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[Sambo]

good work. ill get back on topic now. Do you think the umpiring 10-20 years ago is as good as now?

[art]

Interesting question.

Umpires weren't subject to the same amount of questioning 20 years ago on the field, after the match and certainly not so rabidly in the media. Issues facing many umpires are quite complex and frankly the smaller the community the more complex they can become if you are prone to feel pressure both during the game and in the general community. I believe this point is totally misunderstood by the masters in the capital cities who can neither grasp this problem nor understand the extra pressure that single umpiring can place on many people.

I prefer to umpire now. I feel no peer pressure, I am a better all around umpire now than I have ever been, I won't be bullied by anyone and those who want to climb the slippery slope to umpiring stardom can have their way. But here is a tip, it is infinitely easier to umpire a top level match on a good wicket with a partner than it is to be a sole umpire in a lower grade match on some god forsaken ground with an uncertain wicket.  I just wish a few so called umpiring geniuses and organisers understood that simple fact of an umpire's life.

The general umpires are much better training and associations at all levels put a lot of work into this. I undertake specific training in reaction and eye coordination. You get no thanks for this of course but with limited overs and 20/20 the game is faster and you can't always get into 'correct' position given some of the silly runs that are taken. Besides humble journeymen like myself don't often have a camera replay to go to so we have to make the decision and of course if have a square leg from the batting side who is used to watching top level cricket where an umpire calls for a replay when someone is stranded half way down the wicket what chance have you got in a large proportion of cases.

So these days we are confronted with a number of issues that weren't around say 20 years ago. (We won't discuss changes in attitudes by players at this point).

So we have got better trained umpires, in general, now than before. frankly I don't want to do any more training because umpiring will never ever be my profession and the last thing I want to do is go away for weekends share a room with someone I probably don't particularly and be indoctrinated in all manner of things most of which I have either learned from the best universities in the world or give talks on myself.

Despite getting older I am a better umpire now than I have ever been although doing a reasonable amount of single umpiring over the last few seasons tends for you to lose certain teamwork skills.

There is now a necessity, more than ever, to have a strong judiciary system and umpires (and for that matter clubs) who are prepared to use the system properly if unacceptable behaviour occurs. It is only a very small percentage of folks who cause problems and they should and must be curtailed.

Two things cause me major concern.
1. The standard of umpiring for juniors (mostly parents) is deplorable although here we are doing something about that.
2. The preamble to laws brought in in 2000 has been largely ignored by many clubs and associations who refuse to demand and enforce that the role of the captain as set out does occur.

There are clubs and teams who believe there is some sort of contest that has to be undertaken with the umpire as a side show to the main contest and there are associations who condone it.

One of the funniest things I find is the "Captain's Report." Often you have some inexperienced person hardly out of knee pants who has just been thrashed in a contest and he has the opportunity to write a report on an umpire who is frequently vastly more experienced at life and cricket than he is ever likely to be. But hey that is modern cricket. (oh and some people wonder why very experienced umpires up and walk out of the game).

[Sambo]

Fair enough. Although now my association is introducing a red and yellow card system in matches where umpires are used. I don't know what this will do for the first and second grade but i think it could be a wake up call to 'supportive parents' in the 15's and 17's matches.

[art]

Hmmm sounds like the Gold Coast.

I will give you my frank verdict on this. Frankly I am absolutely dismayed at this move. There is a system in GPS here where cards can handed out.

If ever an association wants an absolute confrontation between players and umpires this is way to bring about absolute mayhem at some stage. By doing this the association has shown its absolute lack of control and support of due process and control by handing absolute power over to the umpire(s). Perhaps a few folks in the association should read what an umpires task is in cricket and it isn't this. Above I have suggested that the Preamble has been ignored. In this case not only has the Preamble been ignored but those in charge are foolish in the extreme. And if they want me to stand up and tell them that personally then I am available.

[Sambo]

" The umpires will be using a yellow and red card system similar to soccer. If a player receives 2 yellow cards he receives an automatic 1 match suspension. A red card and you answer to the judicial process."
 
Yeah its the coast, there's the direct quote. after what art said, im gonna say that this isn't the best way to go about this.

[art]

There is no comparison between soccer and cricket and this sytem is stupid in the extreme.

I would be surprised if the umpiring folks in the QCA like this. Mike Ralston has a rare understanding of the problems and joys of umpiring and it would be interesting to see what he said. Off the record might be different to on the record.