ICC Cricket Committee strongly supports improved player behaviour

May 30 (CRICKETNMORE) - The ICC Cricket Committee concluded its two-day meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday with strong support for the ICC Board’s commitment to improve player behaviour and the development of a culture of respect.

The Committee has also made recommendations around the toss in Test cricket and ICC World Test Championship playing conditions.

On day one of the meeting, the Committee was joined by former England captain and ex-MCC President, Mike Gatting, and David Boon, former Australia batsman and now a member of Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, to discuss the importance of the Spirit of Cricket to the game generally and, more specifically, the Code of Conduct.

There were three main areas of discussion. Firstly, what can Member boards do to create a better atmosphere of respect between teams and to provide for a fair contest on the field of play. Secondly, what does it mean to play in the spirit of cricket and, finally, the specific offences to be covered by the Code, the associated level of sanctions and the process for the consistent reporting, hearing and adjudication of charges brought under the Code.

The Cricket Committee has made a series of recommendations to be shared with the Chief Executives’ Committee in June as part of the collective desire to create a culture of respect and protect the spirit of the game.

ICC Cricket Committee Chairman Anil Kumble said: “We had an excellent discussion around the issue of player behavior and I’d like to thank Mike Gatting and David Boon for joining us and making valuable contributions.

“The Committee echoed the sentiments of the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and the ICC Board, and, as such, we have made a series of recommendations as part of the creation of a culture of respect we can all adhere to.

“The group felt that excessive personal abuse and ball tampering were serious offences in the game and that should be reflected in the way in which they are dealt with. There was also strong support for giving the match officials more authority and subsequently greater support around their decision making.”

Other key recommendations from the Cricket Committee were around the playing conditions of the ICC World Test Championship.

The Committee discussed whether the toss should be automatically awarded to the visiting team but felt that it was an integral part of Test cricket which forms part of the narrative of the game.

ICC Media Release