TO WALK OR NOT TO WALK?

Southbank CC's Martin Robinson has raised the thorny issue of whether batsmen should "walk" if they know they've snicked it to the keeper, quoting a couple of personal observations where he is adamant this has not taken place.
"Unfortunately, these batsmen were young players and seemed unaware of sportsmanship in cricket," he says. "The bad habits shown on TV seem to be filtering down to the grassroots level. On both occasions the wind was blowing and the umpires were blameless in not being able to hear a snick; however, the close fielders were well aware of the edge."
Martin is keen to see clubs "guiding these young players in the sportsmanship of the great game of cricket," which he does not feel is happening as much as it should.
"Are we being old-fashioned in our habit of "walking" when having hit the ball?" he asks.
Well, maybe I can offer a view from three angles - batsman (who was "a walker", not that my wicket was particularly prized); 30-plus years spent mainly as wicketkeeper, slip, short leg or silly point; and panel umpire (now in my sixth season).
On many occasions down the decades, while fielding near the wicket, I observed batsmen get a faint nick the umpire hadn't heard, and then remain at the crease.
That, of course, is their perfect right; it's up to the umpire to answer an appeal from the fielding side and give his ruling.
During my playing days you came to recognise senior players you knew weren't going to walk in such circumstances, and those you knew would do so.
But here's the difference: After the match you would always seek out "the walker" for a chat and pass on your congratulations; the "non-walker" had every right to expect, and sometimes got, the cold-shoulder treatment.
Martin Robinson is surely right to suggest that clubs should be instructing their young players on this topic. However, I'm unsure whether not "walking" is any worse than it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago.
I remember years ago playing in a match when a certain teenage batsman of some promise in the other team - still playing in the Lincs League - failed to "walk" when he knew he'd hit it.
Some of our side made it plain to him what was expected, and I later observed, he'd taken that advice on board.
It's only when you take up the white coat that you appreciate the distance you are away from the ball, in relation to some of the close fielders. As Martin rightly points out, any wind at all makes it difficult for the umpire to hear. Plus, of course, none of us are getting any younger and hearing often gets worse with advancing years (the vast majority of us are over 50, many over 60 and some 70-plus). In addition, you are supposed to be absolutely sure to give a batsman out, not pretty sure. Faint nicks are often difficult to pick up, especially "feathers" down the legside.
Already this season I've umpired a game in which I awarded a single to a senior batsman who'd just come to the wicket. I thought it had brushed his glove before clipping the pad and going down to fine leg. He came up to my end and volunteered the information there had been no contact with the glove and that it ought to have been a leg-bye. I thanked him for his well-meant update, congratulated him on getting off the mark and joked it was a good job the keeper hadn't been anywhere near the ball down the legside. He immediately replied: "I'm a walker, Mr Umpire - always have been!"
The same game saw a young batsman on the other side "walk" for a snick.
Over many years I've observed fielders in such cases who see a batsman depart after a snick and think it's a good job he did because they didn't observe the umpire's finger go up.
This does not mean the umpire wasn't going to raise the dreaded digit. For it is often suggested to officials that they should wait to consider their verdict - and many do just that. (Remember Steve Bucknor, the very fine and long-serving Test umpire?). And why not give the batsman a second or two to "walk" of his own accord?
In the North Lindsey League there's a fair play competition, match umpires being asked to award "sportsmanship" marks to teams, with the winners receiving a trophy at the end of the season.
Maybe that's something other leagues should take on board if they haven't already done so.
Returning to Martin's belief that clubs should be instructing their young players on the art of "walking" if they know they've snicked the ball, where does the ECB, and even the Lincolnshire Cricket Board, stand on this? Do coaches/clubs get instructions "from above" to teach this ethic to youngsters? If not, shouldn't that be happening?
Now let's hear your views on this topic - for, or against, the concept of "walking".