By Russell Bennett
IT’S just not cricket.
That’s the sentiment from umpire Dave Webster, who was out in the middle during an incident on Saturday that he describes as the worst behaviour he’d witnessed in a game he’d been involved in.
Webster, now 58, has been involved in senior cricket for 45 years and is now the West Gippsland Cricket Association’s (WGCA) umpires president.
He said what started as “a bit of banter” in the WGCA District game between Officer and Cranbourne Meadows on Saturday escalated and quickly got out of hand.
Ultimately, one player was reported for shoving an opponent, while another was cited for head-butting. Threatening language and actions are also said to have taken place.
“We had to warn a few blokes a couple of times (for inappropriate language) but then one batsman just lost the plot and it wasn’t pleasant,” Webster said.
“It was extremely disappointing.
“This is how things escalate and it’s just not cricket.”
Cranbourne Meadows was batting at the time.
“One player – a fielder – was waiting at the crease for this batsman to arrive out in the middle.
“He was there for a purpose.”
Webster said spot-fires also continued on day two on Sunday.
“It was pretty uncomfortable out there, I must admit,” he said.
“This sort of behaviour starts right at the top in international cricket, and it’s a disgrace.
“This is more than just banter – this sort of talk incites this stuff, and it’s just nasty.
“99 per cent of the time you can warn someone and they’ll pull their heads in (but) this was the worst game I’d been involved with.”
Webster said he had “no doubt” what took place out in the middle, adding: “We need to jump on this sort of stuff.
“It’s zero tolerance from us.”
The two players at the centre of the incident could be facing a lengthy ban from the association at an upcoming tribunal hearing.
Cranbourne Meadows president Ben Warren-Smith opened the batting for the Rebels in the weekend’s game – going on to make 52 in the clash that Officer won on the first innings.
He was out in the middle when the incident took place.
“The altercation that took place just started with banter,” he said.
“One player waited to greet the incoming batsman that that’s where it all transpired from.
“Later in the over the player walked from slip down to the batsman at the non-striker’s end.
“My disappointment is that it got to that. It’s just a game of cricket.
“There’s got to be a line with banter.
“They’re just words, but they can carry a bit of weight.”
Warren-Smith said it was disappointing from both Officer’s and Cranbourne Meadows’ perspective. He said his player had accepted responsibility for his part in the incident, and the club would let the tribunal hearing take its course.
“From our perspective, it was pretty ordinary from both parties,” he said.
“Something had to be said for the situation to occur, but we’re playing park cricket – not for sheep stations.”
He said the language used out in the middle was “pretty ordinary”.
“You have to expect a level of banter but the boundaries were pushed, if not crossed,” he said.
“It was a blight on our game, and on both clubs.”
WGCA president Brett Armitage said the association has “zero tolerance for physical contact and abuse, regardless of provocation”.
“It’s like speeding – you either did it, or you didn’t,” he said.
“Our association has standard penalties under the Cricket Victoria banner and a very specific code of conduct on our website for everyone to see.
“We won’t hesitate to deal with people if they don’t follow the rules.
“We have very strict rules – the VCCL member protection act is on our website – and if they’re not followed we have no alternative but to act and deal with those people.
“My job is to protect the spirit of the game and to play within it as intended.
“We’re custodians of the game and there’s a spirit we need to honour.”
Officer president Tim Smith opted not to comment about the weekend’s game.
