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Cricket may have football-style yellow cards
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November 12, 2008 17:30 IST

The England [Images] and Wales Cricket Board and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), custodians of the laws of cricket, will on Wednesday night discuss whether to introduce the innovation in the next county season.

"Jack Simmons and Mike Griffith, the chairmen of the ECB and MCC cricket committees are very concerned and, if the trials work, would want this as part of the first-class game, although much cricket at that level is self-policed," ECB chairman Giles Clarke was quoted as saying by The Times.

"All innovations, such as pink balls, are trialled first. A rugby player is sent off the field for 10 minutes, one eighth of the game, and a cricketer could go off for 12 overs. Abuse of the umpire and sledging have to be stopped."

The yellow cards, which means just a caution on the football field, could translate into suspension from play for a while in cricket.

ECB official Dennis Amiss and MCC chairman Charles Fry say such immediate punishment is better than post-match hearings as the umpires would be in better control of the situation.

"I would not be against introducing yellow cards in first-class cricket," Amiss said.

"When I was a player, I had confidence in English umpires as they were former professional cricketers, but the Australians were always inclined to sledge. I would listen to the players' view and it would have to be a bad misdemeanour but we have to move the game forward. Red cards? I hope not, but it would all add to the drama of a match," he added.

Fry said the provision of a yellow card, if added to the laws, would first be put on trial at the domestic level.

"My personal view is that the behaviour in the international game is very good but in league cricket is absolutely awful," Fry said.

"We would always be keen on anything to improve it. At the moment there are no penalties," he added.


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