London: Cricket is known as a gentleman's game but more than half of umpires in the UK say they have been a victim of verbal abuse such as swearing and aggressive confrontations, according to a new research.

The University of Portsmouth gathered data from hundreds of umpires about the abuse they receive. Around 50 per cent said abuse, such as swearing and aggressive confrontations, had increased in recent times. Cricket chiefs said umpires were vital to the game and the findings were "disappointing but not surprising".