De Villiers seemed to question the
decision after the match, saying: ‘It
was a great catch and I thought he did
well to keep it in – if he did. There are
lots of rumours and theories going on
in the changing room. I’m not getting
involved, but a lot of guys think I was a
bit unlucky there. I’m happy to walk off
when the umpire gives me out. It was a
silly shot. I’m better than that. I blame
myself.’
The South Africans seemed to be
questioning whether or not the catch
would have been taken past the
original placement of the boundary
rope before it had been moved by a
diving English fielder.
ICC Issuing Umpires with Helmets for
WT20C – ‘No Obligation’ to Wear
ICC will be issuing all umpires with
helmets for the forthcoming T20
World Cup. The issuing of these
helmets is by no means an obligation
to wear them, with investigations still
continuing into the best advice for
professional and recreational umpires.
On the subject of wearing helmets
whilst umpiring, ICC Umpire of the
Year Richard Kettleborough said:
‘In the last three or four years, the
fitness and the strength of the players
has increased dramatically, and the
bats are so much better than ever
before, so the guys are hitting the ball
a lot harder. We've seen some umpires
being hit in recent times and it's
becoming quite dangerous, certainly in
T20 and one-day cricket.’ He added: ‘I
know for the T20 World Cup we're all
going to be issued helmets. We're not
obliged to wear them, it's totally up to
us, but it's certainly something I'll be
taking on board and thinking about.
Our safety, as with the players, is
paramount. The non-strikers are in
danger too, as is the bowler in his
follow-through, there's no doubt about
that. It's only a matter of time before
someone gets hit quite badly.’
ECB ACO is keeping a close eye on
developments in the professional game
on this matter and we will keep you,
our members, updated as soon as
there is any further progress.
Ed – For more information on helmet
guidance see page 27.
Bats to Blame?
There has been a lot of discussion in
recent weeks about the potential need
for umpires to wear helmets,
particularly in the shorter formats of
the game. Former Australian bowlers
Geoff Lawson and Stuart Clark have
argued that instead of introducing
extra head protection into the game,
better regulation of bats would ensure
that participant safety is maintained.
Lawson said: ‘There needs to be some
control put on bats, just as they put on
golf clubs. With more sixes than ever
flying off the bat in all forms of the
game, it is only a matter of time before
a player, umpire or spectator is injured.’
Clark supports this view, citing the
number of sixes being hit in modern
cricket as an indicator that bowlers
need some protection, saying that ‘if
you clear one over the rope it's
actually not a good shot anymore’.
Cynics would point to the fact that
Lawson and Clark are both former
bowlers and are therefore going to
protect the bowler’s interests. We’d be
interested to hear from our members,
whether you think increased bat
regulations would protect you whilst
doing your job?
New ICC Role for Taufel
ICC has confirmed it has appointed
former international umpire Simon
Taufel to a new position within the
organisation. Having left his job as ICC
Umpire Performance and Training
Manager at the end of October, Taufel
has returned to the world body as a
dedicated Training Manager. Taufel’s
new role will, apparently, involve
responsibility for Laws and Playing
Conditions, development of umpire
resources and TV umpiring, as well as
working on a number of different
‘umpiring projects’.
Uber’s Unique Celebration of
Australia Day
Uber, famous for its taxi phone app,
teamed up with Optus to celebrate
Australia Day on 26th January. As
thousands of families in Australia
prepared for the annual celebrations,
which in so many cases includes the
classic game of backyard cricket,
Uber offered to help with any
potential feuds on the day by
providing an umpire to officiate. Billy
Bowden, who was the face of the
campaign, starred in a number of
videos, which were sent out on a
number of social media channels,
featuring his famous eccentric signals.
In one clip, Bowden is seen training a
group of Uber umpires, saying to
them: ‘It’s going to be tough out there.
There are going to be arguments, there
are going to be family disputes.
There’ll be crazy dogs falling in love
with your leg. But I have faith in you. I
believe in you.’
Australian Rules Footballer in Trouble
Over Cricket Appearance
A professional Australian Rules
Football player in Melbo \