For the uninitiated, I’ll let you in on a well-kept secret: umpiring cricket games is really good fun.
On the surface of it, standing in the hot sun for hours at a time, making so many not-out calls to hopeful bowlers and fieldsmen, not being able to actually play, mentally draining – all this for a few bucks or free – means most would say ‘not for me’.
Some of my fondest cricket memories were umpiring finals matches, which are tense affairs to say the least. Both sides are really wound up, so any decisions umpires make are going to be under intense scrutiny.
On more than one occasion, I’ve walked off after a match and had both skippers come up, shake my hand and say how much they appreciated the decision making. That’s a great feeling.
Which brings me to the point of this piece – umpire bashing. All too often, the media, including this website, feel this overwhelming need to give the umpire a serve.
(Photo by Paul Kane – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
The ridicule that’s dished up is both substantial and often ill-directed. For example, Usman Khawaja receives a gift courtesy of an absolute howler by the umpire.
I’ve looked at this decision several times and can see nothing wrong with it because it was a reasonable decision for the umpire to make. It was certainly not a howler, let alone an absolute howler.
Shane Warne, perhaps in an attempt to be relevant, made the comment that “umpires can end careers”.
This was during a huge dump on Bruce Oxenford after the second day of the Adelaide Test last year. Some other comments included, “He is having an absolute stinker, Bruce Oxenford” and, “He just continually makes errors like this”.
Warne’s not alone in giving umpires a serve. Most ex-players these days think it’s almost a rite of passage when commentating, to get stuck into umpires.
For more examples, Google ‘BBL umpiring’ and see what comes up? Players and commentators are featured having a real go at umpires.
It’s also not confined to cricket. Followers of the NRL or AFL receive a steady stream of abusive or derisive comments from so-called experts about referees or umpires in their respective seasons – but that’s getting off topic.
I get that umpires can make mistakes. I also get that the outcome of an umpiring mistake can have an enormous impact on a match and/or a series. Remember this from the 2019 Ashes? The relevant part is 14.30 minutes in.
Umpires are no different than players. Just as a batsman needs time to get their eye in, so do umpires.
One of the toughest calls an umpire has to make is a front-foot LBW decision, early in an innings, when the umpire has no idea how high the bounce is, or how much a delivery can move off the pitch – but they’re still expected to get it right, 100 per cent of the time.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Just like players, they might be a first-class umpire who loses form, or starts to doubt themselves. They will still try their best, but might not be at the top of their game – but all still expect them to be perfect when it comes to making tough calls.
I’m also not suggesting umpires should not be criticised, but my concern is how an umpire is criticised and the circumstance that led to the criticism.
In the Usman Khawaja example, an LBW decision is never an easy one to make. Law 36 covers five quite distinct points an umpire has to determine before making their decision.
Not only does the umpire have to assess these five factors, they have to do so relatively quickly – that is, in a few seconds – yet armchair critics can take as long as they like, look at as many replays as they choose, then decide that umpire has not only made a mistake, they’ve not made an honest mistake, but an “absolute howler”.
There’s an expression ‘walk a mile in my shoes’, or more fully, ‘before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes’.
Cricket supporters don’t have to have umpired at first-class or Test level to appreciate the difficulties an umpire faces. Umpiring even park cricket can be a serious challenge, bearing in mind both teams expect the umpire to get every decision correct, 100 per cent of the time.
If you have umpired, you’ll appreciate how tough this job is and if you haven’t, stop and consider just how difficult this job is, especailly when the pressure’s on, the ball’s moving around and the game is close. Criticise by all means but words need to be chosen carefully.
I’d also suggest far more people need to be willing to call out those who use all sorts of adjectives when describing decisions umpires make.
I don’t recall the last time I read about umpires making ‘impossibly good calls’, but on almost a daily basis, I see expressions like ‘woeful, inadequate, sub-standard, horrendous’. The list goes on, yet when you look at these decisions, in many cases they’re not close to being as bad as is made out or, heaven forbid, they’re correct.
As the great West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor once said, “to err is human”. Give credit where it’s due for the decision makers, criticise when they err, but criticise fairly and demand better from those who criticise unfairly.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I agree with everything here Paul. At any level, the worst umpires don't make any more mistakes than the best players. I do detest certain aspects of DRS, such as umpire's call, but that's bashing DRS, not the actual umpire who is powerless once a decision is reviewed. I think to enjoy umpiring you have to love watching cricket. So many champion cricketers, such as David Gower, Sunil Gavaskar, Gary Sobers or Mark Waugh have said once or twice "I'm not a great cricket watcher". It sure does feel good when both teams tell you that you did a great job. Sometimes the winning team is resentful of you, but the losing team thinks you were awesome.
