News cuttings
Below are links to news stories about umpiring and scoring. The most recent items are also featured on the home page but below you will find older articles that may be of interest.
6 September 2008
The behaviour of present-day players is not much worse than their predecessors, according to Vince van der Bijl, the ICC umpires' and referees' manager.
5 September 2008
The former Test umpire and Australian cricket administrator, Col Egar, has died in Adelaide at the age of 80.
28 August 2008
In the aftermath of Marcus Trescothick's confession about the use of minted-saliva to help shine the ball, one commnentator says that "ball-tampering is almost as old as cricket - maybe it's time it was legalised". Read the full article by Lambit Bal on Cricinfo.
27 August 2008
"The standards of player conduct have slipped in the county game, and umpires and captains are content to turn a blind eye" argues Christopher Martin Jenkins writing in Cricinfo Magazine. Umpires on the ECB First Class Panel are to be awarded 12 month contracts from 1st January 2009 to deter them from standing in unauthorised tournaments, such as the Indian Cricket League, reports the Times.
25/26 August 2008
Marcus Trescothick's revelation that he used mint-induced saliva to keep the shine on the ball during the 2001 Ashes series has raised the question about whether or not this is a violation of Law 42. The issue is discussed by Nagraj Gollapudi writing on Cricinfo. Troy Cooley, the England bowling coach at the time, denies any knowledge of the use of the tactic according to a report on the Fox News website.
13 August 2008
At the conclusion of the Sri Lanka/India Test Series, the results of the umpiring review system is reviewed by Sambit Bal on Cricinfo.
10 August 2008
Umpire Benson calls for the use of the "HotSpot" in the umpiring review system, according to Cricinfo
4 August 2008
The umpiring review system needed to be tried, but there are plenty of questions still unanswered and kinks to be worked out, argues Sambit Bal in an opinion piece in Cricinfo magazine.
27 July 2008
Following the completion of the recent Sri Lanka/India Test Match, the Sri Lankan captain, Mahela Jayawardene, says the new experimental rule allowing players to challenge umpiring decisions is stopping mistakes being made. However, the Indian captain, Anil Kumble, thinks it is too early to comment, reports the BBC website.
24 July 2008
Sri Lankan batsman, Tillakaratne Dilshan, became the first player to take advantage of cricket's new trial laws and successfully challenge an on-field umpire's decision in the Test match versus India. More details can be found in The Times online. There is further comment on the decision by Indian skipper, Anil Kumble, to challenge a not out call for an LBW appeal from Dileep Premachandran writing on Cricinfo.
23 July 2008
Dave Richardson, the ICC's general manager says he is confident that the trial system for players to challenge umpires' decisions would work well on a long-term basis and it would eradicate obvious mistakes, reports Jamie Alter on Cricinfo.
22 July 2008
"Cricket is about to take a leap of faith in technology with the trial of a system that allows players to challenge the decision of the on-field umpires in the Test series between Sri Lanka and India. The umpire's word will no longer be final", writes Jamie Alter on Cricinfo. The Indian captain, Anil Kumble welcomes the trial. Other reactions are also covered on Cricinfo.
20 July 2008
Technology cannot be relied upon to get it right when players claim low catches and it may be better to let players police themselves, writes David Gower, in further comment on the disputed catches in the 2nd Test Match between England and South Africa.
19 July 2008
The spirit of Cricket initiative has been much championed in the corridors of power, but on the field a mild form of anarchism seems to be taking hold argues Simon Hughes writing in the Telegraph about the controversial incidents in the 2nd Test Match between England and South Africa.
13 July 2008
In deciding to change the result of last year's England/Pakistan Test Match, at the Oval, the ICC is in clear contradiction of Law 21.7 and Law 21.10, argues
Will Buckley, writing in the Observer.
9 July 2008
The danger of beamers has been highlighted in a tragic case where an amateur cricketer has been left paralysed after he was hit on the head by a ball during a match in Dorset. The full story is reported on the BBC website.
5 July 2008
Michael Holding, the former West Indian fast bowler, has resigned from the ICC Cricket Committee because he is unhappy with the ICC's decision to change the result of the 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan, according to a report on the Cricinfo website.
4 July 2008
The decision to change the result of the 2006 Oval Test between Pakistan and England destroys the meaning of sport, argues Simon Barnes writing in the Times.
3 July 2008
The ICC has decided to change the result of the controversial 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan to a draw, reports the BBC website.
2 July 2008
An agreement in principle is believed to have been reached to change the result of the controversial Oval Test between England and Pakistan in 2006 from an English victory to a draw, following pressure from the Pakistan Cricket Board during the annual ICC meeting in Dubai, reports the Cricinfo website. Reflecting on the recent controversy surrounding the dismissal of New Zealand player Grant Elliott in a ODI versus England, Gideon Haigh asks "who today wants to be a "brave" umpire?" in an article in Cricinfo magazine.
30 June 2008
Ricky Ponting has been found guilty of breaching the ICC's Code of Conduct during his side's ODI against the West Indies in Grenada last Friday. The player was charged under clause 1.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct which refers to "showing dissent at an umpire's decision". More details can be found in the ICC media release.
