The ECB is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct. The Code of Conduct incorporates the Spirit of Cricket as set out below. It applies to all matches played under the auspices of the ECB and may be applied to cricket in general.

Captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket as well as within the Laws.
Players and Team Officials must at all times accept the umpire’s decision. Players must not show dissent at the Umpire’s decision or react in a provocative or disapproving manner towards an Umpire at any time.
Players and Team Officials shall not intimidate, assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an Umpire, another player or a Spectator.
Players and Team Officials shall not use crude and/or abusive language (known as “sledging”) nor make offensive gestures or hand signals nor deliberately distract an opponent.
Players and Team Officials shall not make racially abusive comments nor indulge in racially abusive actions against fellow players, officials, members and supporters. Clubs must operate an active open door membership policy whilst respecting player qualification regulations and welcome players/members irrespective of ethnic origin.
Players and Team Officials shall not use or in any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal drugs.
Clubs must take adequate steps to ensure the good behaviour of their members and supporters towards players and Umpires.

Spirit of Cricket

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. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the Captains.

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.

Players’ Conduct
In the event that any player failing to comply with the instructions of the Umpire, criticising his decision by word or action, 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 requesting the latter to take action.

Fair and Unfair Play
According to the Laws, the Umpires are the sole judges of Fair and Unfair play. The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the Captain to take action when required. The umpires are authorised to intervene in the cases of: tIme wasting, damaging the pitch, tampering with the ball, or any action that they consider to be unfair.

Spirit of the Game
The Spirit of the Game involves respect for your opponents, your own captain and team, the role of the umpires and the game’s traditional values. It is against the Spirit of the Game to – (a) dispute an umpire’s decision by word, action or gesture; (b) direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire; (c) seek to distract an opponent either verbally or with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side.

Violence
There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.

Players
Captains and Umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match and every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.

For further information, please contact our Club Safeguarding Officer Michael Chadwick.