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Umpires and Rules

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Cricket NSW
Cricket NSW
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The Cricket NSW Foundation, in a bid to provide better training to umpires across the state, provided a grant to the NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers’ Association (NSWCUSA) in the 2023-24 season to enable greater access to cricket for aspiring umpires across regional NSW.

The grant allowed the NSWCUSA to subsidise the cost of attending and sitting the Laws of Cricket workshops across NSW to remove a financial barrier to getting more umpires officiating games of cricket in NSW.

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6 months ago



I was never much of a bowler, but I believe that if a batsman is hit on the pads without offering a shot ALL the benefit should go to the bowler.

If the umpire says not out and DRS shows it clipping the stumps by 1 mm, to me that's out, fair and square.

It happened a few times in 22/23 to Nathan Lyon, where the batsman got the benefit of DRS because less than 50% of the ball was hitting.

For 'not offer a shot' LBW decisions, surely DRS is there to protect that batsman from the umpires howlers, not to protect the umpires from their own howlers.

As it currently stands when not offering a shot, a batsman is afforded the same protection as one that actually took a risk and played a shot but missed.

Fair enough to send it upstairs if you've been robbed... but otherwise use your bat, that's what it's there for.

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6 months ago



NSWCUSA - Annual Dinner and Awards Night

Alan Marshall (#14) and Arthur Watson (#15) were inducted into the NSWCUSA Hall of Fame. This was beautifully put together by the Association, appreciated by members of the late Alan Marshall’s family and by Arthur Watson and his wife, Ann, who were in attendance. Arthur spoke superbly about his work with Alan over many years in honouring him. Alan and Arthur have been such outstanding ambassadors and contributors on and off the field. We owe so much to those who dug the well in the NSWCUSA, standing strongly on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Alan and Arthur were deserving HoF inductees, they have done and achieved so much. Given their friendship, teamwork and respective contributions, it was fitting they were honoured on the same night.

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6 months ago



National Panel umpire Gerard Abood has again been named Cricket NSW’s Representative Umpire of the Year, receiving the award for the second time at the recent CNSW Awards Evening at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Abood has enjoyed a stellar season, which saw him involved in the Australia v West Indies Men’s T20 International series and appointed to oversee two national finals – on-field for the BBL Final and TV umpire in both the Sheffield Shield & One-Day Cup finals.

He performed strongly on-field in five Sheffield Shield matches, three in the One-Day Cup and ten BBL matches including three finals series matches.

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6 months ago



Why is this not out?

When a bowler bowls the ball, they become a fielder and when Stobo throws the ball Chis Green is out of his crease.

The batter is not allowed to obstruct a bowler or fielder attempting a run out.

What if Chris Green played the ball to short cover and the cover fielder picked the ball up and threw it towards the stumps. If Chris Green attempted to stop the ball with the bat or any part of his body, he would’ve been given out obstructing the field.

What’s the difference?

Source - Foxsports

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8 months ago



Tim Donahoo was always keen even as a teenager to know the laws and rules in whatever sport he was playing. He was encouraged to take an interest in the laws of cricket and umpired his first game when only 17 years of age.

Many years later his love of umpiring hasn’t diminished and he still enjoys been out of the park and involved in the game. He’s also worked behind the scenes and was Chairman of NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association in 2006/07 and 2007/08.

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9 months ago



Vale Brian Ferguson 1943-2023

NSWCUSA mourns the passing of long-serving member Brian Ferguson.

Passionate about cricket and umpiring, Brian was always available to umpire and willing to share his vast experience and knowledge to benefit less experienced colleagues. So many members over the years can say they enjoyed a day umpiring with and learning from Brian Ferguson. He was a popular and respected figure in the Sydney Cricket Association (SCA) for more than 25 years. Brian was also in more recent times a committed and respected member of the Sydney Shires Cricket Umpires’ Association.

