Wide and Unfair Play

Again the subject of so much unnecessary controversy. Remember, even as an umpire you can still make a very valuable contribution to the team. Which, to avoid any confusion, when you are umpiring is the one batting. I only mention this because it seems that some of us have not got the joke yet on some very basic principles. If our team (Salix) gets more runs than the opposition then we win and everyone on our side will be happy and will have smiles all week and will be nice to their wives and colleagues and will not kick the dog - especially Dominic.
I labor the point because some recent umpires have shown an alarming eluctance to give wides. Their generosity knows no bounds; they scatter their beneficence like female undergraduates after three Pernod and blacks. Let me reiterate: WHEN YOU ARE THE UMPIRE YOUR TEAM MATES ARE THE ONES CARRYING THE BATS & WEARING PADS. And before we get into any moral dilemma talk - you can be sure the other side are doing exactly the same thing.

As I wrote in the LBW section, umpiring is like opening the batting. There are four of you out there against eleven, and its your job to make it as difficult as possible for the opposition. Think Geoffrey Boycott with his lower lip stuck out - all magnificent obduracy and you get the picture.

Rodbert rule 1: Umpire like you mean business. You have a job to do - get on with it. Giving Wides is a man's job, not for shrinking violets and mummy's boys.
And now the law itself. There are 8 sections to the law, but the last 7 are all about the fact that you get a run and how you can be out off it etc. (see section 4. For some interesting facts). But the important bit is:

Section 1. Judging a Wide
If the Bowler bowls the ball so high over or so wide of the wicket that, in the opinion of the Umpire it passes out of reach of the Striker, standing in a normal guard position, the Umpire shall call and signal "wide ball" as soon as it has passed the line of the Striker's wicket.
The Umpire shall not adjudge a ball as being a wide if:-
(a)The Striker, by moving from his guard position, causes the ball to pass out of his reach.
(b) The Striker moves and thus brings the ball within his reach.

So that means that:
a) it's a wide if the batsmen can't reach it from his guard. So it depends on the batsman in question. A flexible lad like young Andy Bush stands a much better chance of reaching the ball than old arthritic codgers like Me and Fletch. So a wide to Andy would have to be wider than one to Fletch. Notice there is no mention of white lines or more than twelve inches or passing down the legside. It all depends on the batsman's reach/ agility. Speaking for myself, my gut is so wide and my back so stiff that anything not directly hitting my arse down the leg side must be a wide.
b) You cant give a wide 'coz the guy backed, tripped or ran away from a fast one and therefore was always struggling to get wood to leather.
c) You can only give an aerial wide if the ball passes "out of reach". This does not mean above the navel, or dangerously near the nose. It means at least 3 feet over his head (not unknown). For those of you who think this is astonishing/ unfair/ illegal/ unsporting/ all a communist plot read the bit on law 42 below before writing to your MP/ The MCC/ Fletch/ Me.
d) You can't give a wide for the sort of bowling you don't fancy when it's your turn. My lips are sealed as to who, but I've seen it done. Especially, when the big nasty quicks are on.
e) It's an umpire-judgement-kind-of-a-thing. Notice the phrase "in the opinion of the Umpire"; got to be some room for maneuver there.
f) worth including for the truly stupid - it can't be a wide if you hit it.


Rodbert rule 2: It's a wide if the batsman can't reach it and he hasn't moved away, or near enough to hit it. So give it.
So what does all this mean in practice.......... It means you can give a wide when you damn well please, baby, and no-one can stop you. If the bat didn't hit the ball it's entirely up to you, the umpire dude. This especially, absolutely always, with no exceptions, applies if the bowler and opposing captain agree that you should give a wide (you know who you are, you who transgress this rule).

