ICC welcomes improved on-field behavior

The ICC today welcomed the dramatic drop in on-field incidents after releasing figures showing a reduction in reports from 52 in the two years prior to the introduction of the revised Code of Conduct to just 31 in the 23 months since the new Code was introduced on 1 April 2002.

The restructured hearing process introduced under the new Code has also provided players with a greater opportunity to have their cases fully considered with four of the 31 players charged found not guilty compared with 52 of the 52 players charged being found guilty in the two years prior to the new Code.

ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, said that the figures indicated that the new Code was achieving its objective of being stronger, simpler and fairer and bringing about an improvement in the on-field demeanor of players

"Prior to the introduction of the new Code, there was considerable concern in the cricket community that the behavior of some players had slipped to an unacceptable level and that this was impacting on the spirit of the game," said Mr Speed.

"The new Code sought to be stronger, simpler and fairer. It reformed the hearing system to ensure that the referee could not both lay a charge and then hear the charge and, after consultation with the player associations, it also introduced a set of guidelines to sit with each offence to provide clearer examples of what was not acceptable.

"I think these figures indicate that this new Code in concert with the development of our Emirates Elite Panel of Umpires and Referees and the willingness of the players to embrace the spirit of cricket is having a positive effect on what takes place on the ground.

"Particularly pleasing is the drop in the number of charges for dissent which have fallen from 18 in the two years prior to the Code to just six since it was introduced, one of which was subsequently not proven."

"It also highlights the fact that the ICC and the match officials are very aware of the demands on players at the elite level. The Code is in place to deal with issues that are of genuine concern, not to penalize trivial behavior," said Mr Speed.

Former Indian captain and chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee - Playing, Sunil Gavaskar, said that he was one of the people concerned with the on-field standard prior to the introduction of the new Code but welcomed the trend of fewer on-field indiscretions.

"Prior to the new Code, I was one of many people in the game who were concerned about this issue but over the past two years I think that the introduction of this Code and the greater awareness of the issue amongst the players has resulted in considerable improvement in this area," said Mr Gavaskar.

"The code reflects the reality that players have a responsibility to not just their teams but to all those youngsters watching the game. This trend is a strong indication of the improvement that has taken place."

Former South African vice-captain and now the ICC's General Manager - Cricket, David Richardson, is responsible for the management of the Elite Panel and said the focus was on building the greatest possible consistency across the Panel.

"We have worked hard at attracting high calibre former international players as referees and with former national captains in Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka), Gundappa Viswanath (India) and South African great, Mike Procter, we've been able to ensure that these cricket issues are dealt with by vastly experienced former international players ideally placed to make judgments about on-field issues and the actions and reactions of players," said Mr Richardson.

"Moving ahead one of the challenges that we are focused on is ensuring the greatest possible level of consistency across the officiating team."

Mr Richardson also said that he was also encouraged by the feedback he had received on the spirit of cricket from a number of captains during recent meetings.

"Cricket does have a unique spirit that is part of the foundation of the sport and in my recent discussions with a number of captains I have been encouraged by the commitment they have to upholding this spirit.

"I think that the initiative shown by the Australian team last year in publicly committing to this ideal is indicative of the desire of the players to play the game in the right spirit and this is borne out in fewer reports."

The new Code simplified the complicated old system by introducing just four levels of offences with Level 1 being for minor indiscretions, specifying the type of the offence within each level and providing guidelines for administrators, officials and players on what type of behavior is regarded as unacceptable in relation to each offence.

Notable occurrences since the introduction of the new Code include:

• A reduction in charges laid against all teams with the exception of Bangladesh (0 charges prior to the new Code - 2 charges since its introduction) and South Africa (3 - 6).
• South Africa has had the most charges laid against it (6).
• The West Indies is the only team not to have a charge laid against one of its players.
• The 2003 Pakistan V South Africa series had the most charges arising from a single series (7).
• Australia (Symonds); England (Hussain); Pakistan (Latif) and South Africa (Boucher) all had players found not guilty.

For further information:

Brendan McClements
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International Cricket Council
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