Players Should Not Be Fined For Celebrating Instead Of Appealing

Hoggard has been fined 20% of his match fee for celebrating the wicket of Salman Butt without first appealing to the umpire. A bowler should be punished if he puts pressure on the umpire by orchestrating a celebration of a "wicket" before a ruling has been given on a borderline decision. However, if a batsman is clearly out a bowler should not be fined for celebrating this.

Cricketers get the majority of their money from sponsorship and so a reduction in their match fee is not a financial deterrent. Neither the players nor the public appear to take these fines seriously as they are not seen to be fair. Clearly an alternative course of action is required.

Umpires need to have the courage to remind bowlers that they will make their decisions irrespective of a bowler's premature celebration. Too often it is the umpire who look's sheepish when a not out decision turns a bowler's victory dance into a theatrical tantrum. The roles should be reversed. Any bowler whose premature celebrations are cut short when the decision goes the batsman's way, should receive a stern reprimand from the umpire. This would be far more effective than the meaningless deduction of a percentage of a player's match fee.