MAY NEWSLETTER WILL BE PUBLISHED AROUND THE 16^TH May 2012 

ISSUE 2

FEBRUARY 2012

RON JONES ESQ.

It is with deep regret that we have to inform you that Ron Jones our Life President passed away on Sunday 29^th January 2012 after a short illness.

The Funeral was held at Little Leigh Baptist Chapel near Northwich and was attended by many of his Umpiring friends.

RON JONES

One of Ron’s long standing ambitions was to umpire a Meller Braggins Cheshire League match in his 80th year.  Being still fit and alert The Association had absolutely no problem in agreeing to this request.  To complete his umpiring journey he also wished to umpire a League match with his long standing friend Roy Twiggs.  The pair were appointed to a League game at Cholmondeley, but unfortunately Roy was taken ill and in any event the weather intervened.  However Ron was given arousing send off in his last League match at Ashley Cricket Club.

David Ronald Jones was very much a man of Cheshire. His whole life both living and working took place in Mid Cheshire and it followed, that his cricket took the same route. He played for many years as a batsman at Arley Cricket Club and in fact was delighted to find during a visit a couple of years ago, that a photograph of Arley Cricket team, including himself still hung in the pavilion.

When he retired from playing he decided it was only right to put something back into the game and he turned his attention to the umpiring side.  At that time there was a crying need in the Cheshire Leagues for independent umpires and in 1982 he helped form the Cheshire Cricket League Umpires Association becoming its first Chairman.  The addition of Meller Braggins to the title came a few years later when they became The Leagues main sponsors. 

He steered and built The Association for many years until handing over to the current Chairman, myself, when he felt it was ready for a change.  It will be appreciated that since inception The Association has had only 2 Chairmen and, personally, I am still finding Rona very difficult act to follow.

During this time his own reputation as a leading amateur umpire was established and he stood in many local top class matches including those involved with Lancashire 2nd X1s at Old Trafford.

Initially once the Meller Braggins Umpires Association had been formed there was no question of sitting on his laurels and, along with Ken Merrill he set about running courses in Cheshire to improve standards of umpiring including giving practical advice to new and up and coming umpires.

Once Ken Merrill retired from the scene, Brian Ludlow took over the training with Ron and a number of members of the current the panel remember these training sessions.  I myself came into the picture some 20 years ago and was guided by Ron initially through the then written examination and in fact he made sure I went a step further and personally took me to Old Trafford to complete the oral.  I recall it being an absolutely filthy dark night, pouring with rain, and Ron’s gentle threat that if I did not pass I could walk back home. The evening did go my way and I’m pleased to say I returned without getting wet. 

After many years the technology of training presentations became too complicated and he decided hand over the reins of Senior Training Officer to Ian Bishop. 

After an illustrious career in both umpiring and training he then became President of The Cheshire Cricket League itself for 10 years up to 2010,President of the newly formed Cheshire Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association and Life President of The Meller Braggins Umpires Association.  The unique achievement of being President of the 3 organisations simultaneously still stands and will probably do so for some time.

Although a couple of the presidencies went by the board of his own volition, he did maintain the Presidency of the Meller Braggins Umpires and continued to show a keen interest in its progress.

Stories about Ron are legion but I always remember clearly a couple.  It was fairly well known that he always carried a bag of sweets in his pocket when umpiring and, on one occasion having turned down numerous appeals from one bowler, at the end of an over Ron stood in front of him, took out his bag of sweets, and offered him one with the now famous words “don’t say I don’t give you anything”. 

The other comment, not really a story came from Tony Barnes who always enjoyed standing with Ron and proclaimed on one occasion, “I love it ……it’s like standing with the Archbishop of Canterbury”.

Always a great family man looking on his wife Margaret, his sons and his grandchildren with immense pride, a second love, I think I can say, was cricket.

This is a very sad occasion for all of his colleagues and friends and we are going to miss his wisdom and sense of humour. 

