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AN umpires strike won't stop Bendigo District Cricket Association games from going ahead this weekend.
The Bendigo District Cricket Umpires Association is taking the strike action having this week demanded changes to four BDCA rules relating to the independent tribunal.
The BDCA was notified of the BDCUA's intention to strike on Wednesday night and given a deadline of 5pm Friday in which to make the requested amendments.
While acknowledging the BDCUA's concerns, the BDCA said the 5pm Friday deadline was too short a timeframe to enact any potential rule changes and offered to meet with umpires president Larry Wust on Monday night for discussions.
The BDCUA later sought to have the rule changes implemented on an interim basis for this weekend, but with the two parties at a stalemate the strike action will go ahead.
The strike means no BDCUA members will officiate in any first, second, third XI or under-18 games this weekend, leaving clubs to fill the void.
BDCA president Wayne Walsh begun contacting club presidents on Friday morning preparing them for the possibility of having to self-umpire games this weekend.
"We can't adopt any rules on an interim basis at this stage because we want to be able to talk to all the BDCA constituents upon going forward," Walsh said.
"We acknowledge some of the points raised by the umpires association have merit, but we need to consult with all our constituents.
We acknowledge some of the points raised by the umpires association have merit, but we need to consult with all our constituents
- Wayne Walsh - BDCA president
"Changing rules mid-stream hasn't been done before... our rules have been agreed to by the presidents, umpires and the BDCA board at the start of the year.
"We'll discuss our options and meet with umpires president Larry Wust on Monday night and go from there, but it's obviously a disappointing situation for the 10 clubs this weekend."
Amendments the BDCUA are seeking include rescinding the rule that states: "only the captain will query an umpire's interpretation of the rules during or after play."
The BDUCA believes the decision of an umpire shouldn't be questioned "by anyone as per the spirit of cricket".
The BDCUA also wants rule 26.9 amended to ensure tribunal hearing outcomes will adhere to the penalties outlined in the BDCA match review panel matrix.
The BDCUA's latest frustration with the tribunal stems from this week being denied the chance to appeal the reprimand penalty to Eaglehawk second XI captain Sam Fitt from earlier in the season for a level two dissent report that carries a two-match minimum suspension according to the matrix.
"We've had a number of instances in recent years where level two offences have occurred and players have been found guilty, but let off with reprimands and no penalty," BDCUA co-ordinator Peter Williams said.
"That doesn't support us as umpires to manage and report player behaviour because they are not getting penalties.
"By not adopting the interim rules that we've proposed, it gives us no protection and confidence in the tribunal process if we were to take a report to the tribunal.
By not adopting the interim rules that we've proposed, it gives us no protection and confidence in the tribunal process if we were to take a report to the tribunal
- Peter Williams - BDCUA co-ordinator
"On that basis our members can't continue to umpire with that lack of support from the association tribunal process."
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