A declaration debacle made headlines on a global scale last season. Pembrokeshire league-leaders Carew CC started the day 21 points clear at the top when they met second-placed Cresselly in a title-decider. With 20 points available for a win, the leaders, put in to bat by Cresselly, declared on 18-1 after just 15 balls, denying their rivals any bonus points. Carew effectively forfeited the match but lifted the trophy, a move Cresselly deemed “at odds with their title of champions”.

Responding to Carew’s celebratory team photo, many on social media argued their actions were not in the spirit of the game, while former Glamorgan pros Steve James and Mark Wallace labelled the declaration a “disgrace”. A Pembroke County Cricket Club sub-committee met on September 11 and decided to charge Carew for “bringing the county cricket club into disrepute, and Mr [Brian] Hall has been charged with a failure in his duties as a captain in ensuring the game was played with the spirit of cricket”.

The dispirit of grassroots cricket is compounded by many elements – participation, club objectives, league structures, officialdom and financial reward, to name a few – which all require special analysis and are each swayed by greater socio-cultural influences. Yet Carew’s declaration provides an actionable insight: tighten the game’s laws – the actual laws – to ensure the same headlines aren’t repeated, rather than relying on a hazy moral code.

I. To dispute an umpire’s decision by word, action or gesture
II. To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
III. To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:

• to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
•  to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
•  to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side

That many, huh?