Spirit of Cricket “To uphold and promote the positive values associated with the spirit of cricket” Including: Cricketing etiquette for - batsmen, fielders, and umpires Traditions of the game
Captains must be dressed in cricket attire Home captain to toss coin Visiting captain to call Toss takes place on the field of play At the toss:
Traditions of the game Umpires enter field of play FIRST, followed by fielding captain and his team and then the two batsmen At the start of a session of play: At the end of a session of play: Batsmen leave field FIRST followed by the fielding side then the umpires
Traditions of the game Players should acknowledge efforts of opposition e.g. acknowledging a batsman’s 50 or 100 or the taking of 5 wickets by a bowler
Traditions of the game It is correct to applaud your own team’s efforts e.g. applaud a good catch, shot, piece of fielding
Traditions of the game It is NOT correct to applaud errors and/or misfortunes of opposition e.g. do NOT applaud when a bowler delivers a No ball or Wide or a fielder drops a catch or mis- fields the ball
Traditions of the game Players should acknowledge applause from opposition and spectators
Traditions of the game At end of game teams should shake hands
Traditions of the game It is only common courtesy that, at the end of the game, you thank: Scorers Umpires Ground staff Caterers Home club officials
Actions of the fielding side Do NOT appeal when you know a batsman is not out Loud, orchestrated and constant appeals Frivolous appealing Do NOT put undue pressure on umpires by: Advancing towards the umpire when appealing
Actions of the fielding side Help umpires by signalling when the ball has reached the boundary Do NOT keep up an incessant verbal barrage of comments to, or about a batsman’s ability Do NOT sledge the batsmen Bowlers should NOT follow through and engage in eye to eye contact with batsman or make rude comments about the batsman or the shot he has just played
Actions of the fielding side Thank the umpire when passing him your sweater or cap to look after during the over and when he returns these items If questioning the umpire on any point – do it politely and accept his response, even though you may not agree with him
Actions of the fielding side If non-striker is leaving his crease early – it is traditional to ‘warn’ him, rather than simply run him out Applaud a batsman’s 50 or 100 Thank a batsman if he ‘walks’ Applaud an injured Batsman when he recovers Apologise to a batsman if an accidental full pitch delivery (beamer) is bowled
Actions of the fielding side Always ensure the umpires receive a drink Do not sit on the ground Do not leave the field Do not take longer than necessary At a drinks break:
Actions of the batting side Be honest and if you know you have hit the ball and it is caught – ‘walk’ When asking for a guard say: ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ Non-strikers end, do not leave your crease until the bowler has delivered the ball Accept the umpire’s decision even though you may not agree with it and/or are disappointed
Actions of the batting side Do not stand at the crease in defiance of the decision Do not criticise the umpire and/or his decision to your team-mates or spectators Do not wave your bat in the air or point to it when given out L.B.W. Do not knock stumps with the bat or body
Actions of the umpire Always answer appeals – do not ignore the players Talk to players as you would wish to be spoken to Hold bowler’s sweater, cap etc. during the over If bowler asks - move your position, back or forward At the end of the game thank the players and scorers
EVERYONE has a responsibility to ensure that the match is played within the Spirit of the Game These include: captains players umpires scorers managers and coaches Spirit of Cricket parents and spectators
Spirit of Cricket If we can: Protect the spirit of cricket Promote & enhance the history & heritage of cricket Maintain & enhance the traditional spirit of the game Uphold & promote the values & standards of cricket THEN CRICKET WILL BE THE GREATEST GAME IN THE WORLD!