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Thanks for your reply Paul. What you say makes me recall those parents on the sidelines during a Saturday morning, muttering (sometimes shouting) at umpires, many of those umpires being young themselves. That shows the extent of our anti umpire culture. They are flesh, blood and feelings like the rest of us.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
PS missed this article yesterday, as I did the article on M Waugh, because it was buried below a whole lot of other stuff such as videos of fielding and umpiring “howlers” and the WBBL. I don’t know which articles get the best return in terms of ads and viewers, but I would have thought these sort of articles are among those that get the most discussion going, which presumably helps in attracting viewers.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Yep, spot on.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Perfectly expressed Paul. I think a link may have been omitted but I think you’re talking about the catch in the slip that came off Khawaja’s glove? Or was it the end of his sleeve? :laughing: Watching a some (too much?) baseball and writing articles comparing it with cricket I’ve been struck about the different approach to umpiring. While they have TV reviews for calls on runners getting tagged out running into bases decisions but the umpire behind the plate on whether balls are in the strike zone are not reviewable like DRS. There is Hawkeye type technology that would do a much better job than the human eye and the umps get calls wrong quite regularly, despite doing an excellent job by and large (and I would say overall they are brilliant at getting close base calls right, they are rarely overturned despite needing split second judgement on whether the ball hits the middle of the glove before the runner touches base). But despite the fact that the managers and players argue with or even abuse the home plate ump if he gets too many calls wrong, commentators and teams rarely work themselves into a lather about a single call costing someone the game. It’s considered part of the ups and downs of sport, the rich tapestry of life, etc. While a single decision might have a big impact on a cricket match, the way they are looked at tends to get treated very pedantically, not looking at the big picture. Whether or not someone gets caught behind on one ball needs to be seen in the context of the way that batsmen play and miss a lot more times than they give an edge. All those shots are equally as “bad” or even worse. Same with lbw decisions that might be grazing the stumps according to DRS (or maybe not, who can be sure?). As you say, anyone who wants to be too critical should try umpiring an acts match some time.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Totally correct Roseville. My umpiring days are over!
Paul
Roar Guru
great comments Rosie. They're all absolutely spot on.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Cheers Paul. I will elaborate by a short story on my last match as a cricket umpire. I got the phone call at 11am for a 1 pm start. Umpired the first innings of a one day semi final. About 15 overs in to the second innings one of the bowlers called me a cheat. This was backed up by their vice captain at second slip during the next over. Their captain was in the covers and egged them on. So I just walked off. Never been back. Didn't pass go or bother to collect my fee for the afternoon. Never again. It's a mugs game, and oh yeah I did more than 150 matches, but this was the worst.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
Thanks Paul, A few generalisations from years of umpiring one's batting team-mates, and decades of chats with umpires from all levels- 1) an umpire only needs to make a decision, whenever a player makes a mistake 2) a player is far more likely to forgive a big mistake by his team-mate, than a lesser one by an umpire 3) an umpire doesn't make better decisions as a result of being sledged and disrespected 4) as clubs and players have a vested interest in there being more and better umpires, they should do far more to improve umpire recruitment and retention 5) it's the height of hypocrisy to happily accept a decision in your favour that you know is wrong, then blow up when later one goes the other way 6) it's not much better to humiliate an umpire in full view of players and spectators, then apologise later but only do so in private 7) players are far more inconsistent than umpires, especially when the match situation or competition table drives their views as to whether or not the pitch or weather is fit for play 8) a decision early in a game is rarely the reason why a team loses a match hours or even days later 9) an umpire has a far better view than any fieldsman of most situations, and of lbws in particular.
Paul
Roar Guru
Thanks AJ. I truly don't think a lot of parents realise just how much their comments are absorbed by kids in particular but people around them. In the instances you're writing about, this is a wonderful age the get young ones involved in the game but there are lots of barriers to kids enjoying it. Many are frightened of the ball, lose interest if their not involved all the time etc, so it doesn't take much to tip them over from enjoying cricket to finding another sport. When I coached a long time ago, we had a simple policy; either the comments that were made were positive or you had to stay silent or "walk away" ie go somewhere private to vent. What was really pleasing was how few parents had to walk away, once they got used to the idea of saying nothing or being positive. The team loved the positive vibe and we had a really fun few seasons.
