MCC Change in Wording
The MCC’ s World Cricket Committee has agreed unanimously that the current Law regarding a bowler running out a batsman before he has delivered the ball should be changed to reflect the current ICC playing regulation, which requires the non-striker to remain inside the crease before the bowler releases the ball.
Law 42.15 currently reads:‘ The bowler is permitted, before entering his delivery stride, to attempt to run out the non-striker.’ This has been modified by ICC for all games played under its regulations to include‘ before releasing the ball and provided he has not completed his usual delivery swing’. It was the view of the World Cricket Committee that a non-striker who is out of his crease before the point of release is either taking an advantage or is acting carelessly, and runs the risk of being legitimately run out.
Geese Stop Play
The British summer ensures a number of matches are cancelled or delayed over the course of the season; however, word reached us of a match that was subjected to a more unusual hold-up.
The game, in Leicestershire and Rutland in late July, was temporarily delayed when a flock of Canadian geese decided to make an untimely deposit on the pitch. Syston and Woodhouse Eaves was nearing completion in the Talent Cricket County Cup tie when about 50 geese did their business, on a good length. Umpires Michael Shipman and Alan Pearce had to take the unprecedented action of stopping the game in order to clear the mess up.
Shipman said:‘ It was utterly bizarre. Never in all my time in the game have I seen Canadian geese deposit their droppings on a pitch. It was right on a length. We had to stop the game.’
Pearce added:‘ I was at square leg. Almost as if out of nowhere what I assume were geese were flying very low across the ground and making a hell of a noise. Some of the players were covering their heads because of the droppings.’
It was left to a Syston CC member to gather some tissues and complete the necessary paperwork to clear the pitch.
Shipman added:‘ I think umpires going to Syston are going to have to wear crash helmets in future.’
ECB ACO Women Official Trailblazers
Former England international and ECB ACO member Barbara Daniels was appointed match referee for the three Womens’ 50 Over World Cup Qualifiers between Netherlands and Scotland. Barbara, a recently qualified umpire from Staffordshire, was making her debut as a match referee. The on-field umpires for the three games also included two female ECB ACO members in Alison Smith and Ingeborg Bevers. In the lead up to the Women’ s World Cup in 2017, we are delighted to see some of our members being given opportunities such as this. We hope to announce more opportunities next season.
We sincerely hope that it won’ t come to that!
Gough on the Rise
Michael Gough moved one step closer to achieving his ambition of being appointed to the Elite Umpires’ Panel when he became the 111th Englishman to stand in a Test match when taking to the field in the First Test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand. To date, Gough has stood in 29 ODIs and eight T20s.
Gough, who was announced as PCA’ s Umpire of the Year for the fifth season in a row in September, has been on ECB’ s full list of umpires since 2008, and was identified as an umpire with the potential to make it to the top from early on in his career. Gough now joins Joel Wilson, Simon Fry and Ranmore Martinez as the four umpires auditioning for a place on the Elite Umpires’ Panel.
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