In recent weeks, player behaviour standards have severely dropped well below the levels that the Huddersfield Cricket League expect. Sadly, this has led to a senior, and highly respected, umpire to resign from officiating matches. A decision made, which has hurt falling umpire numbers.
The League's Chairman has felt the situation has deteriorated sufficently to compose an open letter addressed to club captains. This has been distributed urgently to all club Secretaries:
Dear all Club Captains and Secretaries,
RE: URGENT MATTERS REGARDING CAPTAINS’ AND PLAYER CONDUCT TOWARDS UMPIRES
HCL Chairman Trevor Atkinson has asked me to bring the following most concerning and important matters to your urgent attention:
1. A number of HCL Panel Umpires have reported being forced to suffer an unacceptable lack of respect and appreciation during matches that took place on Saturday 6th May
2. As a result one long standing, senior, experienced and highly respected HCL Panel Umpire has resigned with immediate effect
3. Many of his other umpiring colleagues have also complained about having to deal with similar amounts of quote “sarcastic comments, automatic challenging of virtually every material in-game decision made, visible unhappiness with decisions made regarding the management of matches effected by inclement weather, and being treated with a persistent general lack of respect” unquote from players
4. Following Saturday 6th HCL has received a formal complaint from the Chairman of the HCL Umpires’ Association regarding the widespread poor treatment of Umpires which is described as occasionally amounting to totally unacceptable verbal abuse, but often amounting to a very unpleasant harassment of their members
Whilst these problems do not relate to every player or every team or every match the amount of critical negative feedback received following the 6th, and only three fixture weekends into the 2023, is totally unprecedented. These developments are deeply worrying, and cannot be allowed to continue and will not be tolerated.
After a very good summer in 2022 it is fully understood how the inclement weather we have suffered in the 2023 season so far can cause player frustration, and even perceptions of events unfairly affecting match outcomes. But Umpires do not control the weather or its effect on ground conditions, or the laws of cricket, or the DLS calculation method used to help conclude rain interrupted matches (which we have all agreed to adopt).
Therefore the HCL Chairman, and his Executive Committee, would like, in the strongest possible terms, to point out that (except in the case of an early abandonment) under Law L8.5.1 “Umpires are the only judges of the fitness of the ground, weather and light, both before and during the match”.
These decisions are based on an Umpire’s judgement of whether conditions are dangerous or reasonable, with the safety of all participants paramount, and are made without fear or favour.
Cricket matches should not continue to be played in the rain (except in the case of very light precipitation and for short periods of time, subject to its effect on the match conditions– as judged by the umpires). Matches must not start or re-start when it is raining (even in the presence of very light precipitation).
The vast majority of decisions made by umpires in response to in-match events, or to manage events - including inclement weather - are judgements - without the benefit of replays on a frogbox camara, and certainly without the benefits of Snicko or DRS. Many of these judgements are difficult and far from black or white.
The responsibility of Captains is very clearly to support the Umpires and to work with them to manage events and their players, as required of them under the new ECB General Conduct Regulations (GCR). It is not the role of the Captain to undermine the authority of the Umpire, or to lead the charge of attacking Umpires on every decision made, or to harass and apply undue pressure on Umpires to gain an unfair advantage. This is absolutely not acceptable.
It is also a Captain’s responsibility to set an example by his own good conduct, and to control his players who do not follow that lead. If an Umpire has to speak to a player because of his actions/behaviour/comments then the Captain has already failed to properly carry out his duties.
Trevor Atkinson has reminded us all, a number of times, that without Umpires we don’t have a game. HCL Umpire numbers are low enough, and have just reduced by one (a bloody good one…….) and it is feared that if things do not improve other resignations may be received, which will result in HCL’s ability to staff games properly becoming impossible to fulfil.
HCL therefore insist that, with immediate effect, all players, and in particular Captains, ensure that more respect is displayed towards Umpires, and the difficult decisions which Umpires have to make are generally accepted.
Whilst Umpires are usually reluctant to submit Disciplinary Reports, except in more serious situations, HCL expects a big increase in the number of cases and poor Fair Play marks we will receive. Everyone should be in no doubt that all Reports received will be treated very seriously under the new GCR’s which, as has already been advised, are tougher and are likely to result in more severe sanctions than in the past.
The Spirit of Cricket that has been at the heart of our game for so many years is surely something that remains important to the cricket community of the Huddersfield League.
We now need to step up and follow it!
