Eastern Cricket Association · Season 2026–27
Fixed Penalties & Good Behaviour Action
Default penalties for reported offences, and the reduced penalty available where previous good behaviour applies.
ECA Fixed Penalties for Season 2026/27
| Reason | DefaultPenalty / Action | Previous Good Behaviour appliesPenalty / Action |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | ||
| Wilfully mistreating any part of the cricket ground, equipment or implements used in the match. | 1 Match Fixed | Formal Caution & 1 Match Suspended* |
| Showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by word or action. | 2 Match Fixed | 1 Match Fixed & 1 Match Suspended* |
| Using language that, in the circumstances, is obscene, offensive or insulting. | 2 Match Fixed | 1 Match Fixed & 1 Match Suspended* |
| Making an obscene gesture. | 2 Match Fixed | 1 Match Fixed & 1 Match Suspended* |
| Appealing excessively. | 1 Match Fixed | Formal Caution & 1 Match Suspended* |
| Advancing towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing. | 1 Match Fixed | Formal Caution & 1 Match Suspended* |
| Any other misconduct, the nature of which is, in the opinion of the umpires, equivalent to a Level 1 offence. | 1 Match Fixed | Formal Caution & 1 Match Suspended* |
| Level 2 | ||
| Showing serious dissent at an umpire’s decision by word or action. | 3 Match Fixed | 2 Match Fixed & 4 Match Suspended* |
| Making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with another player. | Disciplinary Committee | Not available |
| Throwing the ball at a player, umpire or another person in an inappropriate and dangerous manner. | Disciplinary Committee | Not available |
| Using language or gesture to another player, umpire, team official or spectator that, in the circumstances, is obscene or of a serious insulting nature. | 3 Match Fixed | 2 Match Fixed & 4 Match Suspended* |
| Or any other misconduct, the nature of which is, in the opinion of the umpires, equivalent to a Level 2 offence. | 3 Match Fixed | 2 Match Fixed & 4 Match Suspended* |
| Level 3 | ||
| Intimidating an umpire by language or gesture. | Disciplinary Committee | Not available |
| Threatening to assault a player or any other person except an umpire. See 42.5.1. | Disciplinary Committee | Not available |
| Level 4 | ||
| Threatening to assault an umpire. | Disciplinary Committee | Not available |
| Making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with an umpire. | Disciplinary Committee | Not available |
| Physically assaulting a player or any other person. | Disciplinary Committee | Not available |
| Committing any other act of violence. | Disciplinary Committee | Not available |
| ECA | ||
| Breaching the code of conduct. Wasting Time – Responsibility of Captains | 1 Match Fixed | Formal Caution & 1 Match Suspended* |
| Captains failing to control players. | 1 Match Fixed | Formal Caution & 1 Match Suspended* |
| Racial vilification | Mediation as per VMCU Policy | Not available |
* See Suspended sentences below.
↑ Back to topGood Behaviour Penalty/Action
Good Behaviour Penalty/Action can be requested by the club by 8pm on the day after the match. The following conditions must be met in full for the ECA Disciplinary Officer to consider the request.
| 1 | The player has not been reported and found guilty (including accepting fixed penalty) in the past three seasons. |
|---|---|
| 2 | The player has not received an official caution in the last two seasons. |
| 3 | The player’s club has had no more than 2 players found guilty (or accepted default/Good Behaviour fixed penalty) in the current season. |
| 4 | The player provides a signed letter of regret (or apology if the incident is against an umpire or player). |
If either the Default Penalty/Action or the Good Behaviour Penalty/Action is not requested, or advised to the Disciplinary Officer by the club by 8pm on the day after the match, then it will be assumed that a fixed penalty will be accepted and the club will be advised accordingly.
When a Hearing Is Held
However, should:
- a player not accept the relative fixed penalty in terms of rules 12.5.1 and 12.5.2, or
- the offence not be covered by a fixed penalty, or
- the Disciplinary Officer and/or the Executive Council decides, under Rule 12.5.5 that a hearing shall be held,
then the Disciplinary Officer shall arrange a hearing of the Disciplinary Committee. The details of that hearing shall be forwarded to the player, through their club, as soon as possible after it is known whether there is a need for a hearing.
↑ Back to topSuspended*
All suspended sentences will be for a period of 12 months from the date of the incident. If in that time any of the following occur:
- a player receives a caution,
- a player is reported and accepts a fixed penalty,
- a player is reported and found guilty by disciplinary committee,
- a player is suspended by either the Executive or an investigation committee,
then the full suspended sentence will be added onto the end of any additional penalty.
ECA – Breaching the Code of Conduct
- Where a captain is automatically reported for Breaching the code of conduct, (due to a player in the same game being reported), if it is determined (between the umpire and/or ECA Disciplinary Officer) that the captain could not have reasonably stopped the player from committing the breach, then the acceptance of a good behaviour fixed penalty will not count towards 1c above.
- Where a captain of either the fielding or batting side is given a first and final caution and then reported on the second occurrence for wasting time the report will be considered as a Level 1 offence, as per the table above under ‘ECA’.
Disciplinary Committee
- In circumstances where a player is reported and appears before the Disciplinary Committee and is found guilty by the Committee a minimum 1 match penalty is to be added to the Default Penalty/Action Fixed Penalty (minimum sentence) for that Level offence.
- In accordance with ECA Senior Playing Rule 1.5.1 ‘Definition of a Fixed Penalty’ the penalty imposed as per (1) above cannot be a suspended sentence, however any penalty imposed in addition to the minimum sentence can include suspended matches.
- Where a player is reported for a Level 2, 3 or 4 offence and the Disciplinary Committee is of the opinion that a lower-level charge is more appropriate, then the player will be offered the option to plead guilty to the lower level charge and accept a penalty in accordance with (1) above, otherwise the hearing will proceed to hear the charge as originally laid by the umpire.