I don’t know how we are going to replace him.

Dave Lawson

Chairman Meller Braggins Cheshire Cricket League Umpires Association

What makes a good umpire?

10% knowledge of the laws, 10% luck and 80% praying that it happens at the other end.

The  League Chairman, who is asked to stand only in an emergency was overheard to say 'that he really should attend an umpires course as he just stands there counts to six and says no' - probably making him one of the better umpires in Cheshire !

Below is a copy of the report given by Dave Lawson to the League AGM.

MELLER BRAGGINS A G M

UMPIRES ASSOCIATION REPORT

As usual can I take this opportunity of thanking all clubs, on behalf of The Association, for their hospitality last season.

We are likely, once again, to have a number of new umpires on the Panel for the forthcoming season and it would be very helpful if these guys were treated with understanding and courtesy. 

As usual The Association, in the form of our good friend Colin Hughes will be putting together information regarding the Fair Play League.  Current conditions will apply in that we do attempt to disguise which umpires are giving what marks.  Not everybody may agree with this but it is found to be an equitable solution and it will continue for the forthcoming season.

There will be slight changes to the umpires marking system in that a section on “Umpires Decisions” will be re-introduced.  It hoped that this will be used by captains correctly and not just as an opportunity to criticise umpires who have not given decisions the supposed correct way.  The revised forms and instructions will be forwarded by the league Secretary prior to the start of the season and, hopefully, will be included in the Handbook in substitution of those already therein.

The reason for the delay is that the Cheshire Cricket umpires & Scorers Association are trying to ensure that the same system is used by all leagues and, currently, final confirmation of the format is waited from ECB ACO.   Hopefully this will arrive well before the start of the season.

Two further points in respect of these forms arise and it is probably appropriate to deal with them at this time.

Firstly the association feels that as well as rewarding the teams at the top of The Fair Play League, consideration should be given either a fine or an initial point’s deduction from the teams finishing in the bottom places.  This is of course for consideration by the League. 

Secondly the Association will be paying far more attention to the position of umpires within their own league table and whilst no information other than currently divulged will be available, the Committee will be making assessments on umpires 2 or 3 times a season and making the necessary corrections to any faults or problems.

It is disappointing that on field problems continue to increase and umpires will be looking to Fair Play aspects this coming season.  In particular it is hoped that bowlers can actually complete an over without making comments to the receiving batsman.  I must say I am somewhat disgusted at the current series in Australia where it seems impossible for bowlers to bowl a single ball at a batsman without following it up with some comment   is this really necessary. 

The final point is that umpires will be asked to ensure that batsmen are not given a verbal farewell when they are out.  This is totally outside the spirit of the game and it is not necessary.  On one occasion last year, when a batsman was bowled, the wicketkeeper actually ran after him with the stump in his hand to make a farewell comment.  In future umpires will be asked to immediately report such incidents.

Finally the Association hopes that for next season it will be able to cover all League matches as well as all T20s.  It is proposed, in view of the continually escalation of petrol prices that expenses be increased to £34 per umpire per match for League matches with , if it is necessary to have umpires standing alone the cost be £50  (£25 per club)  .Expenses for T20s to remain at £25 per umpire per match. In conclusion can I wish everyone an enjoyable and successful season in 2012.

UMPIRE’S CORNER

UNFAIR PLAY - STEALING A RUN

There is a good deal of misunderstanding regarding the bowler attempting to run out the non-striker before delivery.

Occasionally, non-strikers seek to “back up” particularly in limited over and T20 matches well before the ball is actually delivered.

Should the non-striker do so earlier than when the bowler entered his delivery stride, the bowler is quite entitled to attempt to run him out?

It is regarded as customary (or perhaps gentlemanly) for the bowler to mention it to the offending batsman and tell him if he does it again he could be run out.

In Law, no warning is necessary.

