Stump mics to stay on in sledging crackdown
SYDNEY: The International Cricket Council has declared war on verbal abuse, unveiling new penalties and allowing stump microphones to stay on throughout games in a concerted push to stamp out bad behaviour.
The ICC annual conference has wrapped up in Dublin, where it agreed on a raft of changes to the sport’s code of conduct.
ICC boss David Richardson vowed during Australia’s test tour of South Africa, described by one match referee as featuring the most ‘‘animosity between two teams’’ he had ever seen, to clean up the game’s image.
It was not just the Cape Town balltampering scandal that irked Richardson.
He also spoke at the time of unacceptable ‘‘ugly sledging, sendoffs, dissent against umpires’ decisions, a walkoff ... and some ordinary offfield behaviour’’.
Ball tampering has now been bumped up to a levelthree charge, as expected, and the maximum sanction for a levelthree offence is now 12 suspension points, equivalent to a sixtest ban.
But the ICC has also introduced a series of new offences under its code of conduct.
Players can now be booked for attempting to gain an unfair advantage (cheating), personal abuse, audible obscenities, and disobeying an umpire’s instruc tions. The ICC board also agreed broadcasters should be allowed to use stumpmicrophone audio at any time, including when the ball is dead.
Current guidelines suggest stump mics must be turned down between deliveries, meaning much player chatter is not broadcast.
‘‘There is a clear desire here to reclaim cricket’s unique proposition as a game that people can trust in,’’ Richardson said.
Michael Clarke’s ‘‘get ready for a broken f . . . ing arm’’ sledge to Jimmy Anderson during the 201314 Ashes is perhaps the most memorable example of an insult being broadcast when stump mics were meant to be turned down.
Many players view open stump mics as an invasion of privacy, while others feel host broadcasters exert too much influence and do not treat both teams equally.
The Australian team plugged sponsors earlier this year during a test in South Africa, unsuccessfully attempting to have mics turned down.
On top of the code of conduct changes, the ICC has also outlined its intention to hold boards to account for players’ behaviour.
The suggestion is an accumulated number of offences could result in a sanction for the board of that country.
The ICC has also called on boards to build a culture of respect by treating touring sides better, such as providing proper tuneups before a test series. — AAP