10th February 2021
Match day guidance for 2021
A few points of clarification and guidance for the forthcoming season.
Team sheets - if you can, umpires should not handle the team sheets. Clubs have been encouraged to send them to you electronically in advance of the game. Realistically this may not happen so you will still get them on the day. Restrict handling and it is recommended that you copy the names and any age restrictions onto your own team sheet. If you do handle the team sheet then sanitise your hands afterwards.
Match Result Form (MRF) - these are being used this season and will be completed after the match by the home team. Like team sheets you should not handle the form. Complete your over rate calculations on a separate sheet and ask the home team to enter the details onto the form for you. Sign the form if you can but its not essential. Again, if you handle the MRF then sanitise your hands afterwards
Covid Non-Compliance - the ECB ACO guidance for umpires and scorers includes a reference to penalty runs being awarded by umpires for a breach of Covid guidance. Penalty runs should not be awarded in LDCC matches. It is unreasonable to apply penalty runs for a non cricket related infringement. Do however ask teams to comply with the guidance and if necessary issue a formal warning. If there is no improvement then complete a disciplinary report. Umpires are not expected to formally police Covid compliance but you will see things so take the necessary action.
Match Timings - matches will start at 12.00 noon all season. Clubs can request a change to 1.00pm but they must request the change by the Thursday in the previous week. Matches are extended by 15 minutes to allow for sanitisation so are now of 6 hours 30 minutes duration plus any additional time it takes to bowl the overs in the last hour.
For matches starting at 12.00 noon the timings are as follows: -
Start time: 12.00 noon
Interval: 30 minutes duration taken between innings but no later than 3 hours 30 minutes after the start (3.30pm)
Last hour starts: 6.00pm
If the change of innings does not take place in the interval, then the 10 minutes between innings will be added onto the playing time so the last hour will start at 6.10pm
Over Rates - the required over rate has been reduced from 17 overs per hour to 16 overs per hour for the 2021 season. When doing your calculations make a standard 15 minute allowance per innings for hand and ball sanitisation.
Match Balls - umpires are instructed not to handle the match balls either the new ball or the spares. After sanitisation ask the fielding team to put the ball on the floor close to the stumps. Umpires should not ask the scorers to keep the spare balls. Its the Captains responsibility to manage the match balls.
Sanitisation - last season I carried my own small bottle of hand get and a packet of disinfectant wipes. Helped when I wanted to sanitise and to have available for others if necessary.
Hughie Evans
13th November 2020
Death of Ron Hayes
Ron Hayes
It has been reported that former MCUA umpire, Ron Hayes, has recently passed away.
Ron joined MCUA from the Manchester Association when Leigh CC joined the Liverpool Competition. He was a strong supporter of all cricket at Leigh and held many positions within the Club.
After retiring from umpiring, Ron followed Leigh 1st X1 both home and away.
He will be sadly missed
Hughie Evans
10th February 2021
Further two Stage 2 Umpire Courses for 2021
Lancashire ACO are running a further two Stage 2 Umpire courses in March which are open to all colleagues who have successfully passed their Stage one course.
Booking details are:
https://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/jjq0f6
https://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/8jq0fb
David Laybourne
23rd October 2020
News about Ray Rigby
Update on Ray Rigby.
Over the past few weeks Ray has suffered a decline in his health. He has recently been diagnosed with Lewey Body Dementia and after a short stay in hospital has been moved to a nursing home.
His condition means that it is not possible for Ray to receive visitors but if circumstances change then members will be informed.
Our best wishes go to Ray, Carol, Julie and all his family at this difficult time.
Hughie Evans
10th January 2021
News of Dave Jones
Dave Jones
MCUA founder and former President, Dave Jones, is recovering at home following another heart attack on Christmas morning.
Dave spent 15 days in Whiston hospital before being allowed back home.
We wish Dave a full and speedy recovery.
Hughie Evans
9th September 2020
Death of Brian Ball
It is with deep sadness that we report the death of our former colleague Brian Ball.
MCUA offers its condolences to Stephen and all Brian's family at this sad time.
Further details will be posted on the website as they become available.
Hughie Evans