27 June 2008
A review of comments on the controversial run out of New Zealand batsman Grant Elliott following a collision with Ryan Sidebottom can be found on the Cricinfo website.
25 June 2008
England captain Paul Collingwood has apologised to New Zealand after the controversial run-out in the ODI at the Oval. Grant Elliott was given run-out after he was knocked to the ground colliding with England player Ryan Sidebottom. "The umpires said 'are you upholding the appeal?'. In hindsight maybe I made the wrong decision," Collingwood said, reports the BBC website. Further comment is made by the BBC cricket correspondent, Jonathan Agnew, in a BBC interview.
19 June 2008
Further comment on the MCC's recent ruling on 'switch-hitting' from Ian Chappell who thinks it unfair to ask bowlers to say beforehand how they are going to operate and then not subject batsmen to the same rule.
18 June 2008
MCC's announcement on the 'switch-hitting' reverse sweep shot has prompted much discussion with the BBC cricket correspondent, Jonathan Agnew, writing that the MCC has acted too swiftly in giving it the all-clear.
17 June 2008
Following much news coverage of Kevin Pietersen's use of the 'switch-hitting' reverse sweep shot, the MCC have given it the all-clear in regard of the laws. See the news statement on the MCC website. There will be a trial of umpire referrals in the forthcoming India/Sri Lanka Test Series. It will allow the fielding and batting side three unsuccessful appeals to the umpire per innings to change a decision if it is perceived to have been incorrect. The trial could enhance the international game says the ICC's David Richardson in an ICC media release.
16 June 2008
The MCC will discuss the legality of the shots played by Kevin Pietersen during the first ODI against New Zealand at Chester-le-Street when they meet at Lord's on Tuesday according to the Cricinfo website. Meanwhile "the proposed umpire review system will be trialled during India's three-Test series against Sri Lanka, beginning next month, the Indian cricket board has said. Originally set to feature for the first time during South Africa's upcoming series against England, it was shelved after both boards failed to reach an agreement on the details" For more details see the Cricinfo website.
7 June 2008
"Plans to allow players to refer decisions to the television umpire during the forthcoming Test series between England and South Africa have been abandoned because the players are uncomfortable with the idea of challenging the on-field officials' authority" writes Lawrence Booth in the Guardian. It is also reported that the ECB is so worried about outbursts of indiscipline in the recreational game that this summer a system of yellow cards is being secretly trialled at three private schools, according to David Hopps writing in the Guardian.
6 June 2008
The ECB ACO have announced the appointment of Nick Cousins as its ACO Education Manager to be responsible for shaping and planning the delivery of the Officials Education Programmes.
4 June 2008
Many are asking whether or not the new trousers that the New Zealand team will be wearing in the Third Test Match comply with the Laws of Cricket. The "micro-shine" trousers have a special patch that makes it easier to polish the ball but the MCC are happy they do not break laws on artificial aides. Read more on the BBC website.
24 May 2008
"Hair returns from exile to find a game uneasy with authority figures" reports Chris McGrath writing in the Independent.
23 May 2008
"Maybe it's time to ban appealing so umpires can do their jobs better" writes Gideon Haigh in a thoughtful piece in Cricinfo magazine. Meanwhile, Vince van der Bijl has been appointed ICC Umpires' and Referees' Manager as part of moves to strengthen the department and improve the overall standard of officiating at the elite level, reports an ICC media release.
22 May 2008
Darrel Hair is ready for Test return reports the BBC website. Andrew McGlashan also covers Hair's return on Cricinfo.
21 May 2008
"Hair steps back into Test arena with new outlook", writes David Hopps in the Guardian. "Re-inventing yourself is probably not that difficult if you have the chameleon tendencies of Madonna, but when you are a hulking six feet five inch umpire with a stubborn streak called Darrell Hair, any proposed changes are likely to be met with a healthy dollop of scepticism" says Derek Pringle in the Daily Telegraph.
16 May 2008
"The MCC's proposal to limit the power of cricket bats has merit; the ICC's decision to trial the umpiring referral system doesn't" says Gideon Haigh writing in Cricinfo Magazine.
11 May 2008
The ICC are "barking up the wrong tree with its decision to experiment with umpiring referrals" writes Ian Chappell in Cricinfo Magazine.
8 May 2008
Further coverage of the vote by MCC members to change Law 6 - The Bat on the BBC website. The news prompted a leader item in the Guardian in "praise of the bat".
7 May 2008
A resounding 99% of MCC members have voted to re-write Law 6. The new law now stipulates that 90% of the volume of bat handles should be made of cane, wood and/or twine. The other 10% can be used "for the purpose of reducing vibration, for example rubber", reports the MCC website. The change will come into effect on 1 October 2008. It will not apply retrospectively in amateur cricket so anyone using a bat after October that will be illegal under the new Law will be able to use the bat for its natural lifespan.
6 May 2008
The MCC are said to be considering a change in Law 6 "restore the balance between bat and ball" according to the Cricinfo website.