The attempt to run out the non-striker can be made any time after the ball comes into play that is when the bowler starts his run up or his bowling action, up to when he enters his delivery stride.  The Law states that the delivery stride is the last deliberate placement of the bowler’s feet during which his arm will swing over to deliver the ball.

The umpire should allow the attempt before the back foot lands in the delivery stride.  If the bowler attempts the run out after the back foot has landed in the delivery stride the umpire should signal dead ball and the attempt, will of course, be disallowed.

This definition under the current Law prevents what was originally known as “dobbing” in that the bowler now cannot go through his action and swing his arm over if he is to bowl the ball but retaining it and then bringing back his arm and running out the non-striker.

Assuming that the attempt at a run out is made prior to the delivery stride the bowler may either throw the ball at the wicket or stop in his run up and remove the bails with the ball in his hand.

If the non-striker is out of his ground he will be given out “run out” and if an attempt to run out fails the umpire will call and signal dead ball.  Obviously when such an attempt is made the ball is not delivered to the striker and is not counted as one in the over.

Likewise the bowler may make an attempt to run out the striker by throwing the ball towards the strikers end before delivery.

Obviously such an attempt would normally be made  because the strikers is either attempting to “take” the delivery along way out of his ground or, of course, be giving the bowler ”the charge”.  The bowler may then feel he has a chance of running the striker out by throwing the ball at the striker’s wicket. 

Obviously in practice the umpire is not required to guess the reason for the throw and providing the ball is thrown before the bowler enters his delivery stride it is permitted.  Apart from a one run penalty for a no ball no action will be taken against him.   As soon as he throws the ball, in his attempt for a run out, either umpire can call and signal a no ball for an illegal arm action i.e. a throw.

The striker is quite at liberty to hit the ball and it would be treated exactly the same way as any other no ball he received during the game.  If however he misses the ball and it hits the wicket he will be run out.  In such a case of course the striker would be out run out and not bowled as it was a no ball.

 If such an incident occurs and the striker is out of his ground but not attempting a run and the wicketkeeper takes the ball and breaks the wicket, the striker would be not out stumped - as it was a no ball – and also not run out as the wicketkeeper, acting alone, cannot run out a striker if he is not attempting a run.

Conversely if he is attempting a run, acting alone from a no ball the wicketkeeper can dismiss the batsman.

Finally the Law states it is unfair for batsmen to attempt to steal a run during a bowler’s run up.  The bowler can attempt to run out either batsman, as indicated above, but should he take no action the umpire must call and signal dead ball as soon as the batsmen cross in making such an attempt, return the batsmen to their original ends and award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side.  The standard reporting procedure for Unfair Play should then be taken.

Dave Lawson, Chairman, Meller Braggins Umpires & Scorers

AN AMERICAN VIEW OF CRICKET            

Continuing on from January Newsletter

They tell me that each cricket side has eleven players.  It seems to be overkill.  Besides the bowler (why is he a bowler if he throws the ball?) and the wicket keeper (the one with the webbed flimsy pieces of material on his hands – he reminds me of a seal out of water) hardly anyone else is involved with the game.  Hell, you could do crossword puzzles out in the field for the most part.  You really don’t need fielders – what you need is a few qualities Labrador Retrievers.  It also became apparent that the pitch is almost other worldly.  The amount of time spent trimming and rolling, when the actual playing surface is only six feet wide is still a mystery to me.

Anyway, here I am sitting on a bench when I see eleven men run onto the field all dressed in white.  What kind of a sick is that anyway?  Who would be dense enough to choose an entirely white outfit to play a sport in?   Haven’t you people heard of sweat and grass stains?  I’ll bet it was devised by shopkeepers.  You probably need to replace your uniforms every few weeks. There is no way an American wife would scrub our uniforms clean to remove all stains.  Some of you have met my wife not only would she laugh in my face, she’d have all her friends laughing at me also.   Now being an ignorant American I’m used to sports being played on a diamond shaped field or a rectangular field.  You folks play on a circle (sometimes not if there is a falling away cliff, tree or other obstruction) so there appears to be no rhyme or reason as to positioning.  I’ve read a book and I understand that depending upon the bowler there will be different defensive alignments.  I don’t buy it for a second.  I figure the inventors were probably inebriated by this point and said “What the hell, let’s put them in a circle and they’ll figure it out where to stand”.

