Summer Hill Cricket Club 

What is the Pledge Not 2 Sledge?

The PN2S is a commitment we are asking our junior players and their team officials to make. In this introductory season, we are asking for a voluntary commitment. The PN2S will involve signing a team sheet agreeing not to sledge. Every player and official who signs the Pledge will receive a PN2S t-shirt.

What is sledging?

Sledging is not: talking up the field, encouraging the bowler and good-natured talk amongst the fielding side. These are all encouraged as a positive aspect of teamwork.

Sledging is: any remarks designed to break the batter’s concentration or confidence.

While some professional cricketers have developed notoriety as sledgers, the SHCC Committee believes there is no place for sledging in junior cricket. We see it as a form of bullying.

Why does SHCC want to take a stand against sledging?

Sledging kills the fun of cricket!

Sledging most threatens the very players that we believe cricket should support. If kids are ridiculed or threatened while they are playing, it follows that they will not enjoy themselves and will not want to keep playing. This is not in the interests of the game or the individual.

The Spirit of Cricket, in the MCC Laws of Cricket, stipulates that teams shall not “direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire.” Our PN2S is one of the ways our club can ensure SHCC teams play according to the Spirit and the Laws of Cricket.
Sledging is against the Spirit of Cricket. We want our players to learn to learn to be good sports – an important life skill on and off the field. Part of good sportsmanship is learning to lose with grace and win with humility. Sledging has no part in good sportsmanship.

What if other teams sledge us?

We can’t control the behaviour of other teams. We can only ensure a fair and respectful standard in our own game which we hope will returned in kind by our opponents.

If an opposition team engages in sledging, it may be appropriate for a team captain or coach to raise their concerns with an umpire or to have a discussion with the opposition coach. However this may not always eliminate the problem.

For batters, building effective partnerships and maintaining concentration are key defences against sledging. It is important to encourage batters to work as partners. The stronger this partnership, the less any sledging can affect either batter. Support from the sidelines will also help – from teammates and other spectators – encouraging teammates in the middle. Batters may also develop their own techniques to help them concentrate on the ball rather than on any sledging from opponents.

Ultimately team officials and parent groups will need to support our kids to do the right thing when it comes to sledging – that is, Pledge Not 2 Sledge.

Other ideas?

If any officials, players or parents have any useful ideas about how to deal with sledging, or any other feedback about our Pledge Not 2 Sledge, please put it in an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .