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[Cumbrian Pete]

As a fellow keeper, I understand your frustrations but it happens week in, week out in club cricket.  I've had two stumpings not given already this season that were cast iron out but if the umpire doesn't share your view then there's nothing you can do except keep looking for the next one...and we have neutral umpires so there is no question of bias.  Without the benefit of tv replays, club level umpires are always going to get decisions wrong.

I never question the batsman for not walking either, it's just not worth it for the bad blood that can then lead to.  Also, if you're keeping first and then going to be batting yourself later in the day, why antagonise the opposition to leave yourself open to sledging when you go out to bat?

[bigbenh99]

As a fellow keeper, I understand your frustrations but it happens week in, week out in club cricket.  I've had two stumpings not given already this season that were cast iron out but if the umpire doesn't share your view then there's nothing you can do except keep looking for the next one...and we have neutral umpires so there is no question of bias.  Without the benefit of tv replays, club level umpires are always going to get decisions wrong.

I never question the batsman for not walking either, it's just not worth it for the bad blood that can then lead to.  Also, if you're keeping first and then going to be batting yourself later in the day, why antagonise the opposition to leave yourself open to sledging when you go out to bat?

very good points, am also a keeper and agree entirely, unfortunately things aren't going to go your way a lot of the time, would definitely advise keeping quiet though as there's nothing more annoying than a whiney/gobby stumper! it's not worth the hassle from the odd nutter in the oppo

[charlie15]

I think you just have to realise that you're not playing at the level you want and you're going to get these decisions.  It's up to you whether you want to carry on at the club you're playing for and live with the fact that this is going to happen and just enjoy the game and let your batting/keeping do the talking or you move somewhere where you'll be happy and plaing to a standard that suits you better.  I'm sure that there are clubs in your area that you could get decent cricket in where you'll only need to net once a week if you have to.

Just a comment on your post sounding like a moan, it does, but I think it's very hard on a forum to type a post on something like this without it sounding like a moan (My comments on Friday sounded like a moan but where no way intended to be), so I shouldn't worry about it to much.  As they say, always look on the bright side of life 

[Dan W]

Its the first time this has happened to me and I really just think the umpire was on a hate mission or maybe had a soft spot for the bloke but it was absolutely pathetic. I just thought though it is his choice to stand there

I'd tell them to naff off tbf (Perhaps in stronger terms) or go to 3rd man.

[Wolfie89]

It could be worse mate. i was playing 2 sundays ago, whipped off the bails and our skipper who was at slip told me not to appeal. As you can imagine as a keeper, I wasn't best pleased. Next ball the guy's nicked it straight in to my gloves and didn't walk. I was seething but just had to bite my tongue.

[pie-man]

It could be worse mate. i was playing 2 sundays ago, whipped off the bails and our skipper who was at slip told me not to appeal.

Im sorry mate but that is ridiculous - why play the game, in fact any sport, if you are just going to waste your time?  Bet the bowler was pleased...

[Wolfie89]

Im sorry mate but that is ridiculous - why play the game, in fact any sport, if you are just going to waste your time?  Bet the bowler was pleased...

You're right he wasn't best pleased. The skipper's excuse was he'd promised someone else a bowl and it would have been the last wicket

[WABH-J]

This is sort of the opposite of what happened to me. I came in to village cricket after a long lay off because of injury wanting to score a century every Sunday and maybe have a small shrine erected of me in the village. As it was two matches in I was ducking bouncers and after one season I have top scored with a solid 18 not out (very, very solid I might add)!

Conversely though I do not think the nature of the problem is as you described, I believe the very few games I have played that have been unpleasant have been down to people taking themselves far too seriously. I won't go as far as to say 'It's only a game' but you can see what I'm getting at.

I would keep calm and carry on to use a cliche. Relax a bit and remember you're there to have fun, albeit in a competitive environment. I usually find you can charm even the grumpiest, loneliest bastards by simply making a joke at your own expense, the last laugh should always be on you! No matter how big the game, I do not think there is any occasion so great that should bring about the demise of my integrity. That means not getting in arguments, laughing at myself when I do something stupid (Not always easy I but I usually get there in the end) and at all times playing the game with the sort of courtesy I would expect from Dr. W. G. Grace!

