Umpires at Antigua seminar
bring themselves up to date with the latest changes to the laws of cricket.
They are joining in discussions during a four-day seminar being put on by the West Indies Cricket Board and conducted by ICC first class and Test umpire and lecturer Nigel Plews, which started yesterday.
Of great significance will be the change to Law 42, which pertains to player conduct.
"Most of those laws now infer penalties upon the batting team, whereas runs are taken away from team's total for player misconduct such as damaging the pitch, picking at the seam of the ball, and things like that,'' explained Francis prior to his departure.
"They are good changes because it brings the game into line with other things.'' Francis added that he and Butler would be able to return and relay the exact nature of the new rules to Bermuda's players prior to the country's participation in the Red Stripe Bowl.
"Player conduct has become a major concern and that's why they will now take penalty runs from the team, rather than the individual,'' he said.
"The seminar will serve to inform us as to how these penalties are to be implemented, what column in the scorebook they will go under and so on.'' Still, Francis was quick to point out that the 2000 domestic season had witnessed a no major incidents of player misconduct and had been one of the best during his tenure as an official.
Francis and Butler are due to return on Friday.
The Bermuda Cricket Board of Control will meet tonight to investigate whether they can find a date to reschedule the semi-finals of the Knockout Cup, rained off on Sunday.
With no free dates remaining this month Sunday's cancellation could mean they may have to consider putting back the matches to next season.
The next two weekends are busy with the Champion of Champions Competition on Saturday and Sunday followed by the Testimonial match on September 23 and the Knockout finals on September 24.
By finishing the season with Knockout finals cricket would avoid a conflict with the first soccer league matches on Sunday, October 1.