Barbados coach wants neutral umpires to be introduced

Barbados coach Roddy Estwick is lamenting the standard of umpiring in the just-concluded West Indies Under-19 championships and the noninclusion of local fast bowler Jason Bennett in a squad picked to train for next year's Youth World Cup in New Zealand.

Speaking shortly after the Barbados team's return from Guyana yesterday morning, a no-nonsense Estwick made no bones about the quality of umpiring that affected the tournament.

The officiating prevented a lot of teams from doing better. The umpiring at some stages was of a very, very poor standard, the Barbados coach said.

We can't continue to have umpiring at this level where it's so poor and substandard. We've got to work on it. If we're looking to move forward, the umpiring has got to move forward with us as well.

It reached a stage where Barbados, dissatisfied with the performance of umpire Joseph Simon in their third round defeat against the Leeward Islands, made a successful request to have him withdrawn from their fourth round match against hosts Guyana.

Only Guyanese officiated in the championships and Estwick suggested that perhaps the time had come for neutral umpires to be introduced at this level.

When the Under-15 tournament was played in Trinidad, they had their home umpires. Now the Under-19s was played in Guyana and they had their home umpires, Estwick said.

Where are you leaving the rest of the Caribbean if only the two countries are getting the experience at that level? he asked.

Barbados enjoyed mixed fortunes in Guyana where they won the limitedovers phase of the competition, but finished fourth in the three-day championship that produced a close finish.

Estwick was also baffled by the non-selection of Bennett in a 20-man West Indies squad to prepare for next January's Youth World Cup.

The former Combermere schoolboy, who is to return to England next week to complete Advanced Level studies at King's School, was by far and away the most outstanding bowler in the limited-overs phase of the competition which Barbados won following their victory over the Windward Islands in Tuesday's final.

In Barbados' three matches, Bennett had a five-wicket haul and also two four-wicket performances.

I am still mystified how Bennett can be left out of the One-Day series. He bowled 25 overs for 86 runs and took 13 wickets at just over three runs per over, Estwick said.

It is unbelievable that you can leave out a player who bowled so well and you are going to play a One-Day tournament in New Zealand. It is just puzzling.