5.0 DECISION MAKING
BY UMPIRES IN
RELATION TO GW&L
In light of the recent case, play
should not start, resume or
continue unless BOTH umpires
In arriving at a decision to
allow play to start, resume or AGREE that conditions
are neither dangerous nor
to continue, umpires should
unreasonable. The umpires
err on the side of caution.
should therefore between
them identify any matter
Law 3.9(b) states that,
about which they disagree,
if the ‘umpires together
discuss it further and seek
agree’ (meaning a joint
to come to an agreement.
decision of the umpires
If an agreement cannot be
made independently of the
reached that conditions
players) that the conditions
are neither dangerous
of GW&L or any other
circumstances are dangerous nor unreasonable then
play should be suspended
or unreasonable, they shall
immediately suspend play, or immediately, not allowed
to start or not allowed to
not allow play to start or to
resume. Some umpires have resume (as appropriate).
interpreted this to mean that,
in the event the two umpires
disagree, the status quo
should continue, ie if play
was underway it carried on
but, if play was not underway,
it did not start or resume.
That interpretation should
no longer be followed.
5.1 Joint decisions
5.2 What if there is only
one umpire?
In the event that there is
only one qualified umpire at
a game (qualified, for this
purpose, means a current, full
member of the ECB ACO),
and the other end will be
handled by a player or a club
official, the qualified umpire
should take responsibility
for deciding on GW&L
issues. This does not
however mean the qualified
umpire should not listen to
the opinion of others.
14
92018 ECB Ground Weather and Light.indd 16
15/03/2016 15:58