On to the match! The umpire resplendent in a white lab jacket that would make any chemist proud appears to be picking up easy money for standing around doing nothing.  It seems the most important job he has is to hold the sweater of  either the wicket keeper of any other player that has now realized how incredibly stupid they must appear and figures that by disrobing he can melt into the background.  This must be why they have umpires, after all their jackets even have loops sewn into them so that they can hold sweaters.  Sometimes the umpire is truly taxed when they must hold more than one sweater, continue to count balls in their pocket and record the score.

To be continued….

SHOULD WE BE PLAYING? (Re-visited)

My first match as a ‘paid’ umpire was on the 29^th August 1992.   The great, late, Roy Twiggs, was without a partner, and he asked me to umpire with him. (I had umpired junior games from 1987 to 1992). Weaverham were playing High Lane……    It rained! (Of course).  I have discovered my score card in that year’s League Handbook. I had no idea that I had it. I have written on it “Off for rain at 2.30, back on at 2.45: 4 over’s lost.”

On the 8^th December 1992, I took a 3 hour written ACU & S exam, and passed. I began umpiring ‘officially’ on the 8^th May 1993 at Pott Shrigley with Ted Nuttall.

What’s given me the most aggravation and hissy fits since then……….?   RAIN   DECISIONS.

Before setting off for a match I pray that it doesn’t rain   : I ask my wife to do the same, as I say goodbye.

You’d think it would be the dodgy LBs, or caught behind that cause the trouble, or the not out stumpings when the keeper’s certain he’s whipped the bails off while the foot’s in the air.  No, not these ….It’s rain.    God help us if it rains.    The team winning want to play on; they don’t care about injury, falling over, can’t grip the ball…..

My nadir was Old Parks v Ladybridge; after playing in light drizzle for 48 mins, Ladybridge were 29-5. People were slipping; water was dripping off the bails. I suspended play. All hell broke loose……..from both sides. I was fortunate (?) enough to be umpiring on my own. We took an early tea. No one spoke to me……..

I got so sick of the aggravation over rain, that eventually I wrote to the MBCCLUA.

My letter was headed ‘Should we be playing? ‘

I tried to devise some rain rules that everyone would adhere to. Players included. I wanted to take away the discretion that we umpires had. (As with most things, we all have different views, and are put under intense pressure by the captains and players.)

I haven’t got a copy of the letter. I remember suggesting that once you could definitely say it was raining, you made a note of the time, and told the fielding captain and batsmen. You then play for 20 minutes. If it gets worse and you simply have to come off, come off. If it continues drizzling at the same rate, come off after 20 minutes. If it starts drizzling during or after tea, play for 20 minutes in the same way. Then come off.

I suggested that we take the views of captains and players: we need to take them with us on this. (If they’ve got a better idea, let’s have it)

The MBCCLUA committee discussed my letter. I was told that rain decisions were not a matter for players: that this was a matter for the umpires.

Notwithstanding that, and a little to my surprise, the “Should we be playing? “Pages appeared in the handbook for 2005. (I think there may have been a hand out before that.)

I would still like to give the ’20 minute rule’ a try: what do you think?

My views on rain are as follows:

When there’s a cloudburst or heavy rain, it’s easy – everyone just dashes for the pavilion! Grab your bails, get the ball, and get off!