[swamidude]

We played one game last season where they had to chase 237 (of which I contributed 97 ) and we had them at 167-6 and were all over them with appeals for stumpings, run outs and LBWs. The oppo proceeded to give wides for balls that scraped the off stump, and one umpire gave a run out not out even though the guy had practically started walking already. Even more disgusting, the batsman scooped a catch out to cover and started to walk, but the umpire said that he thought it wasn't out because he believed the batsman had hit the ball into the ground, even though it had come out of the middle of the bat! Can't wait to play at a better standard of cricket where people respect fair play and/or we have professional umpires.

[charlie15]

Got to admit we had an umpire yesterday who didn't give one of his guys out caught behind it was only the fact that the guy walked and their square leg umpire said out that he raised his finger. The next over when I was fielding at square leg told me that he wasn't going to give it because our bowler appealed to much, and trust me the edge might as well have been off the middle of the bat!!!

[beaver5]

Lets face it its a stupid game. Any game where the team you are playing against gets to make all the important decisions for your team is liable to abuse. Most players are fair but you only need one biased idiot to spoil a good match. Played a games some years ago for my village side and bowled their batsman only for the umpire to say not out because the keeper had knocked the bails off. This was complete rubbish, we appealed to square leg about this but he said he wasn't looking. Told the skipper to get someone else to finish the over as if we weren't counting bowled what was the point. Laughable!

Worst one however was last season. Played a team who's skipper was a notorious not outer. I bowled a slower ball out the back of my hand which ballooned up at the batsman. He went back and tried to pull it, only for it to dip late hitting him on his back leg ankle inches in front of middle. Stonewall out and he knew it. Proceeded to give it as a No Ball for height. He said when it passed him it was above waist height, to which I explained that if it hit his ankle it hadn't yet passed him. Even the batsman said he was wrong but he refused to backdown. I completed the over by bowling 3 bouncers which is no mean feet at my speed.  Then being taken off to stew in the outfield for the rest of the game. As a result we have dropped them as a fixture this year.

[PedalsMcgrew]

So this is the thread where the teenagers come to moan when their parents have got bored of listening.......good to know...

[Wolfie89]

So this is the thread where the teenagers come to moan when their parents have got bored of listening.......good to know...

I'm offended!!! I'm 22 

[MD2812]

Lets face it its a stupid game. Any game where the team you are playing against gets to make all the important decisions for your team is liable to abuse. Most players are fair but you only need one biased idiot to spoil a good match. Played a games some years ago for my village side and bowled their batsman only for the umpire to say not out because the keeper had knocked the bails off. This was complete rubbish, we appealed to square leg about this but he said he wasn't looking. Told the skipper to get someone else to finish the over as if we weren't counting bowled what was the point. Laughable!

I hope this wasn't Newark evening league cos I could have been that umpire, suggesting the umpire was changed makes me think it wasn't cos that didn't happen.

The hardest moment I've had whilst umpiring came and I acted how I thought was genuine at the time.

Bowler was slow/medium at a push. Keeper stood up, sharp enough. Ball goes very close to Off Peg, within a split second keeper has taken the ball and also gone for the bails, the ball then spills.

Now I had no idea if this had hit off stump or keeper had whipped bails off, I said this to the bowler who said that he also did not know. I asked the square leg umpire if he had seen the ball pass the stumps but he hadn't a clue.

I said to the bowler I can't be sure so I had to go in the batsmans favour. Not cos he was on my team but because the bowler always has another ball to try get him out.

The bowler understood, then accused our team of cheating several overs later when I had swapped umpires (naturally not from this decision)

Played there again last year, hit biggest 6 I've ever seen in league cricket

I still feel I acted right, or at least followed my instincts, and didn't hate the situation till after. Have since learn to score well so only umpire when need to, not that I could imagine a case like this happens often.

[PedalsMcgrew]

I'm offended!!! I'm 22 

Then you should know better! 

With full acceptance of ALL umpiring decisions comes true enlightenment grasshopper.....