match is played and which teams are playing and even who is umpiring.”
“If there is one single issue that raises its head more often and provokes more debate, discussion, dialogue in cricket circles than Leg Before Wicket, then I am unaware of it. Decisions given, decisions not given, each causes its own arguments.”
“Now we can all take our place as umpires and confidently provide correct decisions to appeals for L.B.W. If only it were that easy. If only we could all get all decisions right all of the time. It rarely happens though.”
“(Offical and non-official) Umpires in Leinster cricket provide a great variation in their performances. In the higher divisions, neutral umpires are kindly supplied by the LCUS&A and occasionally we see these gentlemen, and ladies, in the lower leagues, but mainly at cup semi-finals and finals. At other times, both teams supply the officials, that is the batting team will umpire their own innings and it may mean that the bowling team might see 8 or more umpires during the course of an innings. Some of these players/umpires might be officially qualified umpires having undertaken one of the LCUS&A courses, whilst others will rely on the knowledge gleaned from years of garden cricket and the sky commentary team; the majority will be from somewhere between these levels of knowledge and experience.”
“There has developed over the years a preconceived idea about various teams and grounds and the chances of getting an LBW decision in your favour. Whether these rumours have any basis in fact is not yet examined as there are so many variables that would affect the amount of decisions. ... Many post-games chats can end in a Scooby-doo fashion, that is, ‘We would have won if it hadn’t been for those pesky kids umpires’.”
“So as an umpire what do you do when the ball strikes the pads and the bowler, keeper and everyone else, usually including a few spectators on the sidelines (usually square of the wicket) go with a loud and long and often multiple appeals for Leg Before Wicket. Firstly, no umpire should be rushed into a decision. Take a breath; replay the delivery in your mind. Even if you know your decision immediately, always give yourself this time for consideration. If you give one decision quickly, but hesitate over the next, the fielding team will probably assume you are looking for a way, any way, not to give it. So be consistent with your decision process. It gives off an air of confidence, gives the impression you know what you are checking each time. Thorough and professional is the impression you wish to give, not furtive and suspicious.”
“Leg before Wicket decisions will continue to frustrate, annoy and upset players and fans, from all sides. Many batsmen can not believe when they are given out and many bowlers can not believe an umpire thinks their delivery was missing the stumps. It will not be solved in one article or in one season, but only when such judgement calls are handed over to technology that is proven and accurate will we finally accept that maybe, just maybe, the umpire was right disagreeing with us.”
“We all have our favourite grounds, ones that make our hearts leap when we see the fixture list. Of course the opposite is true too, there are grounds that make our hearts fall to the pit of our stomachs when we realise we are going to have to visit them. Some choices are as much to do with the anticipated game ahead as the ground itself.”
“McGrath Park, Bagnelstown C.C. - Bagnelstown is one of the grounds in the outer ring of Leinster and is a trip down the N9, but is well worth the journey. There is always a warm welcome and a fine tea and competitive cricket played well within the spirit of the game.”
“Could have been written about .... in the cup a few years ago.”
“Happens all too often now. Bare-faced cheating for the sake of ‘winning’ a game which ruins it for everyone else.... I could go on and on but it’s the cheating that gets you down the most and then the total disrespect for the spirit of cricket...”
“I had one player... screaming at me when I was a neutral umpire when he claimed he was not LBW and had got an inside edge... but the foul mouthed abuse I got that time put me off being an umpire again.”
“... there was always a copious amount of cheating... in junior cricket. However it was in the last few years before retiring that things got really bad.”
“I don’t mind batsmen leaving decisions to umpires, as long as the umpire is honest in his decision.”
“Cheating has always existed unfortunately... However I think now it’s just more rampant and instead of being the odd dodgy player it’s entire teams.”
“heard of a recent game... 40 min dispute over a run out. Every decision was argued...”
“... the Australian park cricket way... nobody walks and you never get a LB (sic). Naturally that’s far from ideal and tough on bowlers when two common dismissal (sic) are out of play, but funnily enough it all works fine...”
As a conclusion to this article, if not the debate, here is the spirit of cricket as outlined in the preamble to the Laws of Cricket. Underlining is mine for emphasis.
Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.
1. There are two Laws which place responsibility for the team's conduct firmly on the captain.
Responsibility of captains
The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.
Player's conduct
In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decision of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain, and instruct the latter to take action.
2. Fair and unfair play
According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play.
The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.
3. The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:
Time wasting
Damaging the pitch
Dangerous or unfair bowling
Tampering with the ball
Any other action that they consider to be unfair
4. The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:
Your opponents
Your own captain
The roles of the umpires
The game's traditional values
5. It is against the Spirit of the Game:
To dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or gesture
To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:
(a) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
(b) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
(c) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own side
6. Violence
There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.
7. Players
Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution towards this.
Finally one last quote...
“I play the game to unwind, not end up in a cock fight.... I wonder why I am putting myself through it.”