Editor Clarence Hiles put some probing questions to the popular umpire…
1 CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT TO THE FINAL. DO UMPIRES GET AS EXCITED AS PLAYERS ON REACHING A CUP FINAL?
Yes of course we do, and quite rightly so, as the Senior Challenge Cup Final is the one that all teams and players who play Premier League and even for that matter Section One cricket, talk about most. The players all want to play in it and the umpires are just the same.
2 WHAT EXTRA DUTIES ARE INVOLVED FOR AN UMPIRE IN A CUP FINAL?
With the greatest respect to all, there should be nothing extra as a duty if you are trying to do your job properly each week, because every game should be given the same respect as a final. That said, you will want to be on top of your game, and the level of concentration will naturally be strongly focused on every aspect of the match.
3 YOU ARE ONE OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF UMPIRES. HAS THE ROLE CHANGED MUCH SINCE YOU WERE A PLAYER?
It has not really changed that much from my playing days. However, one major improvement from then to now has been the introduction of Duckworth Lewis for the Premier League and Section One games. Perhaps another change is that Umps then had less meaningless chat to listen to between opposing players, and were less likely to need the volume control we sometimes need today. Good chat and friendly banter yes, but when it is personal “no thank you.”
4 HAVE YOU ANY PERSONAL PREFERENCE AS TO WHERE THE FINAL IS HELD?
I think it should be on the best pitch and outfield irrespective of the venue.
5 THE ABSENCE OF A SPONSOR AND CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT IN RECENT YEARS HAS TAKEN AWAY SOME OF THE GLITZ OF THE CUP FINAL. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU REGRET?
Yes, it is regrettable that we do not have the extra glamour that a major sponsor can add to the Challenge Cup final. But thank goodness, that despite the extra positive aspects that the glitz adds to the occasion, the players still treat the game as the “biggest” game of their season.
6 YOU ARE A VERY PROACTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE UMPIRES ASSOCIATION. ARE YOU ABLE TO ATTRACT MORE UMPIRES INTO THE ASSOCIAITON OR IS IT STILL A STRUGGLE?
It is not really any better or worse this season, and therefore the problem of umpire numbers has not been solved, or for that matter even close to being solved. Without a doubt, the only solution to the shortage of umps is for clubs to supply more active umpires, even for a small number of matches per season. We cannot keep on going with the current structure of providing umpires to the game if the NCU clubs don’t take more responsibility for the shortage. Someday the truth will dawn on the clubs as to why we have got into such a mess with fewer active umps each weekend. The solution is simple.
7 WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE ONE-DAY FINAL AS OPPOSED TO THE OLD TWO-DAY FINAL?
The modern approach to knockout finals is the one-day final, but given a choice I would prefer it to be a two-day final with the second day a closed Saturday for all club cricket. Large crowds and a great atmosphere is just what the final needs.
8 YOU PLAYED CUP GAMES AGAINST TEAMS WITH OVERSEAS PROFESSIONALS AND YOU HAVE UMPIRED GAMES WITH AND WITHOUT THEM. DO YOU FEEL THEY ARE GOOD FOR THE COMPETITION OR NOT?
Assuming they are registered correctly with our union, the best players should always be allowed to play in every game irrespective of the competition. There is an extra buzz with overseas professionals, and it can only be good for our game if the best can play against the best. I think you only need to ask the spectators to get the answer to this question.
9 WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE BOWL-OUT TO DECIDE CUP GAMES?
I think we should play the game again and again, even if we have to reduce the overs on the subsequent matches. Bowl-outs and cup matches do not agree.
10 IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE SENIOR CUP FINAL WHAT WOULD IT BE?
That’s a simple one for me. Bring back the two-day final, and if the second day is a Saturday, then make it a closed date. We need to build the final as a showpiece.
Thanks, Noel.
Enjoy the final.
