The fun may be ruined, I guess.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Good point - there really should be some ICC clause which prevents umpires from shouting their mouths off to the press in this manner.

Correct me if i am wrong, but i don't think Hair has said a word. All this is just hints from an unamed source within the ICC.

But i agree with the sentiments that cricket officials, players and coaches (*cough* Woolmer *cough*) should not be allowed to shoot their mouths off to the media. It only brings the game into disrepute.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Maranello

attention-seeking, headline-grabbing narcissists

I know you haven't named such a person, Maranello, but I was just thinking about the Elite Panel and I can't think of a less apt description to apply to any of them. I guess you're just making a hypothetical comment, right?

[Rachael]

For all this talk of an Elite Panel... it seems to me that the ICC doesn't actually have the resources to do without Hair: he's about the only one with the ***** to give batsmen out when they pretend to play shots, and few of the rest are as good at making the right lbw decisions.

He may lack the character and temperament to see a game through without incident... but if the others aren't in his class on the basics of giving players out / not out.... the character and temperament concerns might just have to be ignored.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Seamer

But i agree with the sentiments that cricket officials, players and coaches (*cough* Woolmer *cough*) should not be allowed to shoot their mouths off to the media.

I agree about officials and players. In particular, captains should be held to stringent and high standards; this is why I was so critical of Inzi mouthing off to the press - that really was conduct unbecoming. The same applies to umpires.

I am less sure about coaches, simply because that is a very ad-hoc role. The umpire is an employee if the ICC and is charged with applying the rules. The captain and each of the players have some fairly well-defined and established responsibilities under the rules of the game and by agreeing to play a game governed by the ICC, are in effect submitting themselves to the ICC's remit.

The coach on the other hand does not have a well-defined role, or one that is even necessary. A team may choose to play without a coach and a manager, or it may choose five people to do the role of the coach with no overall responsibility. Woolmer is merely the employee of the PCB, so should be bound by his contract with his employer; I am not sure the ICC should come into disciplining him.

If the ICC feels the PCB is not doing its job properly, then of course that matter should be raised with the other nine permanent members of the ICC and appropriate action (if any) taken against the PCB.

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

I was just thinking about the Elite Panel and I can't think of a less apt description to apply to any of them.

I don't know any of the ten members of the Elite Panel personally, so can only go by press commentary and reports. From my recollection, some reporters and commentators, particularly in the English media, have categorised the actions of certain umpires as being attention-seeking; you and I really do not know either way so probably best not to name anyone specific.

[Occasional Fan]

I'll tell you what: I'll name one who annoys me by being a bit conspicuous - B F Bowden. But I'd stop short of calling him an attention-seeking, headline-grabbing narcissist. I've no evidence to make that sort of character assassination, as indeed you suggest, Maranello.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Rachael

For all this talk of an Elite Panel... it seems to me that the ICC doesn't actually have the resources to do without Hair: he's about the only one with the ***** to give batsmen out when they pretend to play shots, and few of the rest are as good at making the right lbw decisions.

He may lack the character and temperament to see a game through without incident... but if the others aren't in his class on the basics of giving players out / not out.... the character and temperament concerns might just have to be ignored.

Well Rachael, I have said this time and time again, I don't particularly want a high quality umpire in matches involving Pakistan, I would prefer a poor quality impartial umpire. I just can't undertand how the procession of Pakistan fast bowlers who are accused of being cheats, keep getting invited to play in domestic English cricket?

Imran, Mudasser Nazar, Sarfraz, Shoaib, Wasim, Waqar, Asif, Gul, Aaqib etc, have all been paid to play and coach here. Is it ok to tolerate supposed cheats at a domestic level but not when the national colours are donned?