By Tara Murray
Umpires won’t be appointed for the top two grades in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association in the coming round because of deteriorating player behaviour.
In an email sent to the clubs, GDCA association secretary Simon Ovenden said the umpires’ association wouldn’t provide umpires for McIntyre Cup and Johnstone Shield firsts divisions for the vital final round of the season.
Clubs will have to provide their own umpires in those grades, while umpires will be instead be appointed Jensen Shield Firsts, McIntyre Cup Seconds and some lower grade matches.
The email said the GDCA board of management supported the Umpire Association’s decision.
“The constant comments regarding the umpires aptitude in performing their role, dissent towards umpires decisions and unnecessary carry-on after the decision has been made, have been observed and commented on by umpires for the whole season to date,” the email said.
“Clubs have been warned that there will be no tolerance for bad behaviour.
“However, despite the constant warnings – both via email, and at delegate meetings – the poor behaviour continues.”
The email said no umpire would be appointed to finals matches in those divisions unless clubs ensured umpires were given respect from players and that all players re-read the Preamble to the Laws of Cricket – The Spirit of Cricket.
GDCA president Rob McIntyre told Star Weekly the situation had come a head after day one of the most recent round of matches, with comments to umpires becoming personal.
“It is disappointing that this action has to be taken, but the GDCA board is supportive of the umpires’ association’s decision and hopes it sends a strong and clear message to captains and players that disputing an umpire’s decision is against the Spirit of Cricket and will not be tolerated,” McIntyre said.
“We will also work with the umpires’ association in ensuring their members are equipped to confidently handle and report instances of this type of behaviour.”
The decision not to field umpires comes after a letter from the umpires’ association to the GDCA, followed by a meeting.
The letter, signed by three umpires’ association board members, said the umpiring boycott was an official protest.
They said some umpires had already indicated that they were unlikely to return next season,
“We find ourselves in the situation of umpires forever being the receivers of the angst of players in the senior grades of cricket in the GDCA,” they said. “[We] believe that players and clubs have to be brought into line to allow the umpires’ group to continue to be available for this season and for the seasons to come.”
The umpires’ association has acknowledged that their members should have issued more player mentions or prescribed penalties during the season, but claim that they can’t report everyone.
Just three players from across all grades have been mentioned on the players/officials misconduct and penalties list, including a player who was suspended for eight weeks.
“We accept that there are options to report players for offences and as a group we have not done this,” they said.
“But if we had, it could be expected that some lower elevens would not have enough players if senior players were consistently suspended.”
MORE GDCA NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/macedon-set-on-top-spot/
