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[12man]

I think some LBW's are a hard call for a player umpiring a game, unless it is really plum, stepping back across the stumps.

But most of the other descisions are easier, but there will always be cheats wides not being given to their bowlers then later on giver when wickets are needed and overs running out

Batsmen nicking it then looking up at thier umpire for a decision? Ive said what you you looking at him for, get off

[Bruce]

Yes, defiantly.

[Red Ink Cricket]

i dont do much umpiring but dont mind the odd bit. did a bit for our seconds this year as our game was rained off. benefit of the doubt to both sides, if its out its out. the opposition bought me a beer afterwards and said its nice to see someone fair for both teams. they felt they should have got a couple of lbw's but then also said they felt one or two of their guys were out so it ended up fair. probably the same in most games. I dont get enjoyment out of cheating to win and i hate it when you end up on the wrong side of a decision/game. friends or family members it doesnt matter. if your out ill give you.

our club umpire is useless.  we really believe his main aim is to make friends with the opposition and then give them a few decisions. he costs us more games than he wins us. its an embarassment at times. how he ever got a qualification is beyond me

[Cover_Drive]

If its out then I give out. When I umpire at square leg, I often interact with opposition team fielders and we always have amicable chat. So when its not out and I give not out they complain to me, and its other way when its out.

lol 

[alba caerulea]

Only if there is no reason not to

[trypewriter]

It's a bit difficult if you are only an occasional ump. As an example, unless it is an absolutely massively obvious 'boomer' I do have a tendency to 'give' a new bowler his first wide if it is a bit of a close call, mainly because I have to have a bit of a re-run mentally as to where he actually pitched it etc., and naturally how wide it was. Then again, I do play at a very low level.

[Manormanic]

Its easy to say "if its out its out" but over the last year or so I have started to move slightly from that position simply because I get sick and tired of playing for an hones team against dishonest ones.  This year I reckon we conceded over a thousand runs in league cricket to batsmen after they were indisputably out - one game we lost after the oppos only bat was given not out to the plumbest LBW shout you'd ever see (hit on the toe by a yorker behind the crease line in line with off stump) and went on to score an extra 98, the week before we kept a side to 165-9 off 52 but they had one lad score 92* - despite being caught behind, caught at slip (seriously) and run out twice...

...makes you see where those cyclists who thought everyone was at it were coming from!

[ProCricketer1982]

I try and be as honest as I can. I love cricket for the 'spirit of cricket' as well as the game. I have not been playing long but in the 3 seasons I have been playing I can already see general standards dropping in terms of 'cheating' in the game. Whether that be batsmen not walking (which of course some believe rightly or wrongly to be justified), umpires not giving run outs or LBW's OR of course giving people out when they are not etc. Add to the that level of 'sledging' that is around now. Now I'm not on about the light hearted general banter but when it's directed on personal stuff it's a bit off. Again, some think that being personal is acceptable and 'part of the game' but for me it's not.

The 5 teams that have personally 'sledged' me have come to rue it though as it pee's me off and then I just don't get out. won all 5 games from losing positions purely on the back of my innings.

Yes play hard, yes be competitive etc. But at the end of the day 99% of us no matter if you play ECB prem or lowest of the low have to fork out your own cash to buy kit, pay membership, tea fees etc etc. Accept we are are no Flintoffs or Cooks and  just enjoy playing the game. Remembering the oppo's are also there to enjoy the game. You cheating really does ruin it for oppo's AND the good guys in your team (because if you are a true sportsman you won't want to win a game if your team cheat).. Again, some people think winning no matter what is the key so don't care.

Still.. each to their own. I expect umpire type cheating to continue AND I expect to see more clubs going with the view 'they won't give us anything so don't give them anything'. Board umpires are a mixed bag.. some are really good, some are really bad. Luck of the draw.

[joeljonno]

I think there is a lot of the`don`t give much as you don't get much philosophy., but then again, our neutrals give worse decisions (both ways).

On the odd time I umpire, I explain at the beginning that if there's any doubt, it`ll be not out. I tend not to give LBWs unless they're hitting middle.

It is a no win position, even if you are truly fair, you will always make mistakes and then you are classed as `playing favourites.

[Tail Ender]

I don't mind going out to do my share of umpiring, but I prefer to get behind the book and score. But I will give an appeal out if it is out, regardless of batsman or opposition.

One of my past captains used to tell us to walk if we knew we've edged to the keeper, rather than put the pressure on a teammate to give the decision. I don't think many teams take that line because I've played against some who have blatantly cheated in not giving a caught behind or plum lbw. Nothing worse, especially as a bowler.

I also have a good grasp on the laws, and again you just can't say that about every opponent. Some are absolutely clueless. Just got to go with it. Sadly some of the paid umpires aren't much better!

[Marc28]

Playing last year quite a few times the opposition players were plumb lbw's but their guys never gave them out, and yet when it came to us batting one of our players gave 3 guys out caught down the leg side needless to say there were some very angry faces in our changing room at the end of the game but we got a draw out of it.

[Ciaran]

I do a fair bit of umpiring as a bowler. My usual attitude is to look for a reason why it wouldnt be out and if I cant find one its out. I hate being out there for more than 10 overs, but love it when its close or if someone is batting well! That doesnt happen much for my side though!

 I once gave a team mate out for a plum LBW, then when I went into bat, he promised me he would give me out the first chance he got! Sure enough a ball smashed me in the ribs and without even an appeal from the oppo up went the finger!

I love umpiring for a while, as a bowler you can use it to see how the others use the pitch, which end you would like to bowl from and where the dodgy patches are.

[Manormanic]

Oh dear, that sounds pretty petty!

[ProCricketer1982]

luckily we get board umpires or club umpires for most games so I would say there is literally only about 10 ish games a year when I may have to umpire. I just make sure I bat for long enough not to be asked , doesn't always work though. I tend to only umpire if some young lads are out there and there is some arsey oppo's who are trying ot pick on them a bit. I'll go out and then just talk to them while they are batting, usually helps them ignore the oppo's then and not just slog.

Board umpires are not always the best though as people have said. Quite a few give decisions by numbers.. some give every appeal.. The best one I've found (Ron Groenland) is awesome, everyone says so as well. He literally will only give an LBW if it's pretty much plumb. I think if everyone applied that rule everyone would be happy as we'd all know where we stand.

I can only remember one dodgy decision this year. First team game, on 40 and going really well.. Right arm around bowls.. pitches outside leg, hits the top of my front pad... Triggered. The only thing I did was smile and ask 'YOu sure it wasn't pitching outside leg sir'.. Got a response of 'F off from the bowler' and nothing from the umpire. Nice game this cricket!

2011 season I got 3 shocking LBW's from board umpires which considering it was my first year as a batsmen and my first 3 games for the firsts really didn't help my confidence. Still, I have to say I now just try and never let it hit my pads, try and give them no reason to trigger you. I literally expect to be triggered, as sad as it is.

[Ciaran]

Is it sad that I know who will not give me out when im batting? For example one player will literally ask me for my thoughts on if im out or not! A shake of the head n he shouts not out!