Batsman refuses to leave crease

[oldapplejack]

This apparently happened in my league earlier in the season.

Batsman was given out caught behind, and refused to leave the crease. I think it took some ten minutes for him to eventually go.

I've been thinking about what I would do in such a situation. Presumably if a batsman is unwilling to budge, one would get his captain involved to 'persuade' him to leave. If the captain stands by his player, could one suggest that this is a refusal to play and could lead to forfeiting the game?

Has this ever happened to you? How would you handle it?

[gooders]

It would be interesting to know what disciplinary procedures are in place in your league, it's certainly against the spirit of the game to dispute an umpire's decision. In my opinion, a serious breach which would warrant the full extent of the law being brought to bear.

[sillypoint]

It would be interesting to know more about what transpired during the ten minute delay—What did the umpires do? What did the batting captain do? Did a new batsman come onto the field? Ten minutes is an awfully long time, so a lot must have happened surely.

From a Laws point of view, how about applying 42.10 Batsman wasting time? Issue a warning as per 42.10.a, making sure to go and inform the batting captain (since play is halted anyway, this is "practicable"). Make sure they all know that a continuation of the refusal to leave after this warning will constitute "further time wasting" (42.10.b) and penalty runs will ensue. And, if necessary, further penalties will be awarded if the player does not then immediately depart.

[oldapplejack]

Thanks sillypoint, I am afraid I don't have much more info than what I originally posted. I know a batsman did eventually come on and the game was played to a conclusion. I do not know what the umpires did however. Your approach sounds like a sensible one to use.

And indeed gooders, our league has a disciplinary committee and the kind of actions that would lead to a hearing, and possible punishments, are pretty clearly set out. You would imagine that something like that would happen, although my ear is not particularly close to the ground on these matters.

[budster]

A similar situation arose in my league a couple of seasons ago. I was not involved so can only provide limited input , but the team captain came onto the field and took the batsman off the batsman was subsequently banned for 6 weeks by the league disciplinary committee.

I do wonder why the captain needed to visit the field, surely the other batsman was the deputy captain in this situation and should have intervened

[wisden17]

New batsman is liable to be timed out. If one doesn't appear within that 10 mins then Law 31.1(b) makes clear that Law 21.3 should be invoked. In that case I would suggest you and your colleague go and find the batting captain, make clear that the batsman's action is considered a refusal to play and make him aware that if the batsman fails to leave the crease then the umpires will have to award the match (might persuade captain to encourage his batsman to leave the crease ...). If the batsman doesn't move, then you really have no other choice but to award the match, you can't just stand around waiting for someone to leave, and if the batting side do not want to take any steps to remove their player then I would have no hesitation in regarding it as a action tantamount to a refusal to play.

I should say you rather hope it doesn't get to that situation, and equally I would not be too rash in awarding a match (ultimately it's the last thing you want to have to do), but if the batsman is intent on not going anywhere, he leaves you very little choice.

[sillypoint]

One further thought to add to my earlier post. The batsman's refusal to depart is clearly not on, so while you are at it (as per my previous) you might also consider reporting the dismissed batsman for "bringing the game into disrepute" (ref Law 42.18).