Disputes, Protests and Code of Conduct
Note - Suspensions of Clubs and players are covered in
Rules 24 and 23.
- Protests:
(a) Protests on any grounds must be in writing and be
in the hands of the Honorary Secretary prior to the first
delegates meeting following completion of the match in
question and accompanied by a fee of twenty dollars which
fee may be forfeited to the Association if the protest be
deemed frivolous by the Executive Council.
A copy of the subject matter of the protest shall be
furnished by the Honorary Secretary to the Secretary of
the Club protested against and he shall be allowed seven
days to submit his Club's reply in writing to the Honorary
Secretary before the matter is dealt with by the Executive
Council.
No member of the Executive Council shall be allowed to
vote or move a motion on any case in which his own Club is
one of the parties concerned. Protests shall be recognised
only if signed by the President or Secretary of a Club.
(b) The rule shall not apply as regards the time in
which to lodge, in the case of a protest relating to a
person who is not a Registered Player.
- Umpires to Report Players:
(a) Umpires shall report through the Secretary of the
Association any player whom they suspect are guilty of
misconduct or not behaviour according to the "Spirit
of Cricket" showing resentment to or criticising any
decision given by either of the presiding umpires. The
umpire or umpires concerned shall advise the captains at
the time of the incident that it is his or their intention
to report the player or players concerned.
(b) Umpires shall report any players not wearing
orthodox clothing as designated by Rule 50.
- Conduct of Players:
(a) All players shall display appropriate respect for
all individuals (particularly local residents) and for
private and public property before, during and after each
match, in any situation in which they could be associated
with the Association.
(b) All players shall obey the directives of any
(Municipal) Council sign at any ground, or the directive
of any (Municipal) Council officer.
(c) Smoking and the consumption of alcohol is not
permitted on the ground during play.
(d) All play shall be performed in accordance with
"The Spirit of Cricket" (Rule 68),
and no player shall behave in a manner which might bring
the game into disrepute. (New
clause)
- The Spirit of Cricket:
Cricket North Shore confirms its belief in the Spirit
of Cricket as written in the MCC Laws of Cricket and
repeated below.
Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique
appeal to the fact that it should be played not only
within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game.
Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes
injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for
ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.
There are two Laws which place the responsibility
for the team's conduct firmly on the captain.
Responsibility of captains
The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring
that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as
well as within the Laws.
Player's conduct
In the event of a player failing to comply with
instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or
action the decisions of an umpire, or showing dissent, or
generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game
into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first
place report the matter to the other umpire and to the
player's captain, and instruct the latter to take action.
Fair and unfair play
According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges
of fair and unfair play. The umpires may intervene at any
time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take
action where required.
The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:
Time wasting
Damaging the pitch
Dangerous or unfair bowling
Tampering with the ball
Any other action that they consider to be unfair
(d) The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:
Your opponents
Your own captain and team
The role of the umpires
The game's traditional values
(e) It is against the Spirit of the Game:
To dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or
gesture
To direct abusive language towards an opponent or
umpire
To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for
instance:
a) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
b) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner
when appealing
c) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or
by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary
noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of
one's own side
(f) Violence
There is no place for any act of violence on the field
of play.
(g) Players
Captains and umpires together set the tone for the
conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to
make an important contribution to this.