Rodbert rule 3: If anyone on the bowling side (especially the bowler) tells you to give a wide - give it.
However, it's not all a bed of roses. Whilst giving a wide is a good idea 95% of the time (extra run and extra ball) its not an unbreakable rule.
Think about this for a moment. Our gallant opening bat has just faced 5 balls from the big nasty quick (yes the guy from section 2d). The first one whistled past his nose, what Curtly calls the perfume ball "coz you can smell the leather". The second hit the bat so hard it hurt his hands. The third hit him on the foot and will mean he still has bruises on Thursday. The fourth he had a mad swipe at and missed completely and the fifth was a full toss that he just managed to duck under. In short he has managed to get through some really nasty bowling. He happily watches the sixth ball fly through to the keeper safely way outside off stump, and is just about to relax safe in the knowledge that whoever's facing the next over it won't be him - when YOU call a wide.
Is he going to thank you? I don't think so. Now he's got to face another streaking red threat to life and limb, and he knows you won't be happy unless it's aimed directly at him, cause you'll give another wide. Get real! We're talking about unfit middle aged men facing really hard projectiles at 60mph. Why would you want to do it more than is absolutely necessary. Apart from that anything could happen. He might play a good shot and be forced to take a single, and then he's got another 6 balls to face from the other fast bowler. No, in these circumstances leave well alone, let the openers save themselves for the first change bowlers and thank your lucky stars Dom lets you come in at 5 or 6 when the crap's bowling.

Rodbert rule 4: Think about whether the batsmen want an extra ball before giving a wide.
Some more fun facts from law 25.
a) You get a run (in extras) for a wide whether you run or not. If you run a single off a wide its still only one extra. It only makes sense running if you can run two or more. If you run two you only get two extras. If it crosses the boundary you get 4. You only get the penalty extra it you don't run and there's no boundary.
b) You can be out off a wide in the following ways: Law 35-Hit Wicket or Law 39-Stumped, Run Out, Law 33-Handled the Ball or Law 37-Obstructing the Field. Please note: Either batsmen can be run out off a wide

Rodbert rule 5: A batsman run out taking a sharp single off a wide richly deserves all the ridicule he receives.
c) Ball Coming to Rest in Front of the Striker: If a ball which the Umpire considers to have been delivered comes to rest in front of the line of the Striker's wicket, "wide" shall not be called. The Striker has a right, without interference from the fielding side, to make one attempt to hit the ball. If the fielding side interfere, the Umpire shall replace the ball where it came to rest and shall order the Fieldsmen to resume the places they occupied in the field before the ball was delivered.
d) The Umpire shall call and signal "dead ball" as soon as it is clear that the Striker does not intend to hit the ball, or after the Striker has made one unsuccessful attempt to hit the ball.
e) Revoking a Call: The Umpire shall revoke the call if the Striker hits a ball which has been called "wide". (see 2f. on the truly stupid)
f) Should a Batsman be given out off a wide, the penalty for bowling it shall stand unless runs are otherwise made. (one for those of you who keep the scorebook)
g) And as every fool kno - A wide ball shall not be reckoned as one of the over. ie you get another ball


Law 42: Unfair Play
Now the bit we've all been waiting for - well at least since we read section 2c). The most fun law in the book. Law 42: Unfair Play. I've put the two bits that go with the wide law first, with the other stuff on shouting at batsmen later on.
The Bowling of Fast Short Pitched Balls: The bowling of fast short pitched balls is unfair if, in the opinion of the Umpire at the Bowler's end, it constitutes an attempt to intimidate the Striker. See Note (iv). Umpires shall consider intimidation to be the deliberate bowling of fast short pitched balls which by their length, height and direction are intended or likely to inflict physical injury on the Striker. The relative skill of the Striker shall also be taken into consideration.
Come on guys - for all but the best of us taking into account the relative skill of the batsmen means most deliveries are likely to inflict physical injury. Just look at Fletcher and my dental record, and the number of helmets worn.
In the event of such unfair bowling, the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall adopt the following procedure:-
(i) In the first instance the Umpire shall call and signal "no ball", caution the Bowler and inform the other Umpire, the Captain of the fielding side and the Batsmen of what has occurred.
Depending how officious you're feeling, I would choose not to bother with the rest
(ii) If this caution is ineffective, he shall repeat the above procedure and indicate to the Bowler that this is a final warning.
(iii) Both the above caution and final warning shall continue to apply even though the Bowler may later change ends.
(iv) Should the above warnings prove ineffective the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall:-
(v) At the first repetition call and signal "no ball" and when the ball is dead direct the Captain to take the Bowler off forthwith and to complete the over with another Bowler, provided that:
the Bowler does not bowl two overs or part thereof consecutively. See Law 22.7. (Bowler Incapacitated or Suspended during an Over).
Not allow the Bowler, thus taken off, to bowl again in the same innings.


