Umpires and Rules

3 years ago

Paul Ryan

Founder

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

503 Likes
513 Followers

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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3 years ago

Damien Trott

Student

Melbourne, Australia

49 Likes
7 Followers

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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3 years ago

CricConnect Stories

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

191 Likes
257 Followers

The Preamble - The Spirit of Cricket

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3 years ago

Simon Taufel

Business Coach

Central Coast, NSW, Australia

37 Likes
13 Followers

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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3 years ago

Dean Tuckwell

Travel Agent

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

70 Likes
20 Followers

If there was one rule you could change in cricket what would it be?

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3 years ago

Damien Trott

Student

Melbourne, Australia

49 Likes
7 Followers

Bowlers get in trouble when they follow through down the wicket into the danger zone and scuff the wicket.

David Warner is batting so far out of the crease in the 2nd innings of the 2nd Ashes test and must be close to the same danger zone.

Can batters get in trouble for scuffing the wicket by batting so far out of the crease?

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3 years ago

NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association

Sydney, Australia

10 Likes
24 Followers

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

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/329/nsw-cricket-umpires-and-scorers-association/blog/324/darren-goodger-the-game-is-about-the-players

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3 years ago

NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association

Sydney, Australia

10 Likes
24 Followers

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”

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/329/nsw-cricket-umpires-and-scorers-association/blog/192/arthur-watson-an-umpire-and-a-gentleman

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3 years ago

Bruce Wood

9 Likes
5 Followers

I am proud to be a member of NSWCUSA, which has to be the most reputable umpiring body outside of MCC Lords. I can still recall the international umpires who presented at my initial NSWCUSA training course in 2002, including Simon Taufel and Darrell Hair. There are so many great umpires and people willing to share their experience and advice.
NSWCUSA provides expert training, resources, coaching and feedback, and I have received very good support from Darren Goodger, Claire Polosak, Troy Penman and Bede Sajowitz. As mentioned above, I am the Umpires’ Co-ordinator for the Associated Schools of NSW (CAS), and we are formally affiliated with NSWCUSA.
Arthur Watson has also been a wonderful colleague and source of umpiring guidance to me over the years, as I’ve been fortunate to partner him on the field about 12 times. Arthur holds the record for the highest number of matches umpired in NSW Premier Cricket. He is a former international umpire, having officiated in three ODI matches involving England, Australia and the West Indies in 1979-80.

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3 years ago

Simon Taufel

Business Coach

Central Coast, NSW, Australia

37 Likes
13 Followers

The advice I would offer an aspiring young umpire is to be patient.
Do the apprenticeship and umpire as many matches as you can. Find a good coach and mentor. Make as many mistakes as you can at the lowest levels and learn quickly (from others). Never worry about matches you should be umpiring, just umpire that match in front of you the best you can and let the selectors take care of everything else. Focus on your game and what you can do – above all, enjoy it or find something else to be passionate about.

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3 years ago

Wayne Holdsworth

Business Development Manager

Sydney, Australia

17 Likes
2 Followers

In relation to the Mankad issue and its increased regularity especially in T20 cricket.
Bowlers are penalised for going 1mm over the crease for a no ball and it cost the team one run plus a free hit which could mean the penalty is 7 runs if the free hit is hit for 6. Bowlers are also penalised if they’re stray outside the markers and the ball is called a wide and it could also cost their team 7 runs if the additional bowl is hit for 6. That’s all fine because it’s in the rules.
The Mankad is in the rules but it’s not a good look and creates tension amongst the players so with all the technology involved in the game what if a penalty is introduced to the batting team if the batter leaves the crease before the ball is bowled.
The technology and penalty take the pressure off the bowlers and the umpires and like the bowler’s penalties means the batters have to stick to the rules of the game.
Is 2 or 3 runs too much of a penalty, keen to get your thoughts.

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3 years ago

James Knight

Founder

Canberra, ACT, Australia

17 Likes
8 Followers

Can anyone tell me what the protocols are for head-knocks in junior cricket? I witnessed an incident on the weekend when a young boy was hit in the helmet by a fast bowler. Thankfully, he appeared to be be okay. However, no one knew for certain what to do. On further digging, we found some guidelines from CA, but they were primarily directed at concussion incidents. As the research now suggests, a person doesn't need to be concussed to suffer head trauma.

