Yellow cards for abusing umpires or excessive sledging won’t be used in the Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League this season.

The idea of a trial at minor county and club level was mooted late last year, but league officials have heard nothing from the ECB ahead of the annual meeting which takes place at Hartley Cricket Club next Wednesday.

One motion set to be voted on by the clubs is extending the Umpires Panel to Division 2 for the first time. League Chairman of Umpires and Scorers Ken Amos said: “It will be a good step forward if it goes through and will allow our older members to help the younger ones coming through. It has certainly helped boosted numbers with 53 officials on the panel this season compared to 33 last summer.”

Mr Amos also revealed plans to establish a “pathway” giving Kent League umpires the opportunity to progress higher, and two or three members had expressed an interest in going further.

The meeting at Hartley starts at 7.30 and clubs are reminded they face a £50 fine for non-attendance.