MARYLEBONE EDICT

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 9

MARYLEBONE EDICT

BODYLINE BOWLING SEQUEL. INSTRUCTIONS TO UMPIRES. London, March 18. Drastic regulations to prevent direct attack by a bowler on a batsman are contained in the new official provisional instructions to umpires by the M.C.C. Reference is made to the, fact that “during 1934 there were instances of a bowler making a direct attack on a batsman.” The instructions proceed: Marylebone has always considered this type of bowling unfair, and it must be eliminated from the game. , “Umpires are the sole judges of fair or unfair play, and therefore they are empowered to deal with direct attack in the following manner:— 1. When the umpire at the bowler’s end decides that such bowling is becoming persistent he shall caution the bowler. 2. If the caution is ineffective he shall inform the fielding captain, and the other umpire. 3. If still ineffective, the bowlers umpire shall at first repetition call a dead ball and the oyer will be regarded as completed. 4. Request the captain to take off the bowler immediately.

5. Report the occurrence to the captain of the batting side during the next interval, and at the end of the day report to the secretaries of Marylebone and the county to which the bowler belongs. 6. The bowler concerned shall not bowl again in the same innings. The instructions notify the umpires that Marylebone will strongly support them in any action taken under law 43 to prevent such bowling. Umpires for first and second-class counties are also instructed to inform the Marylebone secretary of any instance, on or off the field, of a captain or player criticising, or showing resentment at the umpire's decision, but they must first inform the captains during the match that they intend to so report.