In the case of children in particular, should there be more stringent guidelines in place to avoid any confusion? EG: If hit in the head or helmet a child should take no further part in the game.

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3 years ago

Max Porter

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

1 Likes
0 Followers

I try and get as close to the stumps as I can when I bowl, and my action means I get close to the umpire. I always ask if the umpire can move back a little, some are ok, but others don’t want to move. Because I get so close if they don’t move it makes me uncomfortable and affects my bowling. My question is shouldn’t they all move back if it helps the bowler?

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3 years ago

Robin Singh

Student

Sydney, Australia

1 Likes
0 Followers

A fast bowler has already received a warning for bowling a ball above the waist and then bowls a wide chest high full toss which the batter cuts for 4. Should it be the 2nd warning and they be not allowed to bowl anymore in the innings, or could it be considered not dangerous as it was wide of the batter and they’re allowed to keep bowling.

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3 years ago

Damien Trott

Student

Melbourne, Australia

49 Likes
7 Followers

I hear people talk about the spirit of cricket and would say it means different things to different people.
I’d like to ask what in your opinion is the spirit of cricket?

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3 years ago

Allan Pike

2 Likes
0 Followers

In a game on the weekend the batsman went to play a cut shot off our spinner and their bat hit the wickets keepers’ glove on two occasions. He hit the ball but for no runs. The keeper impacted the shot so should it be a no ball, dead ball or just part of the game?

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3 years ago

Peter Chambers

2 Likes
0 Followers

Rule changes.
1. I have never understood the rule for LBW where the ball must hit the bat in line with the off stump. In most instances we see these days with the DRS the ball is hitting somewhere between middle or clipping leg and hitting off rarely happens due to the angles involved. Surely if the bowler has done enough to beat the bat and the ball is hitting the stumps then it’s out. Pitching outside leg is still not out
2. In T20 get rid of the maximum number of overs and have a simple rule stating five bowlers must bowl. End of story and would make the final overs potentially a lot more exciting where runs must be made against the best bowlers and makes captain decisions and strategy more important . Same for 50 over games where fifth bowler only has to bowl four minimum and no maximum
3. Allow outfield catches where the starting position of the fielder is inside the boundary. We should be encouraging the spectacular catches we are now seeing that finish outside the boundary.

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3 years ago

Joe Ryan

Newcastle, Australia

17 Likes
16 Followers

If a bowler brushes and disrupts the stumps with their hands or legs as they’re in their delivery stride when bowling the ball, it’s now a No Ball and not a Dead Ball. What is the reason behind the change to the laws?

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I hear people talk about the spirit of cricket and would say it means different things to different people.
I’d like to ask what in your opinion is the spirit of cricket?

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In a game on the weekend the batsman went to play a cut shot off our spinner and their bat hit the wickets keepers’ glove on two occasions. He hit the ball but for no runs. The keeper impacted the shot so should it be a no ball, dead ball or just part of the game?

If a bowler brushes and disrupts the stumps with their hands or legs as they’re in their delivery stride when bowling the ball, it’s now a No Ball and not a Dead Ball. What is the reason behind the change to the laws?

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Umpires and Rules

The Preamble - The Spirit of Cricket

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If there was one rule you could change in cricket what would it be?

Partner Sponsors

Partner Sponsors

Partner Sponsors

I hear people talk about the spirit of cricket and would say it means different things to different people.I’d like to ask what in your opinion is the spirit of cricket?

Partner Sponsors

In a game on the weekend the batsman went to play a cut shot off our spinner and their bat hit the wickets keepers’ glove on two occasions. He hit the ball but for no runs. The keeper impacted the shot so should it be a no ball, dead ball or just part of the game?

If a bowler brushes and disrupts the stumps with their hands or legs as they’re in their delivery stride when bowling the ball, it’s now a No Ball and not a Dead Ball. What is the reason behind the change to the laws?

Partner Sponsors

I hear people talk about the spirit of cricket and would say it means different things to different people.
I’d like to ask what in your opinion is the spirit of cricket?