vi) Report the occurrence to the Captain of the batting side as soon as the Players leave the field for an interval.
vii) Report the occurrence to the Executive of the fielding side and to any governing body responsible for the match who shall take any further action which is considered to be appropriate against the Bowler concerned.
Rodbert rule 6: If the ball could have hurt you can give a "no ball" not a "wide". (however, remember Rodbert rule 4)


The Bowling of Fast High Full Pitches:
Any high full pitched ball (regardless of its pace) which passes or would have passed above waist height of the Batsman standing upright at the crease shall be called and signalled 'No Ball' by the Umpire at the Bowler's end.
In the event of a Bowler bowling a 'fast' high full pitched ball (i.e. a "beamer"), the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall adopt the procedure of caution, final warning, action against the Bowler and reporting as set out in 8. above
However, if the Umpire at the Bowler's end considers that such a 'fast' high full pitch has been bowled 'deliberately' at the Batsman he shall call and signal 'No Ball' and direct the Captain of the fielding side to take the Bowler off forthwith without adopting the procedure of caution and final warning.
NOTE: Fast Short Pitched Balls
As a guide, a fast short pitched ball is one which pitches short and passes, or would have passed, above the shoulder height of the Striker standing in a normal batting stance at the crease.
Rodbert rule 7: Finally! You can give a "no ball" if the guy bowls a full toss above navel height.
And now for the rest of law 42 - for cricket anoraks, potential and existing captains, and those who want to know how far the rules can bend.
1. 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.
2. Responsibility of Umpires: The Umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play.
3. Intervention by the Umpire: The Umpires shall intervene without appeal by calling and signal- ling "dead ball" in the case of unfair play, but should not otherwise interfere with the progress of the game except as required to do so by the Laws.
4. Lifting the Seam: A Player shall not lift the seam of the ball for any reason. Should this be done, the Umpires shall change the ball for one of similar condition to that in use prior to the contravention.
5. Changing the Condition of the Ball: Any member of the fielding side may polish the ball provided that such polishing wastes no time and that no artificial substance is used. No-one shall rub the ball on the ground or use any artificial substance or take any other action to alter the condition of the ball. In the event of a contravention of this Law, the Umpires, after consultation, shall change the ball for one of similar condition to that in use prior to the contravention. (for all you budding Mike Atherton's) This Law does not prevent a member of the fielding side from drying a wet ball, or removing mud from the ball.
6. Incommoding the Striker: An Umpire is justified in intervening under this Law and shall call and signal "dead ball" if, in his opinion, any Player of the fielding side incommodes the Striker by any noise or action while he is receiving a ball. (Take note those Southern Hemisphere types, Irwin especially)
7. Obstruction of a Batsman in Running: It shall be considered unfair if any Fieldsman wilfully obstructs a Batsman in running. In these circumstances the Umpire shall call and signal "dead ball" and allow any completed runs and the run in progress or alternatively any boundary scored. Note: Fletcher is the only Salix man to be given out "obstructing the field".
Time Wasting: Any form of time wasting is unfair.
(a) In the event of the Captain of the fielding side wasting time or allowing any member of his side to waste time, the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall adopt the following procedure:-
(i) In the first instance he shall caution the Captain of the fielding
side and inform the other Umpire of what has occurred.
(ii) If this caution is ineffective he shall repeat the above procedure and indicate to the Captain that this is a final warning.
(iii) The Umpire shall report the occurrence to the Captain of the batting side as soon as the Players leave the field for an interval.
(iv) Should the above procedure prove ineffective the Umpire shall report the occurrence to the Executive of the fielding side and to any governing body responsible for that match who shall take appropriate action against the Captain and the Players concerned.
