Wonderful article. Some people may wonder why all this struggle in this high tech age but being an umpire is the hardest job on the field. A batsman can misread Murali's doosra but an umpire cant or else risk having to face a pair of big popping eyes. Somewhere down the line, people forget that umpires are humans and cant get everything right. Asking cricketers to be umpires, though far fetched, will surely teach everyone to look at things from an umpire's perspective. And finally for all those calling for umpires to be replaced by TV cameras, why dont we replace bowlers by bowling machines, batsmen by automated bats and fielders by computer programmed robots.

I think this is why the umpires in cricket have traditionally been older, wiser and respected men. I am sure, the guy you replaced, did not feel the same way as you did, cause at the time he was more suited for the task.
In any case, like most things in cricket, umpiring is also a specialist's job and it should remain that way.
Although the idea of letting test players umpire in a few club games sounds good, its not practical with the amount of cricket they play nowadays.

Good suggestion.

Also, 5 run penalties for "bad" appeals.

I think it's fairly standard in Aus to expect captains to do the umpiring exam simply for knowledge of the laws. Some experience could help as well, but dumping Test wanna-bes on the grade cricket as umpires might be more than is necessary. I also suspect the players (with exceptions) are more understanding of the umpires than most fans to start with.

Couldn't agree with you more. In fact, international umpires also have the pressure of touring the cricket-world for more days in a year than their predecessors. That needs to be appreciated by players and fans alike. Somebody like a Simon Taufel may be able to manage, but it was equally admirable how Shep at his age used to officiate in India without so much as a fuss. Umpires must be competent, yes. But the cricket administration must consider the rigours of travel-related stress too. Maybe intl. umpiring must be incentivised too and compensation increased, so that former intl. cricketers who are knowledgeable and acquainted with travelling take to officiating, rather than plain-banter commentary.

Good on you, Samir, well done.

I am an umpire in the top grade of Sydney Grade Cricket as well as the Public Relations Officer for the NSW Cricket Umpires & Scorers.

I have recently posted some interviews with top umpires, including Darrell Hair, on You Tube under the moniker of TheCricketBuff.

Take a look at them, you may find them of interest. All the best,

Nick

Very well written.

Whatever the challemges I would not like to be an umpire - goiod article BTW

Good article. I umpire at club grade and captain a C grade club side. I can carry on with my daily chorse after a day as a captain on the field, but feel exausted after a day umpiring! It has helped me understand the stress that the umpires have to go through. I support the idea of captains or senior players having to umpire grade games once or twice a year.

This is an interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

great experience, dude! thanks for this great

Articles wow... it's very wonderful report.

Nice article. Thank you for this info