ECB & Devon Cricket League
Code of Conduct
The Devon Cricket
League (‘the DCL’) is committed to maintaining the highest
standards of behaviour and conduct which incorporate the
‘Spirit of Cricket’ as set out below and apply to all matches
played under the auspices of the League.
1. Captains’ Responsibilities:
Law 42.1 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.
Law 42.18 In the event of a player failing to comply
with the instructions of an Umpire, criticizing 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 in the first place report the matter
to the other Umpire and to the player’s Captain,
requesting the latter to take action.
If this proves ineffective, the Umpire
shall report the incident as soon as possible to the Executive
of the Player’s team and to the Devon Cricket League who
shall take any further action which is considered appropriate
against the Player or Players concerned.
c. Players and officials must at all times accept
the decision of the Umpires without showing dissent. They
must not react in a provocative or disapproving manner towards
an Umpire at any time.
d. No Player or Club Official may intimidate
or assault, or attempt to intimidate or assault, an Umpire,
another Player or a Spectator.
e. No Player or Club Official shall use crude
or abusive language or indulge in ‘sledging’ or make offensive
gestures or deliberately attempt to distract an opponent.
f. Players, Officials, Members, Supporters
and Employees of the League and of Member Clubs must adhere
to the ECB Code of Conduct which prohibits racially abusive
comments and actions against any person.
Failure to comply with this instruction
will result in disciplinary action being taken against the
offender(s) as specified in the League Disciplinary Rules
and Procedures.
g. No Player or Club Official shall use or in
any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal
drugs.
h. Clubs must take adequate steps to ensure
the good behaviour of their members and supporters at all
times.
2. Umpires’ Responsibilities
i.
Law 42.2: The
Umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play.
ii. The Umpires are authorised to intervene in
cases of Time Wasting, Damaging the Pitch, Intimidatory
Bowling, Tampering with the ball or any other action which
they consider to be unfair.
The Spirit of Cricket
1. 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.
2. The Spirit of the Game involves Respect for
your Opponents, your own Captain and Team, the Umpires and
the Game’s traditional values.
3. It is against the Spirit of the Game to dispute
an Umpire’s decision in any way, to direct abuse towards
an opponent, Umpire or any other person, including Racial
Abuse.
It is also against the Spirit of the Game
to indulge in cheating or any sharp practice including appealing
knowing the batsman is not out, advancing towards an Umpire
in an aggressive manner when appealing or seeking to distract
an opponent either verbally or physically with persistent
clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm
or motivation of one’s own side.