Hungarian Cricket Association 2010
Code of Conduct
Revised and Updated April
2010
Cricket is
a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should
be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the
Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to
the game itself. (Preamble to the Laws, MCC Laws of Cricket)
- The Spirit of Cricket
The
Spirit of the Game involves respect for:
- Your opponents
- Your own captain and fellow
team members
- The role of the umpires
- The game's traditional values
- To dispute an umpire's decision
by word, action or gesture
- To direct abusive language
towards an opponent or umpire
- To indulge in cheating or
any sharp practice, for instance:
(a) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
(b) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
(c) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment
with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm
and motivation of one's own side
- The Captains
The major responsibility
for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains. Team captains
are expected to set an example in terms of embodying 'The Spirit of
Cricket', and to lead in a way which ensures that their players also
comply with the expected standards.
- The Players
Every individual
player is fully responsible and accountable for their own actions and
behaviour at all times, and is liable to appropriate consequences and
punishments should they breach this Code of Conduct or the Laws of Cricket
(see HCA Disciplinary Procedures and Penalties).
- The Umpires
HCA umpires are committed
to making every decision to the best of their ability and to their greatest
understanding of the Laws. Umpiring mistakes will inevitably occur,
but it is required that all umpiring decisions must be accepted and
respected by each player and spectator.
If you personally
do not agree with a decision, you may politely question the umpire about
the matter, but you must fully accept the umpire's response without
further complaint.
- Persist with emotional reaction
or complaint once the umpire has made their decision;
- Confront the umpire in any
manner;
- Criticise the decision by
word or by action;
- Refuse to act on any decision
in accordance to the Laws of Cricket.
If your team does
not agree with a decision, it is acceptable that the team captain politely
approaches the umpire(s) for an explanation, provided that the umpire's
response is fully accepted without further complaint.
- Anyone other than team captains
and umpires are involved in such a discussion, unless specifically requested
by an umpire (i.e. it is not acceptable for players to crowd or pressure
an umpire: if this occurs, it is the umpire's duty to refuse to discuss
the matter further until the captain removes the offending players from
the discussion).
- Unfair Play
The HCA supports and
encourages determined, competitive cricket. However, we firmly condemn
deliberately unfair tactics and play, and will treat such inappropriate
and unwelcome behaviour harshly.
- Time wasting
- Damaging the pitch
- Dangerous or unfair bowling
- Tampering with the ball
- Any other action considered
unfair (e.g. taking unfair advantage when a player
is injured)
More specific rules
relating to what constitutes fair or unfair play in cricket can be found
in Law 42 of the Official MCC Laws of Cricket.
- Dangerous or Threatening
Conduct
Any behaviour that
deliberately intends to physically threaten or endanger any person at
an HCA event will not be tolerated under any circumstances. If on the
field of play, the offender will be required to leave the field and
will take no further part in the match.
Many things cannot
be dictated by Laws or stated as 'official requirements', but can
improve the spirit of the game. At the completion of the season a 'Fair
Play Award' will be presented to the most sporting team in the League.
Here are some examples of what improves the spirit of the game...:
- Fielding team applauding the
arrival of a new batsman to the crease
- Fielding team joining the
applause for a batsman's milestone (e.g. 50 runs)
- Batting team joining the applause
for a bowler's milestone (e.g. 5 wickets in an innings)
- Fielders helping umpires by
honestly indicating a call of boundary '4' or '6' when it is
unclear
- Fielding teams thanking a
batsman if he 'walks' despite not being given out by the umpire
- Captains recalling batsmen
they know to have been incorrectly given out (Note: the umpire does
not have to allow this and may insist on his original decision being
upheld)
- Play immediately stopping
when a player is injured, and concern for his well-being and recovery
being shown by players from both teams (Note: the umpires will call
"dead ball" at this moment, preventing either team from taking advantage
of the injury)
- All players from both teams
shaking the hands of all opponents, umpires and scorers at the completion
of the match
- Players or spectators celebrating
an opposing team's mistake (e.g. dropped catch, misfield), or their
own team's success in a way that emphasizes the opposing team's
failure (e.g. 'sending off' a batsman).
- Bowlers attempting to run
out the non-striker before entering their delivery stride, without first
having given the batsman a warning (Note: once the bowler enters their
delivery stride - i.e. their back foot lands - the non-striker is
permitted by the Laws (Law 42.15) to leave their ground).
- Bowlers or fielders appealing
when they know that the batsman is not out, or when they have no reasonable
grounds to make the appeal (e.g. appealing for LBW from square leg or
point).
The HCA Code of
Conduct and the Spirit of Cricket must be respected on AND off the field
of play, during AND between HCA matches.
