Bassetlaw and District Cricket League Official Handbook 2020

54  7.4.1.9  Participants shall not make any public or media comment that is  prejudicial or detrimental to the interests or reputataion of other  participants or the game of cricket in general.  In this instance, media  shall include (but not necessarily be limited to) press, radio, television,  external websites, Member Club websites, social networking sites and  club match programmes.  Nothing in this provision shall prevent any  comment which constitutes honest opinion in regard to cricketing  matters and which is made in a fair and respectful manner.  7.4.2  Spirit of Cricket 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.  There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team’s conduct  firmly on the Captain.  7.4.2.1   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.  7.4.2.2   Player’s conduct  In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an Umpire,  or criticising by word or action the decisions 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.  7.4.3  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.  7.4.3.1   The Umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:  Time wasting   Damaging the pitch   Dangerous and unfair bowling   Tampering with the ball   Any other action that they consider to be unfair  7.4.3.2   The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:  Your opponents   Your own team Captain and team   The role of the Umpires