in a Radio 5 Live investigative report . The basis for these exposés was research carried out by the University of Portsmouth ( UoP ), to which many of our umpires contributed .
The key outcome for ECB ACO was the fact that of those giving up umpiring , many stated that their decision was specifically due to increased abuse , saying that they were no longer enjoying the game . These results did not come as a surprise . Our own extensive research carried out before making recommendations to MCC about potential changes to the Law last year , plus a wealth of anecdotal evidence , had already led us to a similar conclusion . Perhaps not expressed with quite the same journalistic tendency to exclusivity and sensationalism as characterised by the Telegraph headline ‘ On-field abuse plagues club cricket ’, but nevertheless , put to both ECB and MCC with as great a call for action as we could give . At a time when the game needs more officials , not fewer , the situation cannot be ignored . Therefore , on behalf of ACO , I have outlined a five-point plan that places the solution to the problem squarely with the game as a whole as follows :
1 . Players must take responsibility for their own behaviour . Captains must take responsibility for their players . Clubs must take responsibility for the appointment of a captain who has the skill set to manage his players appropriately and the behaviour of their spectators and officials . Leagues must take responsibility for the behaviour of their clubs .
2 . ECB provides both leadership and guidance to all Leagues – that is both the ECB Premier Leagues ( where the influence is greatest and best practice can be implemented and demonstrated ) and all other Leagues in respect of the introduction of a set of common disciplinary rules that covers all cricket .
This would be recommended on the back of a declaration that the game adopts a zero tolerance attitude to the abuse of officials and in the knowledge that appropriate sanctions can and will be delivered as and when reports of abuse are received .
3 . MCC acts on the evidence provided by the UoP research and that provided by umpires worldwide generally ( ECB ACO umpires particularly ) in their own survey and , as part of its 2017 review of the Laws , it introduces immediate on-field sanctions as a deterrent to poor behaviour and the abuse of umpires .
The proposed sanctions would be on a sliding scale and include run deductions , sin bins for a certain number of overs and sendings off for any acts of extreme violence .
4 . ECB ACO to enhance its training and education of umpires in terms of effective man management , conflict management and the more effective reporting of poor behaviour . A guidance booklet will be launched in 2017 in a similar format to 2016 ’ s Ground , Weather and Light guidance .
5 . ECB ACO to work further with UoP and use our Membership Services team at Edgbaston to obtain a wider and deeper understanding of all the issues by conducting a further ‘ whole membership ’ survey of our own .
You will also read elsewhere detail about our 2016 National Conference . The feedback has been very warm and universally positive , so it is right that I take the time here to thank my Board colleagues and Executive Staff for their continued hard work and commitment which was exemplified in the quite superb organisation and smooth running of the Conference .
Finally , it remains for me to thank you all for your continued involvement with ECB ACO and repeat the rousing conclusion to Robert Croft ’ s short speech at the Conference with which he ended his Q & A and to wish each and every one of you compliments of the season and specifically a very happy Christmas .
‘ You are vital to the game ; the game cannot do without you . You do a fantastic job and on behalf of all coaches and players whether in the professional game or playing on the village green on a Sunday , I thank you .’
email us at ecb . aco @ ecb . co . uk contact us on 0121 446 2710 3