When it drizzles, you can play on for a bit.    Eventually the surface becomes slippery, the ball becomes slippery and difficult to hold, and damage starts to occur to the pitch. Soldier on for 20 minutes, and then stop. The pitch won’t be too badly affected. Hopefully no one will have slipped and pulled a fetlock / gouged a horrid trench on a length having been sent back. The ball won’t be too soapy. You won’t be too wet.

The 20 minute rule will let everyone know where they stand. They know how long they’ve got. They might hit out and win the game. They might bring the opening bowler back and take the last two wickets. They might hit out for an extra batting point or two. It’s a League Rule.  They agreed it. The umpires and players have no other option. Seemple! Chkk. ( a la Meerkat).

Gone ( hopefully ) are arguments , emotional blackmail , and hissy fits.

Would love to know your views….e mail newsletter@mbcclua.org.uk or webmaster@mbcclua.org.uk

Article submitted by Patrick Hutchinson, Panel Umpire . 22.1.2012

"IT’S YOUR DECISION"

January answers:-

1. When playing without bails any contact, however slight, is sufficient.

The striker is at risk of being out Hit Wicket from the time the bowler enters his delivery stride (i.e. when he places his back foot) and can be out Hit Wicket off a Wide Ball. Given that the bowler has subsequently delivered the ball then the Strikers end umpire will make the correct decision of Out Hit Wicket.

2. The bowlers end umpire would call and signal No Ball and follow this immediately with Dead Ball.

February questions

1. The bowler delivers a bouncer which is called No Ball for a foot fault infringement. The batsman plays at and misses the ball which hits his helmet and carries on the full over the boundary.

What are the full correct sequence of signals that the umpire will give?

2.The batsman have crossed on their fifth run when the ball, the fourth of the over, bounces over the boundary. How many runs are scored and who faces the next ball?

Comments from the First Issue.

Your comments are most welcome on anything.

Please email newsletter@mbcclua.org.uk

In my opinion, a good start to the Newsletter series. Hopefully it will generate a favourable response and a good volume of material for future editions.

Regarding the view of an American of the sport, it would be interesting to hear the views of an average British woman! Any attempts I have in bringing up the subject is usually met with a glazed expression, or a quick turn to what has happened on the previous evenings soaps.

The notes on "Banter" are as always interesting. I feel that we are too far down the evolutionary track to change things back to how they should be, but with persistence, tact and humour the umpire can prevent cricket from requiring a red and yellow card control system. It has to be put into the hands of club captains and coaches to instill good manners and sportsmanship into their players. Sadly, some youngsters starting up in the game do not have the best role models in their clubs. And along with what they see on TV. are of the opinion that excessive banter is to be encouraged.

As a junior team manager I have seen many coaches encouraging "gamesmanship" and "sharp practice" Hopefully, more qualified umpires can become involved in junior matches instead of relying on a junior coach / manager umpiring a junior game with an over-riding interest in the result.

With a view on the comment in the above, if you know of any Lady (as we know all partners of Cricket Players and Umpires are Ladies) then please try and get them to air their views on Cricket.

Contact Newsletter in the normal way.

2

Barry...congrats on newsletter...have printed it off and am having it bound to join my other 1st editions (Jane Austen,Charles Dickens etc)...remarks on ‘sledging’ timely, though I felt things were generally better last season..(thanks to the comments at the pre-season capts/umps meeting?)...my own feeling is that it depends on the unpleasantness of it all (accept this is entirely subjective)....if it is humorous it’s probably OK...I remember batting at Bowdon many years ago and the ball beating my outside edge three balls in succession and the bowler asking me in somewhat exasperated but polite way if it would help if the wickets were moved a few inches to the off side...I thought this was quite funny and OK but mostly these days it isn’t....

I was somewhat disappointed to hear Michael Vaughan in an interview prior to start of this Test series referring to ‘chirping’ as though it was all part of the game/acceptable.

The next Issue will be published around the 12^th March.

Please if you have anything you would like to be included in the next issue.

Please contact Barry on newsletter@mbcclua.org.uk

ISSUE NUMBER 1

January 2012

Welcome to the First Edition of the Umpires Association Monthly Newsletter.

(You never know this could be a collectable item)

The Committee of the Association (a gathering of well educated young people) have decided to publish a Monthly Newsletter bringing you news and information related to the Umpires Association.

Dear Colleagues

A very happy new year to you all and a big welcome to the new MB Umpires Association Newsletter which your committee intend with your help and input to distribute on a monthly basis.  This project has been on the drawing board for a considerable period of time and finally, with our excellent website manager Barry Bishop appointed as Editor, comes to you for this its inaugural mid-monthly publication.

As part of the overall aim and objective we see this as a wonderful opportunity to develop an open forum for all our umpiring panel where experiences, whether good or bad, can be shared and consequently learned from for the future development of us all. Through the content of this newsletter the intention is, with word of personal experiences from yourselves along with comment and analysis gathered from articles, websites, the media and any other sources, that umpiring field craft and man management techniques can be both developed for new umpires and further enhanced for the more experienced among you.

However to achieve this we need as many contributions as possible, not only from the committee, but also from your selves.  Make this a channel for learning and a forum for discussion where the ownership will be yours.

So pen to paper or fingers on the keyboard to mail or email any of the committee or directly to Barry himself on newsletter@mbcclua.org.uk – contact details can of course be found in last years MB Handbook.

Looking forward to a successful Newsletter and 2012 season,

Kind regards

MB Umpires Committee

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2012.

(PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE)

This will be held on the following date

Thursday 16^th February 2012-01-09

 Start @ 7.30pm prompt.

At

Oakmere Cricket Club

Overdale Lane

Oakmere

Northwich

Cheshire

CW8 2EL

Please do your very best to attend as this meeting is important.

The Agenda will be forwarded to all members well in advance of the date.

The first item in this newsletter is the news that Sandbach Cricket Club have been expelled from the League under section 5.3.7 of the disciplinary regulations.

The Disciplinary Committee met on the 7^th December 2011 to consider the following charges against Sandbach Cricket Club.

     That on the 28^th August 2010 Sandbach CC were guilty of improper conduct in that a player by the name of Akash Malhotra played for their first team against Chester County Officers CC without being duly registered under league rule 19.

     That on the 28^th August 2010 Sandbach CC were guilty of improper conduct in that they falsified a league result sheet by putting the name M. Farid instead of Akash Malhotra, thereby purporting that Farid had played when in fact Akash Malhotra had played under Farid’s name.

     That on the 28^th August 2010 Sandbach CC were guilty of improper conduct in that they played Akash Malhotra in their first team fixture against Chester County Officers CC without having registered the said player as an overseas player under league rule 18(b)

The first two charges were admitted and the third was found proved.

As penalty, Sandbach Cricket Club were expelled from the league under section 5.3.7 of the disciplinary regulations.

At a meeting held on the 4^th January 2012 it was decided that Wirral Cricket Club will take the place of Sandbach CC in the Meller Braggins Cheshire Cricket League. The 1^st XI will play in Division 3 and the 2^nd XI will play in Division C. This means that 3 clubs have been promoted from the Cheshire Alliance League.

Umpire Equipment and Clothing.

The ECB ACO clothing shop can be viewed on their website.

www.ecbacoshop.co.uk  there you can view a complete range of clothing for the Umpire.

Umpire equipment i.e. books, counters, bails etc. can be viewed on a website called www.acumenbooks.co.uk 

An order form for CCLUA CLOTHING available from Ian Bishop is on the last page of this newsletter. If you need to order any clothing from Ian then please print off the page and send your order to him by March 1^st.

AN AMERICAN VIEW OF CRICKET

E-Mail sent to Tony Barnes from a Colonial Colleague

Tony

Sorry I’m late in responding to your request about my impressions of Cricket, but it’s taken this long to recover from that afternoon in which I witnessed my first match.  Anyway here goes.

