New grading system for ‘men in white’

Press, 20 November 1981, Page 15

New grading system for ‘men in white’

Cricket umpires expect few rewards this side of heaven. They know they will spend up to seven hours a day in blazing heat or in chilly winds; they realise that they will be noticed only when some distant observers claim they have made a mistake; they are aware that cricket’s complex laws and playing conditions regularly change., almost season by season, thus requiring time to be spent on homework; they are conscious in the test arena of the embarrassments which can be caused by television instant replays and they are subject, at firstclass level, to demanding pressures from players. Why do umpires volunteer for such a trying task? A team of expert psychologists might come up with an erudite answer; but the basis must surely be an abiding affection for cricket. Umpires are vital to the welfare of the first-class game — almost as essential as good playing surfaces, or the playing equipment. Cricket administrations are aware of the pressures to which test umpires, particuarly. are now subjected and are trying to minimise them. They are also aware of the need to have the best men at the top. The New Zealand Cricket Council is one of the governing bodies which has been taking practical steps to encourage umpires, with an improved system of grading and advancement. This season sees the completion of a scheme to set up a full career structure for umpires throughout the country.

Until recently only few umpires willing to go to the top have had the opportunity to advance in a systematic manner through the grades. The limited amount of firstclass cricket in earlier years was the background. Now cricket has expanded dramatically and umpiring has gained status with the growth of the game. Opportunities have increased and in New Zealand a satisfactory situation has been reached. Now anyone aspiring to advance should be recognised at a relatively early stage of a career. Performances can be monitored, season by season. Until last summer only those umpires appointed to first-class fixtures or one-day knock-out matches were the subject of captains’ reports, and their appointments were made by the Board of Control. The system has now broadened to take in the under-19 Brabin tournament — where the young captains will be assisted in making their reports by team managers — the under-22 tournament, the new second eleven competition, and the Cyclone Series for the Hawke Cup, as well as first-class and test matches. Nominations for appointments to these matches are being made by the associations, based on their own gradings at senior level. The final selections are being made by a sub-committee of . the Board of Control. In the main centres, and some others, there are reporting systems by captains on senior umpires, and gradings are established. At present

there is a panel of 24 firstclass umpires, five of them being on the test panel. The re-organisation of umpire grading is not the only move being made to improve standards. Before long, there may be neutral umpires at test matches, and that would allow New Zealand officials to umpire overseas and so broaden their experience. There was a visit to New Zealand last season by an English test umpire, Don Oslear who stood in two first-class, and other games. He also provided lectures explaining the 1980 re-codi-fied M.C.C. laws, brought in last summer. This season another leading English umpire, Dickie Bird will be standing in two Shell Series matches and in the women’s World Cup tournament. The council is assisting the New Zealand Women’s Cricket Council to bring Mr Bird to New Zealand. If the umpires are subject to reports at all levels, they are not kept in the dark about their successes or failures. Confidential reports are supplied to them, through the New Zealand Cricket Umpires’ Association’s liaison officer with the New Zealand Cricket Council. Umpires remain a special race. The game could not progress without their support, enthusiasm, skill and integrity.