When Shane Watson confidently signals a review after hopefully sticking his leg down the pitch to an Anderson in-swinger, we have all said:‘ You’ re out buddy, start walking.’ However, my colleagues and I were all to find it was much harder to be so certain under the scrutiny of five eagle-eyed, sharp-tongued associates, than sat on the sofa at home with a cup of tea. During this seminar, each official, in turn, made three LBW decisions after which we had to mark on a pitch map where we thought the ball pitched and where we thought it would have finished up. Meanwhile, the poor batsman facing the deliveries had to try and manufacture some LBW scenarios.
After having to make too many decisions on a murky Yorkshire evening in a steady drizzle, I have often thought that being backed up by technology would add to my self-confidence when answering appeals. However, I found the opposite occurred. After answering the appeals, knowing my decisions were going to be scrutinised, I immediately began to question my judgement, something I don’ t do in matches. It made me wonder how Test umpires must feel when one of their decisions is reviewed. Millions of eyes watch their verdict being unpicked by technology that their eyes are not privy to, knowing that shortly their colleague will inform the world whether their original ruling will stand.
After our entire group had completed the challenge, we went‘ upstairs’ to review the decisions we had made. Despite the fact Hawk-Eye had crashed, we could still use the super slow motion to review our decisions, which was a very interesting experience. Through this, we were able to see how good( or bad) our decisions were and also the great variation in each delivery from the bowling machine. Did I learn anything – apart from the fact that 18 reviews per match slows the game down a bit?! Probably not. Did I enjoy it? Of course I did, it’ s a game I could play all day.
Ian Morris on Dr Duncan Mascarenhas – Psychology of Officiating
Expecting an opportunity to sit back and be lectured, I found myself, and the 200 or so audience, at the centre of academic research into a relatively, until now, non-controversial aspect of our role – adjudicating on run outs. It was a‘ You versus Hawk-Eye’ style interactive session, but for run outs.
The sceptic in me doubted its value, but I was more than pleasantly surprised by what followed in what proved to be an entertaining, very relevant and thought-provoking session. We were asked to adjudicate, as square leg umpire, on six screened run outs. Two decisions were required from each participant: i) out or not out? and ii)( now this was the trickier bit) which picture frame( out of 10) was relevant, in other words, by how far was the batsman in or out? To add to the fun, the audience could respond via text or online( as well as on the paper questionnaire). Although, interestingly, only 25 or so participated in that fashion.
I was pleased that I got five out of six decisions right( although I’ m not sure that the sixth batsman in the Sussex Premier Cricket League will see it that way), but it was the second element of the decision that was enlightening. In all but one of the scenes I was out by one frame. Duncan explained the flash lag effect, whereby a moving object( the ball) is perceived as being in advance of its true position at a discrete instant. In other words, your brain tells you the ball has hit the stumps before it actually has( apparently this‘ delay’ is extended if we are relying on the noise of the stumps being hit, as opposed to sight, in making our decision). Now this is important for each and every one of us to understand. But what do we do with this information? Clearly, we have to take it into account when making our decisions and potentially extend the benefit of the doubt to the batsman, a problem of course only for the recreational umpire, as the First Class umpire has the luxury of the referral. It also reinforces to me the complexity of the role of a match official. Knowing the Laws of the game is only one aspect – understanding yourself and your limitations are equally important. It illustrates that none of us can afford to be complacent. Just because we’ ve had a good season this year, we cannot rest on our laurels and expect the same next. Being open to new ideas and questioning ourselves at the right time is a fundamental part of our continuing professional development.
I eagerly await the outcome of the research to see if it informs the debate on best positioning and the degree of benefit of the doubt that needs to be given if we find ourselves in line or not in line with the popping crease.
Get the Game On
The Get the Game On campaign supported this year’ s ECB ACO National Conference by giving away a free wet weather kit to one attendee. Louise Bromfield from Nettleham CC in Lincolnshire was the lucky winner and takes to her club the kit containing pitch forks, squeegees, a brush, blankets and large sponge foams. Having the right wet weather kit available will always help get more games of cricket played where it’ s safe to do so. Well done, Louise!
Ground, Weather and Light was also a key message at the Conference, with every attendee receiving a copy of the newly published guidance for clubs, leagues and players. Umpires are so important in helping to get games of cricket played, where it’ s safe to do so. ECB would like to thank all umpires and officials for the time they give to the game and their support to the campaign during 2016. Get the Game On continues to have an impact, with 3 % more cricket played in leagues and clubs that actively support and promote‘ getting the game on’.
We always welcome feedback on events such as our National Conference. If you have something to tell us, please get in touch on ecb. aco @ ecb. co. uk. Planning is already underway for the 2018 Conference.
We hope to make it bigger and better than ever!
email us at ecb. aco @ ecb. co. uk contact us on 0121 446 2710 15