LONDON, Dec 6: Umpires in English county cricket will no longer consult players before taking teams off the field because of bad weather or poor conditions.

From the next season, umpires will not offer the light to batsmen or invite captains to contest decisions on the ground or weather being unsuitable. Instead, the officials will decide such issues unilaterally.

“[The change] ensures that umpires alone consider all matters relating to ground, weather and light and base a decision on whether play should take place on whether there is obvious and foreseeable risk to the safety of any player or umpire,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Thursday.

The ECB also said that counties will be docked championship points if field conditions at their ground reduce the possibility of play taking place.

Teams will lose eight points in the four-day County Championship, and two in one-day competitions.—AP