At first glance Cricket appears to be a refined game of educated proper British gentlemen.  After my attendance at a local match I am convinced that GOD must surely hate the British, if he allowed them to create such a sport.  Either HE hates you people or HE has one SICK sense of humour!  It has been said that the British people maintain a sense of stoicism, a good sense of humour, and can shoulder any hardships thrust upon them.  I figure that most people that are involved with cricket were forced to endure the game at a very young age, became scarred for life, and are now punishing their offspring by making them not only watch the sport but take part as well.  There can be no other logical explanation for if this were to occur in the States, said parents would be investigated and most likely prosecuted for child abuse for subjecting young impressionable minds to the evil which you folks call sport.  What follows is on persons’ interpretation of a cricket match.  I don’t claim to be any expert, but I know evil when I see it, no matter how manicured the pitch.

Watching my first cricket match I now understand the requirement that all pitches must contain a bar for refreshments.  God knows that you’ll need a drink.  It’s not the place for anyone that has recently renounced drinking to spend any tome.  It’s a wonder that most spectators aren’t falling down drunk by the time the match has been completed.  The only plausible explanation is that most normal people either have left before the match was completed or they’ve fallen asleep.  I for one refuse to believe that any mere mortal could watch a complete match. I’m sure you have plenty of people boasting about seeing a whole game but I bet if they were to undergo a lie detector test, the truth would come out.  As for a test match, I’ve got a suggestion for you folks – just take a match and burn your money.  It would be a lost less painful than going for three or more days.

To be continued

UMPIRE’S CORNER

APPEALS

The Laws of the Game make it abundantly clear that an umpire is not to give a batsman out without an appeal from the fielding side. It goes without saying, for that matter, he should also not pronounce him “not out”.  The batsman however, if he knows he is out, can effect dismiss himself without an appeal by “walking” – that is by leaving his wicket and going off the field.

Whilst “walking” is not as prevalent today as in the past batsman who have been bowled or obviously caught do tend to depart the scene although, again, he need not do so until an appeal has been made. 

An appeal of “how’s that?” covers all ways of being out although it is not the only way to appeal to the umpires.  As long as it is clear beyond all doubt that a fielder is asking the umpire’s opinion as to whether or not the batsman is out, some variations are acceptable and can be construed as appeals. 

However it must be said that the current practice of prolonged, orchestrated and repetitive appeals are not necessary and in fact only tend to irritate umpires.

Appeals need not be made at the instant of the incident in question.  There are basically two restrictions when an appeal can be made:-

• It must be made before the next ball comes into play after the incident – that is before the bowler starts his run up or action to deliver the next ball.  Even the call of over does not invalidate this.
• It must be made before time has been called in that particular session.

Each umpire is “allocated” methods of dismissal which he is required to answer.  The striker’s end umpire answers all appeals arising out of hit wicket, stumped or run out when this occurs at the wicket keeper’s end.  The bowler’s end umpire shall answer all other appeals.

If appeals are inadvertently referred to the wrong umpire he should not make a decision but should refer the fielder to his colleague.

Umpires can consult their colleagues to seek clarification or further information.  Consultation on dismissals must be on a question of “fact” on which the other umpire may have better information.  However the decision is still the responsibility of the umpire within whose jurisdiction it falls.

Occasionally a captain may decide that he wishes to “reprieve” a batsman who has been given out by an umpire however, as such he has no right to “bring back” a batsman.

He can however seek permission from the appropriate umpire to withdraw the appeal but he must do so before the batsman leaves the field of play.

If, after consultation, the umpires agree to grant permission for the appeal to be withdrawn it is the umpire, not the captain who is to call the batsman back.  It is normal for the umpire to explain to the batsman that although he was correctly been given the appeal has been withdrawn and he may continue his innings.

