DRAKES clubs will tomorrow be reminded not to be pushy when taking the field.

Fielding teams and, indeed, batsmen have been reported to be taking the field before the umpires – both at the start and teatime resumption of games.

League chairman Trevor Atkinson, himself and umpire, said: “The protocol is, for the start of the match and for the second innings, that the umpires go to the middle first.

“Once they are in the middle the fielding side can follow them and, once the fielding side are out, the batsmen can follow.

“We have had instances where this is not being observed and we need to get back to what is right and proper, so the umpires have full control of what goes on out in the middle.”

Umpires Association chairman David Haikings asked clubs to check their facilities for match officials were properly clean before each match and not being used for storage, as has been the case at some venues.