Mark Taylor has praised Cricket Australia for its crackdown on over-zealous appeals as well as dissent shown towards umpires in general, saying the game’s officials must be shown more respect.
Australia’s men’s and women’s stars have been fined for their behaviour in the early part of the season with Marnus Labuschagne, Ash Gardner and Nicola Carey all penalised. Cricket Australia issued a statement urging players to respect umpires.
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“I congratulate Cricket Australia for clamping down on this sort of behaviour,” Taylor told Nine’s Sports Sunday.
“I don’t like that, and no one actually likes it really.
“A lot of sides used to come to Australia and do that sort of thing, particularly with slow bowling and players around the bat. You’d hit a guy on the pads and you’re just up and you’re running down the pitch as if to say, ‘that’s got to be out’.
“It puts the umpire under enormous pressure as if to say, ‘It’s obviously out’, and then the umpire doesn’t give it out and straight away there’s a feeling that the umpire’s made a mistake.
“Yes, you can celebrate, but at least turn around and give him the respect of, ‘what did you think, sir? Is this out?’, don’t just run down the pitch.”
Taylor also said respect has to be shown by batters in situations where they may be dismissed and question the umpire’s decision.
“This is tough because at the end of the day as a professional athlete, obviously you’re going to be disappointed if you get a decision that doesn’t go your way,” he said.
“I think people expect a certain amount of disappointment, you’re allowed to show disappointment, but there’s disappointment and there’s disrespect and there’s got to be a line there somewhere. It’s a fine line but at the end of the day that’s all you can do.
“Yes, you can bow your head and walk, but get off. I was always taught as a young kid, I don’t care what decision is made, all you can do is get off the ground.
“We’re going to get people wanting to do well and obviously we want people to be energetic, but we also want respect. I hear that word a lot, but it’s not about just saying the word, it’s about delivering it and living the word.”
Taylor says it is important that Australia’s biggest stars be held accountable so that poor treatment of umpires does not extend down to the grassroots level of cricket.
“He has become a leader of this cricket team and a leader of Australian cricket,” he said of Labuschagne.
“Young kids are watching Marnus Labuschagne and they’re watching other leaders in the Australian cricket side about what they do and they want to see players playing the game the right way, and that’s not playing the game the right way.”