A good season
I think Bob Myatt summed up the season when he opened the Presentation Night. He said that we had a good season with 855 appointments made over a number of competitions. Our relationship with Gold Coast Cricket is solid and we are well respected by the clubs.
These achievements are due to all of you and we thank you for your efforts. Presentation Night
A big thank you to Michael Guy for the planning of the Presentation Night, great job. Kudos also to Pat Carty for being the MC and leading the discussion with our guest Graeme Hick.
Congratulations to all our award winners and those appointed to Grand Finals, well earnt all.
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A good hack from the President
Bob was explaining in the chit chat after the March monthly meeting that he has in his umpiring kit, a rasp and a rat tail file to make the grooves on the top of the stumps deeper so that the bails fit. Especially handy for those windy days.
Clever idea that. Does anyone else have a simple hack that they find has come in handy?
Here’s one; instead of carrying bulky scissors to trim threads off the ball, a small nail clipper does the job just as well.
Answers to last issue’s questions
No ball free hit – Extension question
We believe that in the proposed situation, the wicket Keeper cannot move back as 21.19.3 of the ICC Playing Conditions for ODI states that neither field changes nor the exchange of individuals between fielding positions are permitted for free hit delivers.
David Warner – Hitting a 6 off Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez’s No ball – ICC 2021 T20 World Cup
David Warner was entitled to play the ball in that circumstance as the ball does not become dead if it bounces more than once, rolls along the ground or pitches off the pitch. Law 21.7 only directs the umpire to only call and signal No ball.
It is a different situation if the ball came to rest in front of Warner. Law 21.8 Ball coming to rest in front of striker’s wicket tells us that the umpire shall call and signal No ball and then immediately call and signal Dead ball. As such any hitting of the ball is irrelevant.
Attached is the Committee’s list of things that must be done, should be done and could be done by the Square Leg umpire. How did you go?
The whole point of the exercise was to get us thinking of the role of Square Leg umpire and a reminder that it is not a place to turn the mind off for the next six balls. We hope you enjoyed
the thought process .
Why is the Popping Crease so called?
https://cricketershub.com/what-is-the-popping-crease-in-cricket/ gives us the answer
‘The origin of the ‘popping crease’ name goes all the way back to the earliest days of cricket, when it was a very different game to the one we see lighting up our TV screens today! In the early days of the sport, a batsman could only complete a run by inserting his bat into a hole that had been cut into the ground at the other end of the pitch. These holes in the ground were known as ‘popping holes’. If the fielding side managed to get the ball into the popping hole before the batsman inserted his bat, then this would be a run out.
Over time, the rules and set up of the game changed somewhat, and popping holes were removed. Instead, it was decided that the batsman would have to place their bat over a line in order to signal a completed run. This line became known as the ‘popping crease’ due to the holes it had replaced!’
We believe that there were probably a lot of collisions and broken bones as a batter tried to get their bat into the ‘popping hole’ while the fielders tried to put the ball in the same hole first.
Change in Laws
You may have recently read in the media that the MCC has made some changes to the Laws of Cricket which come into effect 01 Oct 22. Michael has also sent out a link to the MCC which explains the changes.
In case you have lost Michael’s email, the MCC announcement and explanations are at
https://www.lords.org/lords/news-stories/mcc-announces-new-code-of-laws-from-1-october-2022
One of the bigger changes is:
‘Law 18 – Batters returning when Caught
First trialled by the ECB in The Hundred at the suggestion of MCC, Law 18.11 has now been changed so that, when a batter is out Caught, the new batter shall come in at the end the striker was at, i.e., to face the next ball (unless it is the end of an over).’
When we read this, our first thoughts where what does this mean for the umpires. Have a think about how this impacts on what both the bowler’s end and Square Leg umpires do.
Your Training Committee is determining the best way of going through the changes with you all.
An observation that your Training Committee has noticed becoming more prevalent is that players are wearing Apple watches or similar during the game. So, what you say, well Captains are now starting to challenge when time is called, arguing that there is still time for another over or why is another over being bowled.
This is not a major issue, if pre-game the two umpires agree on which watch is to be used and adjust the other watch to the same time. This watch and time are then agreed with the Captains at the toss. In other words, do what Law 2.3.1.2 requires us to do.
Maybe it is time to retire my faithful analogue watch and purchase a digital watch which has
all those features that I will never use .
Vale Marsh and Warne
Australia and the Cricket World lost two giants of the game in early March with the untimely deaths of Rod Marsh and Shane Warne. Those of us of a certain age, loved watching these men play and we are all saddened by their passing.
This issue’s questions:
Cricket Gold Coast Playing Conditions
We know that no Playing Conditions are perfect and that they cannot cover every situation that will occur during a cricket game, but they can be improved. Your Training Committee intends to recommend to Cricket Gold Coast some changes to next season’s Playing Conditions (all formats) and we need your help.
If you believe that a Playing Condition should be changed/deleted or whatever, let us know. We just ask that you be very specific in your recommendation and include the reference so we can have a look at it. In other words, don’t just say they are stuffed.
As an example; one that we think could be raised is a change to Part C – Two Day Playing Conditions at Law 13 Innings – Length of innings to read,
‘Length of Innings Two Day matches shall consist of 80 overs compulsory closure for both side’s first innings. A minimum of 32 overs per each side’s first innings is required to constitute a match. For clarity, the duration of any third or fourth innings of the match shall be determined solely by time.’
Saturday/Sunday games. The 2021/2022 season saw a number of Saturday/Sunday two-day games for 1st and 2nd Grade. We would like your thoughts on how this went and did umpiring on the Sunday impact on your personal/family life or even your availability?
A blast from the past – Paul Baker provided Michael Guy with the following historical insight into our Association. Paul found the following in the end of season President’s Report in a minute’s book of the Gold Coast Cricket Association, from the 1980/81 season:
‘Probably the most outstanding development in 80-81 year was the formation of our Umpires Association with at least 8 regular members. Their committee, Ray Bignell, President, Maurice Glassman, Secretary and our life member Ray Fowler are to be congratulated, and on behalf of all the cricketers I extend our thanks to all members and appreciation of the Umpires Association.’
Paul also noted that the umpire fees that season were $15 per afternoon ($7.50 per team) and $20 ($10 per team) for a full day.
As an aside, Paul observed that Neville Taylor was the Gold Coast Cricket Association Treasurer that season.
Paul then provided a further insight into the forming of the Umpire’s Association by saying that there is a mention in the minutes of 8 October 1980 that the Cricket Association President organise an informal meeting with umpires with a view to the formation of an Umpire’s Association.
Then on 29 October 1980 it was moved that the Cricket Association donate $100 to the newly formed Umpire’s Association.
So, the Umpire’s Association was formed in October 1980, but Paul states that he cannot find an exact date. Can any of our old and bolds help out here?
Thanks Paul, a wonderful insight into the forming of our Umpire’s Association.
Trivia question
On 01 October 2022, who takes up the post as President of the MCC?
Diary place markers
Can you please put these dates in your diary:
Yours in umpiring and may all your snicks be loud
Your Training and Selections Committees Pat Carty, Michael Guy and Leigh Buckingham