By David Nagel and Marcus Uhe
Casey Cardinia Cricket Association president Rob Hansen is confident that behavioural issues plaguing the competition’s opening rounds are isolated and does not represent the spirit in which the majority of the competition’s players play the game.
Police were called to Officer’s D Grade contest with Pakenham Upper Toomuc at Starling Road on Saturday following reports of an assault after an altercation between two men.
No formal complaint was made as of Monday 30 October and no injuries were reported, police say, but Hansen said that at least one player from the incident will face the league’s tribunal.
“Officer Cricket Club has taken action so that on day two of the current match, that player isn’t playing,” Hansen said.
“In both instances over two different weekends, the clubs have reported the incidents.
“At least they’ve taken that responsibility.
“And of course, we’re urging players to remember that they should be playing in the spirit of the game, not becoming involved in arguments and that sort of thing.”
Last weekend’s altercation comes on the back of one player suspended for six matches and another for three due to an incident the week before in Kooweerup’s clash with Officer in E Grade.
It is understood that both incidents arose from players disputing umpiring decisions.
Hansen said the responsibility of player behaviour falls with clubs and said that those who do not conform to the playing rules can expect to receive sanctions.
“For years we’ve said that clubs are responsible for the maintenance of behaviour on the ground, and they’ve got to abide by that, and there are penalties associated with not doing that,” Hansen said.
“One club at the moment has been offered a $500 suspended sentence already for player behaviour, so we can only hope that players play in the spirit of the game.
“Even in Test Cricket, the penalty is quite severe for misbehaviour, but this is local cricket where most people play to enjoy the game, not carry on like it’s some sort of boxing ring.
“The cricket association represents a spectrum of our own society and unfortunately you get a minority of people that don’t control themselves and forget that it’s a sport and it’s recreation; they’re playing to enjoy themselves and get carried away.”
The league employs professional umpires in Premier and District levels but the remaining grades are officiated by club volunteers and players.
“We have a limited number of umpires at the present moment,” Hansen said.
“We’ve got enough to cover the top two grades but not too much below that.
“It’s not only our association that struggles to get umpires.
“The neighbouring ones have exactly the same issue.”
