Red and Yellow Cards for Umpires

There has been a recent article in the media suggesting that red and yellow cards may be introduced on a trial basis into 1st Class cricket in England and Wales. Whilst I cannot speak on behalf of the ECB Association of Cricket Officials Board, of which I am Chairman, or its members, I do have very strong views on this issue, forged when I was Secretary & Chief Executive MCC and heavily involved in the MCC Laws Working Party.

When the Laws of Cricket were revised and rewritten in 2000, Lord Cowdrey and others were adamant that we should not alter the roles of the captains and the umpires. Cricket is unique in team sports (c.f. rugby, football, hockey etc) in that the Captain is responsible for the discipline of his/her team. The umpires do not have the power to dismiss a player from the field, although there are a number of situations in which the umpires are authorised to intervene (Point 3 in the Spirit of Cricket). The responsibilities of the captain are clearly stated in the preamble to the Laws:

• Responsibility of captains
  The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws
• Player's conduct
  In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decisions of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain, and instruct the latter to take action.
  
  The Laws Working Party decided that red and yellow cards were not the answer to ill-discipline and did not introduce them into the new edition of the Laws.
  
  Any statement or decision which alters that position changes the whole relationship between captains, players and umpires.
  
  The Laws of Cricket are in place for all games of cricket, although Regulations can be written to supersede the Laws. Regulations have usually been introduced in international or first-class cricket where games are overseen by two field umpires, two additional off-field umpires and a match referee as well as the scorers. The Laws, which are also in force for less-prominent games of cricket between teams who often provide their own umpires, sometimes chosen from amongst the batting team. In these cases it would clearly be absurd to introduce red and yellow cards for the use of umpires.
  
  We would all agree that ill-discipline at all levels is unacceptable. However, the introduction of these cards was not considered by MCC, in revising the Laws, to be the way forward in combating ill-discipline. The Laws were agreed, in 2000, by the MCC Cricket Committee, the MCC Members and the International Cricket Council, who were consulted throughout the two years of redrafting. It is hard to see what has changed in the last eight years to reverse that decision.
  
  The use of yellow cards undermines the role and the responsibilities of the captain under the Spirit of Cricket. If ICC chooses to implement yellow cards at the top level, I believe it would be a mistake. For yellow cards to be introduced in the non-first-class game would, in my mind, be totally inappropriate. Captains must be made aware of their responsibilities. League authorities and clubs must support the umpires, if they feel it necessary to submit adverse reports about players or incidents. ECB, as the national governing body, must also take a strong line in maintaining or, if as it appears is needed in some levels of cricket, restoring discipline through educating, imposing sanctions where necessary and taking a firm and uncompromising stance.