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10 months ago



Respect is central to the Spirit of Cricket, which includes the basic tenets of respecting opponents and the authority of umpires, accepting the umpires’ decisions, showing self-discipline and creating a positive atmosphere through your conduct.

Yet, poor on field behaviour has increased and a more adversarial than collegiate approach has prevailed.

How is cricket tackling the issue of umpire abuse in Australia? Patrick Skene investigates in the latest 'Sport at the Crossroads' article. Boosted with key insights from umpires Simon Taufel & Claire Polosak.

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10 months ago



In Western Suburbs District Cricket Club 3rd Grade game against Sydney Cricket Club one of our umpires was Geoff Garland. Geoff is 81 years of age.

Geoff first involvement with senior cricket in New South Wales began in 1961 and he’s been a players, umpire, and mentor ever since.

He started umpiring at the age of 50 and has umpired over 450 games for the Sydney Cricket Association. Geoff was awarded Life Membership of New South Wales Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association in 2019.

Saturday was a one day 50 over game and Geoff was at the top of his game. He engaged at the appropriate times, didn’t go looking for unnecessary noise and communicated and managed the game terrifically well. And he did it all with a smile.

It’s wonderful to see Geoff still umpiring as he’s a wonderful role model for all umpires and players. It was even better to see to see him so spritely and enthusiastic.

I dip my lid Geoff.

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10 months ago

If a right arm off spinner is bowling around the wicket to a right-hand batter and the batter attempts a reverse sweep does the shot negate the need for the ball to be pitching in line with the stumps for the batter to be given out lbw.

In other words can the batter be given our lbw if the ball pitches outside leg stump just because the batter looks to play a reverse sweep.

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12 months ago



Was Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal at Lords a breach of the Spirit of Cricket? This is a question I have been inundated with, so I thought it best to share my thoughts publicly by asking everyone a question or eight to consider…

1. Have you seen any umpire tell a fielding side that the keeper standing back is not allowed to attempt a stumping?

2. Was there a complaint from anyone when Bairstow tried to stump Marnus exactly the same way in the first innings?

3. What has Jonny Bairstow said about his dismissal? He has been very quiet. Why?

4. My experience is when people don’t like a dismissal under the Laws of Cricket, they cite the Spirit of Cricket to support their view.

5. Which part of the codified Preamble (the Spirit of Cricket) was breached by the fielding side?

6. What did the fielding side do in effecting a legitimate dismissal that unfairly impacted the ability of the batter in their attempt not to be dismissed? (Did they run into him or distract him or prevent him making good his ground?)

7. Should a batter be immune from dismissal as per the Laws by simply being negligent (and leaving his ground too early)?

8. Did England retire Ben Duckett when they disagreed with the Starc catch decision as per the Laws and umpires’ decision?

The hypocrisy and lack of consistency from some people and groups is quite interesting and concerning for the future of our game.

Maybe I am the odd one out here?

The good news is we are actively engaged with Test cricket, the best form of the game.

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last year



Darren Goodger has been a cricket umpire since 1987 and there’s no sign of him stopping any time soon.

From the far North Coast of NSW to Sydney Darren’s has carved out an impressive umpiring career and his ongoing contribution on and off the field is highly respected.

Let’s find out more about Darren’s journey in the game

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last year



Arthur Watson - An Umpire and a Gentleman

Arthur Watson is one of life and cricket’s great gentleman.

He was a wicket keeper in his youth and for over 50 years he was an Umpire. It didn’t matter if it was park cricket, kids cricket, Grade Cricket, First Class Cricket or One Day International Arthur enjoyed them all.

In January 2022 Arthur made history when he became the first umpire to officiate 800 matches in the Sydney Cricket Association when he umpired the Second Grade fixture between Fairfield-Liverpool and UTS North Sydney at Rosedale Oval where the umpire’s room is named after him

In January 2023 Arthur Watson was recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours for his contribution to cricket and the community over the last seven decades.

Let’s find out a little more about the man that’s become affectionately known as “Fossil”

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last year
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