Former Test umpire Peter Willey believes match officials are being let down by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Willey, chairman of England's umpires' association and a former England batsman, believes it is a “waste of time” for officials to report players for bad behavior in the international game because they do not face severe enough punishment from the ICC. Renowned, as a tough competitor in his playing days, Willey established himself as one of the world's leading Test umpires before stepping down from international duty when offered a post on the ICC's elite panel because he wished to spend more time with his family. It is no longer regarded as exceptional for players to openly show dissent at decisions while the recent series between Australia and India was marred by a series of on-field verbal confrontations between players from rival teams. Willey, who still umpires in English county cricket, said: “When I first started playing in the middle 1960s you respected everything the umpire did. There was no arguing or dissent about being given out or not out. “When I was playing in the second XI, if you didn't walk (leave the field without waiting for the umpire's decision) when you nicked the ball you would get a telling off.” Willey, 58, speaking at a pre-season get-together for top English officials at Loughborough University, central England, added Monday: “County cricket is still pretty good and there is respect. “But I lose a bit of heart when I see what happens with the elite umpires who don't seem to get much backing from the ICC. Willey, who played in 26 Tests from 1976-1986. added: “There needs to be more backing for umpires from the people in charge. Fines don't mean a lot because players get paid that much money, but suspensions are different.” However, Willey was less concerned by ‘sledging' or verbal abuse. “I always say to my son ‘If someone sledges you, just go on and win the game'. That annoys people more than anything. __
