YELLOW and red cards could be introduced in cricket as officials look to clamp down on an increasing amount of bad behaviour.

The trial, launched by the MCC, could be extended to club, university and school cricket and would see offences punished dependant on their level of severity.

Red cards would be issued for the most serious offences, including threatening an umpire, assault and racist abuse, while sin-bins and points penalties could be enforced for lesser misdemeanours.

And south Essex sportsmen and teachers have had their say on the debate, with a mixed response to the latest development in the sport.

Former Essex cricketer Chris Gladwin is now the captain of Westcliff-on-Sea in the Shepherd Neame League’s third division, having also represented Derbyshire and Suffolk in a nine-year first-class career.

And he labelled the trial “bizarre”, citing an example last season where he and an opponent had a minor spat.

“We were playing a team and I was having some words with their bowler, just trying to wind him up a little although it was nothing nasty,” said Gladwin, 53. “He turned around and said something horrible so I spoke to the umpire and 20 minutes later we were back playing and it was all forgotten.

“Banter is part and parcel of the game and you have a lot of good friends in the game that you often joke with. That is just part of cricket and part of the reason we love it.

“I don’t think it is necessary to introduce yellow or red cards. I would say each team should have their own disciplinary procedures in place by which they deal with incidences of bad behaviour.

“If, in a game, there is a problem then the umpire can report it and the club can deal with it. Players don’t want to miss games and I think isolated examples should be dealt with internally so it doesn’t drag out.”

However, Dean Waller who captains Leigh-on-Sea in Shepherd Neame division two, said he felt the scheme had its merits.

“It is an interesting idea,” said Waller. “I know there have been a few examples in local cricket that have had to be investigated, but I think people just need to be aware of their responsibilities.

“There is plenty of banter and I may have come near the mark in the past, and perhaps gone a bit too far but it is a laugh and a joke at the end of the day.

“It is a sport but it is important we don’t get too far away from the sport we all love. But I think it is an interesting idea.”

Richard Halle has taught PE at the King Edmund School, in Rochford, for the last five years and said he has never come across any serious examples of bad behaviour in cricket.

“When it comes to school sport, I have never really come across that much bad behaviour,” he said. “We play at district level and the pupils know their responsibilities as they are representing the school.

“We are not as competitive as sides playing at a more senior level but we still give it everything and you want to see that. I am not sure if it would take off at school level. Even when it comes to school football there are not loads of red or yellow cards, so I don’t know how important it is in cricket.”

 

WHY HAS IT COME TO THIS?

 

Five matches were abandoned in England last season because of violence, with increasing levels of bad behaviour detailed.

What are the offences and what could they mean? Proposals include sending a player off for the most serious level-four offences, including threatening an umpire, assaulting a player, official or spectator, and racist abuse. If it is a batsmen, he will be “retired out”.

Level three offences, including threating and intimidating behaviour, or bowling a beamer, could see players sin-binned for 10 overs.

Less serious offences (time-wasting, dissent or deliberate physical contact including shoulder barging) would bring an immediate five-run penalty.

Who is pushing the change in law? The MCC – recognised as the sole authority on the Laws of Cricket since 1787, plays more matches than any other cricket club against schools, universities and clubs.

They will be trialling the sanctions this summer, although not against county sides, and have called on leagues to join the trial.