Cricket in Cambridgeshire has been blighted this year by “a distressing and unnecessary rise in cases of alleged ill-discipline” says the county’s head of cricket operations Russell Doel. In an open letter Mr Doel, of the Cambridgeshire Cricket Board, also says there has been an increase in complaints of “discriminatory language or behaviour”.
He warns: “We all have a responsibility to improve this situation regardless of your age, gender, or ethnicity.
“We will work alongside competition organisers to be strong in imposing sanctions on players and clubs who display ill-disciple and especially discriminatory behaviour, so please take this as a warning of our stance.”
His open letter has been sent to chairs, secretaries, and captains of all Cambridgeshire clubs.
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Cricket, posting the open letter, says: “If you play and enjoy our game please have a read, hopefully this will act as a point of conversation and reflection across all of our community.”
In Mr Doel ‘s letter he says cricket can only develop and create pathways for players to fulfil their potential if the game is played in a “positive, supportive, and collaborative way.
“We work with a broad range of partners and organisations to achieve our aims, including local leagues and the officials’ association.”
Mr Doel says many games this year have been cancelled or abandoned because of poor weather conditions which is out of their control.
“However, player behaviour is within our control.
“We have seen a distressing and unnecessary rise in case of alleged ill-discipline and discriminatory behaviour that have been reported, alongside more that have not been formally reported.”
He says: “There needs to be an environment and culture that supports the inclusion of players, particularly younger players as they are learning and developing in the game.
“Without this, our playing numbers will start to decrease, and people will choose something else.
“As people who love the game, we have a responsibility to change this for the better.”
Mr Doel says the association works alongside committed volunteers whose help is essential to the game.
“They are becoming increasingly demotivated by having to deal with things, particularly player behaviour, which can so easily be avoided.”
He urges his colleagues in the cricketing world to ensure umpires are respected and their decisions accepted.
And that the laws of the game are observed, and rules and regulations of competitions are followed.
“The Cambridgeshire cricket community has the ability to change the situation for the better,” he says.