AJ73
Roar Rookie
Thanks, Paul really appreciate the article. The last couple of seasons, I have coached my daughter's team (she is the only girl in the team, and often in the competition/grade) and I have tried to get them to acknowledge the umpires for their work. Often it is the parents that cause the problem and I have had to step in a couple of times because the parent doesn't know the rules. We had a couple of incidents last year; one were the WK for the opposition knocked the stumps over and off the area (lying flat) going for a run-out, then try to run-out our batter without putting the stumps in place when he walked out of his crease not going for another run (U12's this is). The debate was about where do the stumps need to be when they are lying flat on the ground. The other was our WK called a batter back (after the umpire quite rightly called it out as from his point of view he couldn't see the fumble) as he didn't think he had control of the ball going for a run-out. The parents from the opposition were howling about it. To his credit, our WK spoke to our captain & VC and they decided to call him back. The snide comments from the parents kept coming though. I had to question their umpire on a few no-balls as no one could understand what he was calling for so that I could inform the bowler what to change (apparently he was calling no-ball for being above the waist even though the ball had bounced). On another note, those that often complain when a decision goes against them, happily accept it when it goes the other way even though they are disgusted with the decision when it goes against them.
Paul
Roar Guru
I find it particularly hard to understand AFL supporters and their screaming at umpires during games. I'm guessing 98% or more, have never umpired any match of any kind and would have only a vague idea about the rules. They're also often a very long way from the actual play and have zero experience deciding how a rule should be applied. All that doesn't stop them from abusing umpires as you say, aided and abetted by the media.
Paul
Roar Guru
Bucknor was the best umpire in world cricket for more than a few years but like many cricketers, probably stayed at the top level for a few seasons too long. I think he started to make mistakes then started to second guess himself. When writing this piece, I equated his career to Ricky Pontings; both excellent until their later years, when they really should have retired. Completely agree about the BBL umpiring. If CA's true to it's word, there should be DRS this season which will help the howlers.
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
Alexander Pope wants his quote back. :laughing: It’s also a bit of a stretch to call Steve Bucknor great don’t you think? He had a long career but it certainly wasn’t great. I would argue that umpires in cricket are mostly treated better than officials in other sports. Whilst we are talking about umpires, I do hope the standard of umpiring improves from last years BBL, it was of a very poor standard overall.
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Thanks for the article Paul, it's an important perspective but one that is frequently forgotten I feel. There's something in our culture that is almost anti umpire or referee. It's particularly observed in AFL where umpires are insulted and for example referred to as maggots. I don't think it's gone to that extent in cricket but when a mistake (or what appears to be a mistake) is made, the crowd and some players will let the umpire know, often bluntly. I've had my head in my hands a few times, especially when the decision was crucial. But I've also had the time to think, watch replays and I haven't had 70,000 people on their feet about the decision. In life I've made a few howlers of my own (a few is understating it) and have been grateful for the understanding of others when it's happened.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think it would be really helpful for the younger guys to learn that in any sport. All too often coaching is left to parents who have willing hearts, but no real idea about the game or the techniques they need to teach. It'd be great for the 16 year olds and above to learn how to coach. If nothing else, it might keep them in the game if they decide they don't want to play. Might also teach them some man management skills.
Nat
Roar Guru
Warney is a commentary cliche. He has made a career bagging refs but it's every sport, everywhere. It's far easier to blame the ref than admit fault. Imgane how smart you become when you can slow down and analyse every ball? I think, unless you have the assistance of video to prove your case, suck it up and move on. The ref gets it right 97% of the time.
Tony
Roar Guru
True. Just thinking, it would have been a good thing to have players complete at least the basic coaching qualification also. This would be a good idea for all grade clubs (and NRL, Union, Soccer etc).
Paul
Roar Guru
Thanks Tony. I wish my Club and the other Clubs I played against also made in mandatory to learn the Laws of the game. I would have saved some really spiteful moments.
Tony
Roar Guru
Great article Paul, and I agree that umpiring is fun. One club I played for made it mandatory for the top grade players to not only get their umpire's ticket, but also to "volunteer" to umpire some lower grade and/or junior games. Worked a treat, and most of the participants not only enjoyed the experience, but also had a better appreciation of the umpire's role. There's always the odd incompetent umpire of course, but they don't seem to last any longer than the incompetent batsman or bowler.