We’d like you to enforce the “Spirit of the Game” pre-amble to the Laws.
HMC sanctions:
If the fielding side indulges in “making more noise”: or “sledging”:
- Ask the Captain to stop his players doing so
- If it persists, warn the Captain a second time
- If it still persists, stop the game and report the matter to the Master i/c, who should take his Captain off the field for 10 minutes (with no substitute).
References:
From the pre-amble to the Laws
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:
- to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
- to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
- 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
Law 42 (excerpts):
1. Fair and unfair play – responsibility of captains
The responsibility lies with the captains for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit and traditions of the game, as described in The Preamble – The Spirit of Cricket, as well as within the Laws
2. Fair and unfair play – responsibility of umpires
The umpires shall be the sole judges of fair and unfair play. If either umpire considers an action, not covered by the Laws (my emphasis), to be unfair, he shall intervene without appeal and, if the ball is in play, shall call and signal Dead ball and implement the procedure
as set out in 18 below. Otherwise the umpires shall not interfere with the progress of play, except as required to do so by the Laws.
4. Deliberate attempt to distract striker
It is unfair for any member of the fielding side deliberately to attempt to distract the striker while he is preparing to receive or receiving a delivery (my emphasis)
(a) If either umpire considers that any action by a member of the fielding side is such an attempt, at the first instance he shall
(i) immediately call and signal Dead ball.
(ii) warn the captain of the fielding side that the action is unfair and indicate that this is a first and final warning.
(iii) inform the other umpire and the batsmen of what has occurred.
Neither batsman shall be dismissed from that delivery and the ball shall not count as one of the over.
(b) If there is any further such deliberate attempt in that innings, by any member of the fielding side, the procedures, other than warning, as set out in (a) above shall apply. Additionally, the umpire at the bowler’s end shall
(i) award 5 penalty runs to the batting side.
(ii) inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for this action and, as soon as practicable, inform the captain of the batting side.
(iii) report the occurrence, together with the other umpire, as soon as possible to the Executive of the fielding side and any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and player or players concerned.
18. Players’ conduct
If there is any breach of the Spirit of the Game (my emphasis) by a player failing to comply with the instructions of an umpire, or criticising his decisions by word or action, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall immediately report the matter to the other umpire.
The umpires together shall
(i) inform the player’s captain of the occurrence, instructing the latter to take action.
(ii) warn him of the gravity of the offence, and tell him that it will be reported to higher authority.
(iii) report the occurrence as soon as possible to the Executive of the player’s team and any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and player or players, and, if appropriate, the team concerned.