Cricket bad-boys will now see red
THE ECB have responded to the deterioration in onfield discipline by arming umpires with beefed-up penalties ranging from forfeit runs to red cards.
Changes prompted by alterations to the laws last autumn concerning player behaviour which re-graded offences have been acted on with the announcement of new protocols.
Umpires will now be able to put entire teams on warning for showing dissent at decisions, excessive appealing, using abusive or obscene language, or making deliberate contact with another player – with five-run penalties at their disposal.
Worse cases will see the on-field officials able to operate a ‘yellow card’ system for individuals with temporary sin bins of 10 overs in the County Championship and a tenth of the innings in white-ball cricket.
Intimidation of umpires physical assault of any kind will now be punishable with ‘red cards’ with the player missing the rest of that contest.
At the moment, the new powers will apply in the County Championship, Royal London One-Day Cup, Vitality Blast and Kia Super League but not to internationals.
But stronger measures to tackle worsening behaviour at international level look well overdue given the backdrop of the bitter and confrontational series taking place between South Africa and Australia.
Despite being just two Tests into the series, the clash has already seen physical confrontation both on and off the field as well as a near-constant verbal battle.
David Warner and Quinton de Kock had to be separated in the pavilion in Durban, and Kagiso or
Rabada was originally banned from the final two Tests after shoulderclipping Steve Smith and giving Warner a send-off in Port Elizabeth.
His successful appeal will ensure that the tensions remain high when the third Test starts in Cape Town today.
Smith’s response to the reprieve was unflinching, the Australia captain insisting the ICC decision set a worrying precedent allowing physical contact to creep into the game. England’s domestic game witnessed approximately 20 level one or two offences last summer from nearly 700 matches, which the ECB’s head of cricket operations Alan Fordham insisted represents a “good overall standard of behaviour”.
But he added: “The new laws are an opportunity to continue the good work and we are keen also to support the recreational game through applying the same laws and hopefully setting a good example.”
Poor behaviour is often felt more sharply at the grass roots of the game and the ECB deserve credit for trying to set the tone.
The ECB also announced they are to come into better alignment with other sports over concussion protocols.
Suspected concussion cases following head strikes will be dealt with on the field with a five-minute assessment followed by further investigation off the field if necessary.
It will now be possible to field a ‘like-for-like’ substitute who will be able to bat and bowl in place of the injured player.
Umpires will also be able to punish “mock fielding” where a fielder attempts to deceive the batsmen into believing they have picked up the ball with an immediate five-run penalty. THE SCOUT SCOTLAND were left cursing bad luck and missed opportunities after a World Cup place was snatched from their grasp in agonising circumstances in Harare yesterday.
Chasing 199 for victory after bowling West Indies out for 198 in the winner-takes-all shootout, Kyle Coetzer’s men were 105-4 in the 32nd over when they were rocked by a shocking lbw decision against Richie Berrington.
With the ball clearly missing leg, they were left trailing the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern par with storm clouds approaching.
As the outlook became increasingly bleak, an assault from Michael Leask – who hit 14 from 10 balls – gave them renewed hope, taking them within five runs of par.
But the rain came with Scotland 125-5 off 35.2 overs and gifted West Indies a five-run victory and one of the two places in next summer’s tournament in England and Wales.
Coetzer refused to blame officials for their failure to qualify. “A couple of decisions have hurt us, and there was one today that didn’t go our way,” he said. “But I am proud of our boys. They have been exceptional.”