CLL vow to stamp on bad behaviour

Bad behaviour by players, both on and off the field of play, will be stamped on by the Central Lancashire Cricket League from now.

During the league’s annual general meeting, on Friday (28 November), club delegates voted in new rules which had been proposed by the league’s management committee.

It means that if an umpire’s report alleges misconduct by a player or players, the club concerned is required within three days of the report to impose a penalty in accordance with a new tariff.

Off the field, clubs may be held responsible for obscene, offensive or insulting remarks made on social media sites.

The tariff is:

• Abuse of cricket equipment or ground equipment (ie – striking stumps with bat, throwing bat or gloves, striking boundary flags) MINIMUM ONE MATCH SUSPENSION.
• Dissent at an umpire’s decision, by word or action, without using foul and abusive language – MINIMUM TWO MATCH SUSPENSION.
• Dissent at an umpires decision by word or action using foul an abusive language – MINIMUM FOUR MATCH SUSPENSION.
• Verbal or written abuse of an opposition player, players, or team (ie use of language that is obscene, offensive or insulting; or posting such comments on any social media network site – clubs may be held responsible for such occurances) MINIMUM FOUR MATCH SUSPENSION.
• Deliberate physical contact with any player, team-mate or opposition player – MINIMUM SIX MATCH SUSPENSION.
• Physical abuse of an umpire or league official – DISCRETIONARY POWERS.
• Failure of captain to control his players following a request from the umpires to do so – MINIMUM TWO MATCH SUSPENSION.

Umpires will remind captains of their responsibilities and request them to speak to players whose conduct might be in danger of bringing the game into disrepute. Failure of the captain to take action will result in the player or players being reported, and the captain being reported if the umpires feel he has not made all reasonable efforts.

There will also be Level One disciplinary offences for accumulated bad behaviour.

When the umpires agree that the level of general behaviour and misconduct does not warrant a formal disciplinary report they should report the incident as a Level One Offence on the Spirit of the Game sheet.

The types of level one offences are:

• Shouting of foul or abusive language, whether in frustration or at an umpire or player, at such level as to be heard at or beyond the boundary, thus bringing the game and the CLL into disrepute.
• Excessive or orchestrated appealing including “ridiculous” lbw appeals from a position from which the fielder could not possibly make a considered appeal.
• Premature “celebrations” prior to an umpires decision.
• Advancing towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing.
• Gesturing/pointing towards the pavilion on dismissal of a batsman, or any other aggressive send-off.
• Throwing the ball at or near a player, umpire, team official, or spectator in a deliberate or careless manner.
• Obscene gestures or insulting or offensive comments towards another player, team official or spectator.
• Persistent questioning of umpires decisions.
• A captain’s failure to take appropriate action to control a player’s behaviour or actions, following a request.
• Any action (s) considered by both umpires in a match to be against the Spirit of the Game.

Any player receiving three Level One reports will face an automatic one match suspension.

Following two Level One reports in a year, a third report regarding ANY player at that club will automatically result in a disciplinary hearing to be held against the captain.

Players will have right of appeal.

Another new rule means that clubs will now be held responsible for the behaviour of their members in relation to the use of the social media on the club website. Clubs should make it known to their members that they should conduct themselves in a proper manner.

Umpires were given a rise of £3 per match, fielding circles will be introduced in the under 18s Whittaker Cup, and Bamford Fieldhouse will be allowed to enter three teams in CLL junior cricket.

The under 18s Taylor Cup will also see a change from a straight knockout, with clubs in four groups for the first round in which they will play each other, with the group winners going into the semi-finals.

The league showed a deficit of £826 on the year, with fines down by more than £1,000 on the previous year.

League auditor Derek Ashford felt fines should be looked on as “a bonus” and not as a regular source of income. He felt the league should explore other avenues to boost income.

League officials elected were: 

• President – David Shepherd
• Chairman – Neville Fletcher
• Deputy chairman – Colin Jackson
• Secretary – Tom Williams
• Treasurer – Alan Wright
• Umpires Secretary – Neville Fletcher
• Registrations Secretary – David Whiteman
• Junior Secretary – Nigel Tench
• Fixtures Secretary – Peter Long
• Honorary Auditor – Derek Ashford