You the umpire

[R W S]

Starting a new thread to help clarify and discuss the laws of cricket by setting questions that 'you the umpire' have to rule upon!

Situation:
The batting side are deliberately slowing down play.
The umpire has already warned the offending batsman.
The offending batsman is out.
A new batsman arrives on the field of play.
The new batsman deliberately slows down play.

What do 'you the umpire' rule?
What laws are contravened, if any?
And what, if any punishment is imposed?

[Maranello]

What do 'you the umpire' rule?
Warn the new batsman. If he persists for another over or so, impose whatever available sanctions I have.


And what, if any punishment is imposed?
Not sure any punishment can be imposed by the umpire; I would like to dock runs but I don't think that would be sanctioned by the playing conditions. Hence, IMO, the strictest option available to me would be to raise the matter with the Match Referee, as a contravention of ICC's Code of Conduct. Can also encourage/advise him to apply the strictest available sanction - suspending the team's captain for the next game.

And then the Captain and his board appeal and the ban is rescinded! Oh well, I, the umpire, tried my best....



PS: Fascinating thread this RWS, hopefully in due course we will get some more stimulating and knowledgable replies than my feeble effort. But do keep us posted, this sounds like the promising start of a very interesting discussion.

[vvvrulz]

Its a delicate situation. Firstly i would indeed warn the new offender, but as umpire, i would let the match continue in its due course. Then report to the match referee and ideally there will be an investigation on match fixing.

One would assume there would be a hearing, following with suspensions or fines, whatever is deemed suitable.

But as umpire, i feel i could do no more but to report to higher authority.

[ashwini]

sudnt the captain b warned as well?? and me has a doubt sud the umpires wait til the match is over to report to the refree?

[R W S]

A clue: the answer will involve this gesture by the umpire-

[Maranello]

aah... its an award of five penalty runs to the fielding side.

I believe this sanction as per Law 42 is too light. Its similar to damaging the pitch; if the bowler runs on the protected area after delivering the ball, after the second caution, he cannot bowl at all in that innings. This is a very severe sanction, considering a team only has, on average, four recognised bowlers in a match. On the other hand, if the batsman damages the pitch, after the second caution, the umpire awards five runs to the fielding side. Yet another example of the game being skewed totally to favour the batsmen!

Anyway, to complete the answer to RWS' question, the relevant law for time wasting is of course Law 42 (Fair and Unfair Play), and batsman wasting time is covered in 42.10, as follows:

Originally Posted by The Laws of Cricket

10. Batsman wasting time
It is unfair for a batsman to waste time. In normal circumstances the striker should always be ready to take strike when the bowler is ready to start his run up.
(a) Should either batsman waste time by failing to meet this requirement, or in any other way, the following procedure shall be adopted. At the first instance, either before the bowler starts his run up or when the ball is dead, as appropriate, the umpire shall
(i) warn the batsman and indicate that this is a first and final warning. This warning shall continue to apply throughout the innings. The umpire shall so inform each incoming batsman.
(ii) inform the other umpire, the other batsman and the captain of the fielding side of what has occurred.
(iii) inform the captain of the batting side as soon as practicable.

(b) if there is any further time wasting by any batsman in that innings, the umpire shall, at the appropriate time while the ball is dead
(i) award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side. See 17 below.
(ii) inform the other umpire, the other batsman, the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred.
(iii) report the occurrence, with the other umpire, as soon as possible to the Executive of the batting side and to 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.

Under 42.10 (b) (iii) above, the Umpire should report the incident to the Governing Body; for an international match that would be the match referree, who should impose stricter sanctions.

[R W S]

Yes Maranello that is the correct ruling. Well done.


I will set another one and the next person to answer it correctly will be asked to set the next question (or if they ask me I will!)

If a Captain is not available during the period in which the toss for innings must take place:

(a) Who is allowed to make the toss?
(b) What else must this person do PRIOR to the actual toss?
(c) What stipulation is placed on this person if, after making the toss, he needs to be involved in any further decision making?

[Paoli]

Question 1...Would it be the Match Referee or the most senior player...

Question 2... Wear the team blazer out to the toss

Question 3...Elect whether to bat or bowl

[R W S]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Question 1...Would it be the Match Referee or the most senior player...

No

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Question 2... Wear the team blazer out to the toss

again No

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Question 3...Elect whether to bat or bowl

and finally No!

Sorry but you're not correct on any!

[Paoli]

You're a cricket buff lol R W S..

I must catch up on my cricket trivia...