The ICC cricket committee has recommended that trials of umpire review systems be approved by the full ICC board when it meets in July. Other suggested changes to the playing conditions include on-field umpires should be permitted to consult the third umpire as to whether a catch has been taken cleanly before making the final decision. The full story can be found on the Cricinfo website.
2 May 2008
The ICC are due to debate what part ball-tracking software, such as "Hawk-Eye", can play in the future of umpiring decisions according to Andrew McGlashan writing in the Cricinfo magazine. Further comment on the same issue is made by Derek Pringle in the Daily Telegraph. The article includes comment by Peter Willey who is uncertain that this is a good idea. Meanwhile, in the Indian Premier League an umpire has been suspended for acceding to a request from Sourav Ganguly to refer a questionable boundary catch to the 3rd umpire. The full story can be found on the Cricinfo website.
29 April 2008
Umpire Darrell Hair will return to top-flight cricket in May when he stands in the second Test between England and New Zealand reports the BBC website today. There is further comment by David Hobbs on the Guardian website and by Christopher Martin-Jenkins in the Times. Coverage of the Harbhajan Singh slapping incident extends to comments made by one of the umpires who is reported to have been "rapped" by the Board of Control for Cricket India, according to the Cricinfo website.
10 April 2008
The ECB website reports that "English umpires are toasting Marston's after they had a new beer named in their honour - the 'Old Umpire' ale is being introduced this season to recognise the efforts of the 33 umpires on the first-class list".
7/8 April 2008
The return of Darrell Hair to the ICC elite umpires panel is welcomed by (First Class) Umpires Association chairman Peter Willey reports the BBC website. The story is also covered on the Cricinfo website. Peter Willey is reported as saying that officials have been let down by the ICC in another item on the Cricinfo website. Former FIFA referee Martin Bodenham has set his sights on completing a unique double by becoming a first-class cricket umpire.
30 March 2008
"The ICC doesn't need to define on-field abuse, as it has recently attempted to do. It needs to ask umpires to report players who indulge in it" according to Ian Chappell writing in Cricinfo magazine.
23 March 2008
The ICC calls for improved player behaviour and in a note, issued to the captains of international teams, Elite Panel umpires and Referees and Chief Executives of Full Members, have asked umpires to apply "a degree of individual interpretation and judgement" to determine whether a player's behaviour had fallen below acceptable standards. The full story can be read on the Cricinfo website.
20 March 2008
"Concerns that the integrity of international cricket is being undermined by sledging, cheating and a growing lack of respect for umpires and opponents has prompted the billion-dollar Indian Premier League to take a stand to reinforce the spirit and laws of the game. The eight captains and players taking part in the six-week tournament will, on the day of the opening match on April 18 in Bangalore, sign a pledge to embrace the Spirit of Cricket" reports Mark Souster in the Times.
Speculation that Darrell Hair may be appointed to stand in the forthcoming England/New Zealand Test series in England in May, according to the BBC website. Meanwhile Darrell Hair is reported as vowing to work on better communication as he returns to standing in Test matches says the Cricinfo website. In addition, the ICC is considering using England's Test series at home to South Africa in July to test a referral system on umpiring decisions, according to Sarah Gwynn writing in the Independent.
19 March 2008
Following news that Darrell Hair has been restored to the ICC elite umpires panel the BBC suggests it is unlikely the ICC will appoint him to stand in matches involving Pakistan. The same story is covered by the Times, the Daily Telegraph, and on the Cricinfo website.
18 March 2008
Darrell Hair has been restored to the ICC elite umpires panel reports the BBC website. There is coverage of the same story on the Cricinfo website. The latest developments are described as a "satisfactory compromise" by Ivo Tennant on Cricinfo.
22 February 2008
The ICC have announced their intention to eliminate sledging in cricket. Further comment on sledging from Lancashire skipper Stuart Law including a suggestion to introduce a yellow and red card system to discipline players.
14 February 2008
A sculpture of ex-Test Match Umpire Dickie Bird is planned for his home town of Barnsley.
12 February 2008
Top international umpire, Simon Taufel, may "walk away" from cricket when his contract with the ICC expires on 31 March 2008 reports the Cricinfo website.
22 January 2008
Former MCC secretary and chief executive Roger Knight OBE will chair the newly-created ECB's Association of Cricket Officials with immediate effect.
15 January 2008
BBC website reports that Steve Bucknor disappointed at being dropped for remainder of Australia/India Test Series. Support grows for Steve Bucknor reports the BBC website following recent controversial Test Match between Australia and India. Mike Selvey, writing in the Guardian thinks cricket faces dark days if Steve Bucknor is bullied out by player power. Further coverage and comment on the issue can be found on Cricinfo website. Australian captain, Ricky Ponting has called for more elite umpires to be added to the ICC panel.
8 November 2007
There are few First Class umpires who have not played First Class cricket. That number will be expanded next season following the appointment of Steve Garratt to the full list of first-class officials. See also ECB media release on 2008 First Class umpire appointments.
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