After the first two rounds of the Cricket Gold Coast (CGC) Senior Competition a number of issues have been raised either at the Senior Delegates meeting or by general feedback. Hereunder are summaries of the particular issues:-
WEARING OF SPIKES IN TURF MATCHES
Discussion took place, mainly around the non wearing of spikes and players running down the middle of the pitch and onto the protected area.
In Senior Cricket the following applies:-
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS – PART ‘A’ Rule 12 (c) Footwear: In CGC matches played on Turf NO player will be allowed on the field unless wearing spiked footwear [half spiked footwear is permissible]. The Grades Committee may approve a relaxation of this clause on written medical grounds.
In Junior Cricket the following rule applies:
• Open Turf division games that are played on ‘Turf’ wickets the wearing of cricket
spikes when batting or bowling is compulsory.
Complaints were received that in Juniors matches, that did not have official umpires, some players were running on the pitch and protected area causing damage that could not be repaired prior to the Senior match to follow. An offer has been made for a training session for Coaches and non-official umpires to be held
at Cheltenham Oval on a date to be decided, to advise them of the need to strictly enforce the rules in this regard.
TEAM SHEETS AT THE TOSS
Due to difficulties with PlayHQ and the identification of some players, it has become imperative that Captains supply team sheets to umpires at the toss.
USE OF LIGHT METERS BY UMPIRES
An issue was raised that Light Meters were not available to be used in deteriorating light. It is imperative that Umpires take their light meters onto the field when light is seen to be deteriorating. Best practise is to take the Light Meters onto the field after the ‘tea break’, but definitely by the second drinks breaks.
SLOW OVER RATE PENALTIES
Please pay particular attention to the monitoring of over rates by teams and if necessary the imposition of penalties. Of course there is a discretion afforded to Umpires, however at the very least, if the team bowling first does not complete the required overs by the scheduled tea break, they are to continue until the full allocation of overs are bowled. Then when that team is batting they are only to receive the number of overs they bowled at the time the break was originally scheduled.
Allowances may be made for:-
• Injuries during the match
• Ball lost or hard to find over the boundary
Allowances are NOT to be made for
• Wickets falling
• Drinks breaks
• Sightscreen changes
Please ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the provisions of Penalty Runs;
Interrupted matches and Uninterrupted matches in the CGC Rules and Playing Conditions.
It is imperative that Umpires maintain communication lines with Captains. At the very
least Captains should be advised how many overs have been bowled each hour, and then
with half an hour to go to the tea break they should be advised how many overs they need
to bowl in that last half hour.
REPORTS
The following reports have been submitted in the first two (2) rounds:-
Round 1 – Abuse of Equipment
Round 2 – Dissent
Round 2 – Bowler removed from Attack – Full ball above waist height – CGC General Playing Conditions 21.2 (A) & (B) and MCC Laws 41 (7)
Yours in umpiring and may all your snicks be loud,
Your Training and Selections Committees,
Bob Myatt, Pat Carty, Michael Guy and Leigh Buckingham