CRICKET’S soft signal problems have indeed given the umpires and players a hard time in the recent past.
As per the laws currently in force, the on-field umpires are required to provide a soft signal even in a state of doubt before they take assistance from the third umpire, who can overturn the ground umpire’s call only on having sufficient conclusive evidence.

In another recent incident of the soft signal creating uproar, Stuart Broad, the England pacer, was left fuming after being denied a wicket of New Zealand’s Devon Conway, who had edged a ball to Zak Crawley at third slip on Day 2 of the Edgbaston Test between England and New Zealand.

While Crawley, it seemed, had snaffled the catch cleanly on the first instance, on-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough took the call upstairs to Michael Gough, with the soft signal ‘not out’.

Replays from different angles were found inconclusive by the third umpire, who went ahead with the on-field umpire’s call of not out. Notably, Conway went onto score a solid 80, when he was only at 22 at the time of England’s appeal.

A visibly frustrated Broad protested and signalled that Crawley’s fingers were completely under the ball, which might have some repercussions for the pacer. The ICC Cricket Code of Conduct (‘the Code’ hereafter) lays down, under Article 2, the Code of Conduct Offences.

Does Broad’s action qualify as a breach of ICC’s code of conduct?
Article 2.1.3 of the Code penalises the showing of dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match.
Article 2.1.3 includes:

(a) Excessive, obvious disappointment with an umpire’s decision
(b) An obvious delay in resuming play or leaving the wicket
(c) Shaking the head
(d) Pointing or looking at the inside edge when given out lbw
(e) Pointing to the pad or rubbing the shoulder when caught behind
(f) Snatching the cap from the umpire
(g) Requesting a referral to the TV Umpire (other than in the context of a legitimate request for a referral as may be permitted in such International Match); and
(h) Arguing or entering into a prolonged discussion with the umpire about his decision

Given that even a shake of a head is offensive enough to attract a penalty under the Code, Broad’s actions might as well land him in trouble.

(CricTracker)