N.Z. umpire for U.K. soon

Press, 13 April 1978, Page 32

N.Z. umpire for U.K. soon

Fred Goodall (centre), •he New Zealand test umpire who will officiate during the second half of the English cricket season, will recognise some familiar faces when he stands in his first match on July 1. His debut in England will be at Worcester, when Worcestershire meets Middlesex in a three-day game. Worcestershire, of course, will have the former New Zealand test captain, Glenn Turner, opening its batting, while the Middlesex ranks will include the 1977-78 English tourists, Mike Brearley, Mike Gatting, Clive Radley, and Phil Edmonds. Similarly, Worcestershire will be one of the participants in Mr Goodall's first Gillette Cup one-day fixture. Its opponent will be Derbyshire, the county of Turner’s successor for New Zealand, John Wright, and also Bob Taylor and Mike Hendrick of the English touring side. Mr Goodall plans to leave Christchurch next month and will have preliminary discussions with two or three senior umpires about rule interpretations and match conditions. His programme includes 13 of the 17 counties but he will not handle

any of New Zealand’s tour fixtures. The scheme of having overseas umpires officiating in England is in its second year. An Australian and a West Indian set the trend last northern season and an Indian umpire and Mr Goodall were chosen this year.

Mr Goodall began umpiring at Greymouth in 1957 and had the first of his 43 first-class appointments, including eight tests and 11 other international matches, six years later. “The major intention is to provide overseas test umpires with further ex-

perience,” said Mr Goodall. After his return he will report to the national cricket council and umpires’ association, and will lecture at meetings of umpires in the main centres. The Lion Breweries Sports Foundation has assisted Mr Goodall with his travelling expanses. It

also made grants to two other sports yesterday to subsidise a squash coaching seminar and a gymnastics coaching course for judges. Pictured are (from left) Pat Leopold (representing squash). Mr Goodall, and Bruce Ullrich (gymnastics).