ETHICS OF CRICKET.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 3, 9 February 1914, Page 11

ETHICS OF CRICKET.

The decision that the umpires in jounty matches next season shall.report' to the M.C.C. all cases of misconduct on the field is a new departure (comments a writer in an English journal), but before such action is taken the iimpires must acquaint the fielding captain of their intention. A eorrespond3nt wonders what good such a decision :-an do? To bring instances of misconluct before the offender's captain would be right, and everyone would, commend such an action on the pari jf an umpire. We saw in a recent York* shire and Australian mateh at Bradford how wlell this worked out, when; ane of our; ■) best-known and most ?peeted umpires found it necessary to. walk across to the Australian captain ind complain of the attitude of one'df the bowlers. The captain strode to the bowler's crease, picked up thebalL threw it at the bowler's feet;, and 6b-.*

viously told him to go on with his workt ;Later on came the, apology to.'the. um-' pire, unsought, but frankly made,' and rtneincident! was 'closed.-/ '■•;•- •''■:■ Is ib necessary to do more Vfchan was clone; in th&j? case? Is it necessary 'to ■ so-t up a-ii Index" at -Load'is in which will; appear' the . names of offenders against ; |qod behaviour ? If seems as if the'reference to Corel's is unnecessary... The'ieaptains of -county cricket? teams are sufficiently strong- ■ and - respected, .iioi,be depended, on to take the proper' course as soon as any complaint has been "proved. What goodcan this posting of offences to Lord's do? Everyone who sees much cricket is aware that the burden is on the bowlers, rather than on the umpires. These officials make many mistakes which 'aire ' inevitable. Generally, bowlers'suffer in silence. The umpire's position is admittedly a very thankless one, and, though cases do occur the captain"s ; reports to lieadquaVters contain some refereucß t.n iiTrmiViii'op

we make bold to say that these reports' err on the side of mercy. The new custom may change this. ,' '