Querying umpires out in New Zealand cricket

Players, coaches and administrators querying umpiring decisions will be slapped with a code of conduct charge under changes made to local rulings in the code by New Zealand Cricket for the season of 2003-04. As reported by Wisden CricInfo recently it is part of a crackdown after players abused a privilege extended by umpires.

Martin Snedden, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, said the change to the code was necessary because the questioning of umpires' decisions had become standard practice in recent seasons and this had been having a negative effect on the game. "Over the last few years a trend has come into the game at all levels in which captains, players and coaches demand explanations from umpires in relation to decisions made after appeals.

"This practice of demanding explanations from umpires is used extensively by players to build pressure on umpires and to sway future decision making. It's fair to say that some umpires have encouraged this practice by providing explanations and, at times, do so without even being asked.

"To some extent this development has occurred in the belief that it helps with player-umpire relationships and communications. However, this is often not the case and these explanations have frequently led to displays of dissent, disagreement or dissatisfaction.

"We have the support of the CPA and the first-class coaches who agree that it is a fundamental principle of the rules of cricket and the Spirit of Cricket that the umpire is the sole and final arbiter and that their decisions must be accepted without question. The next part of the process is for us to properly educate the umpires and the players, which we will do through their coaches, so that they are aware of the new expectations before the season starts," he said.

Snedden also said that the new law would be applicable at all levels of the game, particularly club cricket. We are aware that poor on-field treatment and by player abuse leads directly to a number of umpires being lost to the game every year. We are determined that this trend will not continue at any level of the game and we will be working with our major associations to ensure that the new expectations of on-field behaviour will be upheld at all levels of the game."