Victoria leads state Spirit of Cricket award
The Victorian Bushrangers have taken an early lead in the domestic standings of the state Spirit of Cricket award combining the Pura Cup and ING Cup, Cricket Australia announced today
Cricket Australia
19-Nov-2003
The Victorian Bushrangers have taken an early lead in the domestic standings of the state Spirit of Cricket award combining the Pura Cup and ING Cup, Cricket Australia announced today.
The Bushrangers, who have played two Pura Cup and three ING Cup games, lead the table on 18 points, five points ahead of closest rival the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers, who have 13 points from four matches.
The West End Redbacks sit in third place on 12 points, followed by the SpeedBlitz Blues and XXXX Queensland Bulls on nine points, while the Retravision Warriors trail the field on two points.
The officiating umpires issue points on a 3,2,1,0,-1 basis at the end of each game, with teams rewarded for displaying the true spirit, traditions, and values of cricket.
If a player is reported and found guilty under Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct during a match, their team is automatically given a score of minus one point.
Western Australia's Paul Wilson and Ryan Campbell have both been reported under the Code for separate incidents earlier this season, while Queensland's Stuart Law was reported following his side's recent Pura Cup match against Victoria.
Voting in ING Cup games is weighted at a ratio of 1:1, while Pura Cup voting adopts a 3:1 weighting. The state Spirit of Cricket points table, including all Pura Cup and ING Cup fixtures up until Monday 17 November follows:
| TEAM | TOTAL POINTS | MATCHES |
|---|---|---|
| VIC | 18 | 5 (2 Pura; 3 ING) |
| TAS | 13 | 4 (2 Pura; 2 ING) |
| SA | 12 | 5 (2 Pura; 3 ING) |
| NSW | 9 | 4 (2 Pura; 3 ING) |
| QLD | 9 | 5 (2 Pura; 3 ING) |
| WA | 2 | 5 (2 Pura; 3 ING) |
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said the state Spirit of Cricket award served to acknowledge the efforts of the states in upholding the laws and traditions of the game.
"Cricket Australia strongly believes that cricket's appeal to fans and participants is closely related to the values that are firmly entrenched in the game," Mr Sutherland said.
"Strengthening and protecting the spirit of cricket was one of four Cricket Australia strategic priorities identified in 2002, and we see this award as an important vehicle in helping promote the value of fair play through the states.
"Earlier this season Victoria, through its Pura Cup captain Darren Berry, publicly pledged to improve the side's on-field behaviour so it's encouraging to see them leading the points table at this stage of the season."
The state Spirit of Cricket award is part of a broader Cricket Australia Spirit of Cricket project designed to ensure Australian cricketers at all levels understand their obligations to fair play.
Announced ahead of the First 3 Test match against Zimbabwe in Perth last month, the project incorporates a national Spirit of Cricket award for grade and local club sides around Australia.
It also includes an elite Australian player pledge, defining a set of standards of behaviour and values by which they intend to play the game.
The state Spirit of Cricket award will be updated at the end of every second Pura Cup round, and announced on the following dates:
- Tuesday, 16 December, Pura Cup rounds 3 and 4, plus all ING Cup games since last update;
- Friday, 16 January, Pura Cup rounds 5 and 6, plus all ING Cup games since last update;
- Wednesday, 11 February, Pura Cup rounds 7 and 8, plus all ING Cup games since last update;
- Wednesday, 10 March, Pura Cup rounds 9 and 10, plus all ING Cup games since last update. Overall winner announced.
All the latest news and updates concerning the spirit of cricket is available online at www.baggygreen.com.au/spirit