(b) In the event of a Bowler taking unnecessarily long to bowl an over the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall adopt the procedures, other than the calling of "no-ball", of caution, final warning, action against the Bowler and reporting as set out in 8 above. (c) In the event of a Batsman wasting time (See Note (f)) other than in the manner described in Law 31. (Timed Out), the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall adopt the following procedure:-
(i) In the first instance he shall caution the Batsman and inform the other Umpire at once, and the Captain of the batting side, as soon as the Players leave the field for an interval, of what has occurred.
(ii) If this proves ineffective, he shall repeat the caution, indicate to the Batsman that this is a final warning and inform the other Umpire.
(iii)The Umpire shall report the occurrence to both Captains as soon as the Players leave the field for an interval.
(iv) Should the above procedure prove ineffective, the Umpire shall report the occurrence to the Executive of the batting side and to any governing body responsible for that match who shall take appropriate action against the Player concerned.
Players Damaging the Pitch
No mention in the rule of pissing just on a length, the old leg spinners trick. Apparently, when pitches were still uncovered, some county bowlers used to turn up an hour before the groundsman, just for a bit of judicious bladder relief. Shame all the character has gone out of the game.
The Umpires shall intervene and prevent Players from causing damage to the pitch which may assist the Bowlers of either side. See Note (c).
(a) In the event of any member of the fielding side damaging the pitch the Umpire shall follow the procedure of caution, final warning and reporting as set out in 10(a) above.
(b) In the event of a Bowler contravening this Law by running down the pitch after delivering the ball, the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall first caution the Bowler. If this caution is ineffective the Umpire shall adopt the procedures, other than the calling of "no-ball", of final warning, action against the Bowler and reporting as set out in 8. above.
(c) In the event of a Batsman damaging the pitch the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall follow the procedures of caution, final warning and reporting as set out in 10(c) above.
Batsman Unfairly Stealing a Run. Any attempt by the Batsman to steal a run during the Bowler's run-up is unfair. Unless the Bowler attempts to run out either Batsman -- see Law 24.4.(Bowler Throwing at Striker's Wicket Before Delivery) and Law 24.5. (Bowler Attempting to Run Out Non-Striker Before Delivery) -- the Umpire shall call and signal "dead ball" as soon as the Batsmen cross in any such attempt to run. The Batsmen shall then return to their original wickets.
Players' Conduct: In the event of a player failing to comply with the instructions of an Umpire, criticising his decisions 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. If this proves ineffective, the Umpire shall report the incident as soon as possible to the Executive of the Player's team and to any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take any further action which is considered appropriate against the Player or Players concerned.
Glad we don't take this rule too seriously, or include bat/glove/helmet throwing.


Notes
(a) The Condition of the Ball Umpires shall make frequent and irregular inspections of the condition of the ball.
(b) Drying of a Wet Ball. A wet ball may be dried on a towel or with sawdust.
(c) Danger Area. The danger area on the pitch, which must be protected from damage by a Bowler, shall be regarded by the Umpires as the area contained by an imaginary line 4 ft./1.22m. from the popping crease, and parallel to it, and within two imaginary and parallel lines drawn down the pitch from points on that line 1 ft./30.48 cm. on either side of the middle stump.
(d) Fast Short Pitched Balls. As a guide, a fast short pitched ball is one which pitches short and passes, or would have passed, above the shoulder height of the Striker standing in a normal batting stance at the crease.
(f) Time Wasting by Batsmen Other than in exceptional circumstances, the Batsman should always be ready to take strike when the Bowler is ready to start his run-up.