Dave Lawson

Chairman

Meller Braggins Umpires & Scorers

SLEDGING OR BANTER : Which is it … ?

Sadly , these days , recreational league cricket is played to an accompaniment of noise from the fielding side . Interspersed with this , is a much quieter commentary on the batsman’s ability from ( mainly) the wicket keeper and the bowler.

The players assume , ( wrongly) , that all that is said can be heard by the umpires.

That it is up to the umpires to deal with it.

Their attitude to the ‘sledging or banter’ question is this : “Whatever we shout when we’re fielding is banter , and is OK . Whatever they shout when we’re batting is sledging , and is not OK “. ( ! )

Umpires are not community policemen and should not have to keep the peace ; they have enough to do making crucial decisions on lbs , run outs , wides , no balls etc etc.

No doubt umpires have very different views on what is acceptable or unacceptable. These will range from older umpires , brought up in a different  era , who find comments directed at the batsman unnecessary and completely inappropriate , to younger umpires who have recently been playing , who are used to all this , and accept it as part of the modern game.

If the fielding side make lots of noise and say lots of unpleasant things , you can more or less guarantee that the batting side , when fielding , will give as good as they got , with an additional 50% for good measure.

The atmosphere of the game deteriorates , and eventually ( oh horror of horrors ) the batsman says something back . In the weird and wonderful conventions of the modern game , this is seen as a massive , unpardonable , sin. There is ,   ( unless one is very lucky ) an incident.  B.S.E. takes over . ( Blame Someone Else).

The following is then said :

1. “The umpires just stood there and did nothing. They never said a word. They’d heard it all…..”
2. “They did loads of shouting in the first half. We only did what they did.”
3.  The batsmen ( when asked what’s going on , what’s being said ?) “Oh don’t worry umps ; I’ve heard it all before / I’ve had far worse / Nothing’s going on , it’s all right….”
4. The batsman ( who himself has sledged unmercifully when he was fielding) “ Umps, I can take a bit of banter , but the keeper’s just called me a cheating xxxx , can you do something …?”

Why is it that when a batsman gets an edge through the slips for 4 , the fielding side go ballistic and call him all sorts of names ?

Why is it that when a batsman slices a ball or two into the air over cover and cover point , the fielding side completely lose it and start calling him names ?

Why is it that when the bowler bowls an awful short ball that gets what it deserves , the fielding side compliment the bowler and lambast the batsman’s hopeless/lucky/useless  shot ?

Why is it that a batsman who’s been bowled for a duck , has to have an unpleasant ‘send off’ … or a batsman who’s played a good innings ( it doesn’t seem to matter which  ). Why do we have to have send offs anyway ? What a horrible part of the modern game send offs are.

What’s to be done ? Does everyone just have to accept that sledging and send offs are part of the modern game ? That we can’t swim against the tide ? That the players have to be left to it , and when violence breaks out , they get reported ?

Do modern players really want to play the game in this way ? Is there really any need for unpleasant comments towards players or umpires ? Should not good play be complimented ? Should not shouting be restricted to encouraging a bowler , or praising a good ball , or a good piece of fielding ?

Should umpires put a stop to unpleasant shouting ? Should batsmen keep stum when they’re getting quietly abused / threatened / sledged , or should they tell the umpires what’s going on ?

Your views are requested : please e mail the editor !

Views on this article can be sent to the Editor via email to newsletter@mbcclua.org.uk

"Its your decision"

An opportunity to test your umpiring skills:-

1. A match is being played without bails and as the bowler enters his delivery stride, the striker raises his bat and just touches the wicket. The bowler sends down the ball that is called a wide by the umpire. There is an appeal. What would you expect the response to be and by which umpire?

2. A bowler delivers a ball, which pitches a few feet in front of him and comes to rest on the pitch some 6 feet in front of the striker. What would the outcome be? 

 Answers next month.

MELLER BRAGGINS CHESHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE         ORDER

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