The Follow On
Following the long service recognition article in Issue 26, we were delighted to hear from Cumbria ACO Chairman Eddie Payne on the presentation to nine Cumbrian members.
On Wednesday 26th October at the Cumbria ACO AGM, presentations were carried out by Eric Roberts, the North Region Membership Services Officer, to the following recipients:
Doug Beebe, Howard Bicknell, John Cartmell, Bill Cook, Ron Fullard, Keith Harrison, Eddie Payne, Ian Routledge and Mary Smith.
Bill Cook and Mary Smith were rewarded for 40 years’ service, with the others receiving awards for 25 years.
The attached photo shows( left to right) Eddie Payne, Mary Smith, Bill Cook, Eric Roberts, Doug Beebe and John Cartmell, who were able to attend on the night.
Parthasarathy On Tour
What an unforgettable week! I experienced the thrill of umpiring in England – home of cricket.
It all started in UAE, March 2016, over a casual conversation with Neville Kent, the Umpiring Coordinator, about umpiring in England. I knew then that the only way to experience what Neville spoke about was to be on the field there. Excited, and with Neville’ s assistance, I started the ball rolling and completed the required documents to umpire for Middlesex. Then, in the summer of 2016, I was on a flight to London, where Neville, coordinating with other Middlesex officials, was able to appoint me as an umpire at several local games and tournaments around the area.
Umpiring in England is truly a different experience compared to the US. In the US I have travelled all along the East Coast, umpiring from New York to Florida, and consistently in the Washington Cricket League. Almost all the games are of the ODI and T20 variety, with both formats following strict ICC regulations. The square and outfield beyond the pitch are generally bumpy and pock-marked, posing a challenge to many. Most games are played on jute matting or artificial turf wickets, and running on the pitch is actually okay, as that is safer than the sides.
Standing in my first game at Eton, where the Eton under-14s were taking on the Wellington under-14s in the finals, I was struck with awe at the perfectly manicured school fields, the clubhouse, the tea break, the environment and the school. The game played smoothly, with Wellington winning the cup, beating the hosts in a close game.
Traditions and history are so woven into the experience with every club. After all, some of them have been in existence for over 100 years. The natural turf pitches with lush green outfields added to the joy of the game. The teams, regardless of age, were courteous and professional, on and off the field, making my umpiring engagements that much more pleasurable.
Ah! The weather! What can I say – It could start out sunny, turn to freezing cold rain, only to be followed by a nice warm pleasant breeze, all within an hour. This was a bit unusual given that in Washington DC in summer, the temperatures are generally in the nineties( Fahrenheit) and it’ s quite humid. We barely get in 14 overs in an hour since we need breaks due to the heat. By that standard, the pace of the game in England was extraordinary. In some sessions, we were going at almost 19 to 20 overs an hour with no breaks. So, the weather was indeed a positive for me, in spite of the fact that some games were washed out, and Neville had to scramble on my behalf to find other games to umpire.
A highlight of my week was definitely the privilege of being at Lord’ s watching Middlesex take on Lancashire. All of the pictures and my imagination could not match up or do justice to the reality of Lord’ s in all its glory. The Grace gates, museum, the Pavilion, the Media Centre, the Ashes urn, the history of cricket, and of course the breathtaking field with its famous slope. All these left an indelible mark on me( even the Lord’ s Tavern after the game with the delectable sticky toffee pudding)!
By the end of my amazing trip I was craving more, and promising myself to return next year. I am hoping to encourage a few of my umpiring colleagues in the US to come to England and umpire as part of their learning experience. I am very grateful to Neville Kent, Matti Watton, Ray Angra, Bob Edmonds, Mark Williams, Michael Harriman, Rory Coutts, Martin Gentle, Mo Waseem, Richard Charter, Sue Jones, my fellow umpires, and numerous others who contributed to my growth as an umpire.
Anil Parthasarathy
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