The Spirit of Cricket

Gingins Cricket Club & The Spirit of Cricket

At our Club, it's important that the game is played in the right way - for us it's not just about winning. We believe that cricket is a great game for kids because it teaches them traditional values, respect for team mates, opposition, coaches and umpires. It focuses on team work, individual performance, strategy, and if played in the right way, can build tremendous self belief - something that's very important for young kids - whether they're champions or just love getting out and having a hit with their mates.

We hold closely to the concept of the Spirit of Cricket.

The MCC, responsible for the Laws of Cricket, has long believed that the game should be played in accordance with its traditional 'spirit', as well as within its Laws.

In the late 1990s, two distinguished MCC members (and ex-England captains), Ted Dexter and Lord (Colin) Cowdrey, sought to enshrine the 'Spirit of Cricket' in the game's Laws.

This would remind players of their responsibility for ensuring that cricket is always played in a truly sportsmanlike manner.

The Dexter/Cowdrey initiative proved successful. When the current Code of Laws was introduced, in 2000, it included, for the first time, a Preamble on the Spirit of Cricket. As it says: "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 Preamble goes on to explain the roles and responsibilities of captains, players and umpires in respecting and upholding the Spirit of Cricket.

Since the 2000 Code was published, MCC has promoted the new Laws - and the Spirit of Cricket - as widely as possible, both in Britain and overseas. As a result, cricketers, right across the world, are increasingly aware that they should not merely obey the game's Laws but safeguard its Spirit.

We have reproduced here the Spirit of Cricket: Preamble to the Laws as published by the MCC. You can read more about the Spirit of Cricket and hear some wonderful Lectures by some of the greats of Cricket at
http://www.lords.org/laws-and-spirit/spirit/

We are very grateful to the MCC for sending us some wonderful Spirit of Cricket cards that we have handed out to our kids to reinforce this great message.

Spirit of Cricket: Preamble to the Laws

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.

1. There are two Laws which place responsibility for the team's conduct firmly on the captain.

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.

Player's conduct

In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decision of an umpire, 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, and instruct the latter to take action.

2. 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 where required.

3. The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:

•Time wasting
•Damaging the pitch
•Dangerous or unfair bowling
•Tampering with the ball
•Any other action that they consider to be unfair

4. The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:

•Your opponents
•Your own captain
•The roles of the umpires
•The game's traditional values

5. It is against the Spirit of the Game:

•To dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or gesture
•To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
•To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:
(a) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
(b) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
(c) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own side

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

7. Players
Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution towards this.

© Marylebone Cricket Club