A premiership-winning skipper’s ban for dissent has been overturned days after a Darwin cricket governing body amended competition rules, apologising for the ‘overstep’.
Nightcliff captain Michael Kudra was given a week’s suspension for his reaction after being dismissed in the one day final of the 2023 Darwin Cricket season.
Michael Kudra was banned for a day’s play for dissent after he was dismissed in the 50-over grand final against Waratah on May 28.
The 20-year-old skipper did not appeal the charge and accepted the penalty.
However in the days following the Darwin Cricket Management Committee (DCMC) changed rules surrounding lower level misconduct offences for those with unblemished records, effectively allowing Kudra to take the field last Saturday against Tracy Village.
Before the 2021 season, the committee introduced a fixed penalty policy for code of conduct offences.
Nightcliff captain Michael Kudra ahead of the 2023 Darwin Cricket season. Picture: Patch Clapp
It provided an option for players cited by match officials to accept a charge administratively rather than proceed to a formal tribunal hearing with lower level misconduct offences.
However at the end of the 2022 season, following consultation with clubs, it was amended to remove the good behaviour aspect for level one offences.
Then, following the 50-over grand final where Kudra was charged for dissent, the committee and the umpires association recognised the decision did not appropriately allow for players who have unblemished records to be appropriately sanctioned for some misconduct offences.
The competition then reintroduced good behaviour penalties in respect to several level one offences, including showing dissent to an umpire’s decision by word or action, excessive appealing and any other misconduct deemed level one by an umpire.
However day-bans handed to Tracy Village’s Vincent Huf and Sanjay Anandrajah remained as they were suspended for damaging equipment.
This publication understands the committee was keen to bring in the change as the season turned towards the two-day competition.
Nightcliff captain Michael Kudra’s ban for dissent was overturned in the 2023 Darwin Cricket season.
In an email to all clubs outlining the changes last week, committee president Lachlan Baird said the initial penalty was “draconian”.
“(We) remain committed to ensuring the competition is a safe and welcoming environment for players, match officials and spectators,” Baird said.
“However, that must be balanced with a proportionate response when incidents occur.
“The competition apologises for any consternation caused by what was, with the benefit of recent events, an overstep in respect of some misconduct matters in the DDCC.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this change is being made retrospectively.”
When asked what the catalyst was for the rule change, Baird said the process to change the rules was already underway before the 50-over grand final.
“The Commissioners sent the competition a clear message with the sanction given to (Max) Hatzoglou,” he said.
The Tracy Village skipper received a reprimand for dissent following an LBW decision in round 3.
“It was observed that in circumstances where some players had unblemished records for prolonged periods of time, offences that were not serious and not creating a harmful environment for out officials did not warrant or necessitate a draconian response,” he said.
He said the committee did not receive any complaints following Kudra’s ban.
However he said there was a level of disappointment about a player with plenty of playing experience and an unblemished record received a penalty for a level one offence.