4.2 Placement and removal
of covers
It seems obvious that, if the
groundsman is not present
and the placement and
removal of the covers is left to
the players, it is essential that
they are supervised by the
umpires. What is perhaps not
so obvious is that it is good
practice for this supervision
by the umpires to occur even
if the ground is staffed by a
full-time support team. The
umpires are responsible for
trying to ensure that covers
are placed to maximise their
efficiency and that pipes are
laid so that the water runs
onto the outfield, where it can
best soak away, rather than
onto the square. Supervision
of the removal of covers is
also critical to avoid spillage.
Particular care is required
when flat sheets are to be
removed. If possible the
water on these should be
soaked up with a hopper
prior to moving them. It is
always helpful to arrange for
as many people as possible
to assist and to raise the two
sides to trap any remaining
water on the sheet, before
dragging this to somewhere
where the water can be
drained away without
affecting the playing area
unduly.
4.3 Frequency of inspections 4.4 Recording your decisions
Law 3.9(c) says, when
there is a suspension in
play, it is the responsibility
of the umpires to monitor
conditions and make
inspections as often as
appropriate, unaccompanied
by the players or officials. It
is therefore helpful to remind
the captains of this Law in
advance, rather than have
half the players troop out
after the umpires, who then
have to turn them back.
Umpires are to remain
vigilant when play is
suspended or has not
started. They are to keep
one eye on the weather so
that the conditions can be
inspected as soon as they
look to have improved.
The captains and ground
authorities should be kept
informed of their findings. If
they decide the conditions
are not fit, a further
inspection will be arranged,
and the captains and scorers
notified of the time.
It is helpful that a record
is made of the time of
inspections, the umpires’
conclusions to those
inspections, and the times
the umpires decide to
commence or suspend play.
It is helpful if these records
are retained. In the event
that the umpires are required
to complete a report on the
match, this information can
also usefully be recorded
here. The records can include
notes about the relevant views
expressed by others, along
with clear indication that
the deliberations between
the umpires and inspections
carried out by the umpires
addressed such views.
In the event that any player
is injured during play, and
the cause of such injury may
reasonably be considered
or suspected to have arisen
from the ground conditions,
it is recommended that, as
soon as possible, a record be
made by the umpires as to
the steps they took in regard
to relevant inspections and
decisions relating to the
playing conditions.
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