Sidley cricketers walk off in protest

The flashpoint arose with 10-man Sidley on 154-7 with 8.2 overs remaining chasing the 212-5 posted by the East Sussex Division Nine leaders.

Experienced Sidley batsman Dennis Ramsden stroked the ball through gully for a single at which point Sidley claim that "one of their adults shouted, 'kick it over the (boundary) line'" to a team-mate with their intention being, as Sidley saw it, to keep Ramsden at one end and expose 10-year-old Dane Capon to the next over.

Sidley captain Trevor Ramsden, brother of Dennis, said: "As far as Dennis was concerned the winning or losing of the game wasn't the point, it was the ungentlemanly conduct and sportsmanship. He felt it was the wrong way to be teaching youngsters to play cricket (around half the Sidley team comprised colts and the bulk of the Dicker side were students at St Bede's School). I did support his actions because you can't make a person go against his principles. I've never seen anything like it (Ramsden has been playing the game for 36 years) and I think it will discourage some of the youngsters at the club."

Ramsden also said that similar instructions were issued in the previous over although they weren't carried out.

A statement from Dicker captain Hadon Westerby read: "An infringement did occur, however, Dicker were willing to abide by any decision made by the umpires, and fully intended to do so when inviting the Sidley players back to resume the game."

Ramsden, who was told by one seasoned member of his side that he will never play again as a consequence of the incident, will consult with Sidley's committee before deciding whether or not to write to the East Sussex League. If he does decide to do so the matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the league's committee on Thursday July 22.