Ireland Umpires Association - Newsletter Sep 1994

Leinster Cricket Umpires` Association NEWSLETTER 71 - September 1994

The season of 1994 draws to a close and will perhaps be most memorable for the wrong reasons - horrible weather for the first half and too much talk of poor behaviour on the field of play. In relation to bad behaviour, perhaps we should consider seriously what our role should be. Certainly it now appears obvious that the clubs are not inclined to take action on their own initiative against senior players who transgress. It has been suggested in the press that players, LCU officials and umpires should get together to formulate an agreed course of action and the Association has asked the Leinster Cricket Union to initiate such a discussion.

EXECUTIVE NOTES

UMPIRES` EXPENSES. It is likely that there may be considerable delays in payment of umpires` expenses because of difficulty in the Leinster Cricket Union. This not unfamiliar story is despite the additional detailed information which has been promptly supplied by the Appointments Committee. Umpires with particular difficulties are asked to contact the Association`s Hon. Treasurer, Robert Mac Clancy (Tel. [H] 286 2862).

UMPIRING EXCHANGES. The weekend of 20th-21st saw the final part of the umpiring exchanges for this year. Denis Ryan and Peter Barry made the first visit of Munster umpires to Leinster, outside the interprovincial series. Both got in two games over the weekend. Let`s hope that this sees the establishment of a regular series of exchanges between the Muster Cricket Umpires` Association and the LCUA. On the same weekend, four LCUA umpires went to Belfast and were involved in two tight finishes and two very one-sided matches, one of which went the distance and finished in the dark and rain.

John Behan and Alan Tuffery joined Dermot Condon (NWCUA) and Peter Barry (MCUA) in umpiring the two Midland Cup finals which were held on 13th August at Portlaoise`s ground. The recently-upgraded facilities were excellent and having two matches on at the same time made for a great day out.

TRAINING

SCORERS` COURSE. The course will begin at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday 13th October, in the Department of Physiology, Trinity College. There will be about six sessions and an opportunity to sit the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers` Standard Examination. This course will only run if there is a minimum of six participants.

UMPIRES` COURSE. Begins at 8 pm. on Tuesday, 10th January in the Cricket Bar of Clontarf Cricket Club. Note that the day of the week has been changed to facilitate those who have found Thursdays inconvenient in the past. The structure will be the same as in previous years; the first six weeks for all comers and a second six weeks or so for those who want to attempt the ACU&S`s Written Examination. Experienced umpires are welcome to attend and indeed to participate formally in the teaching of the course.

Anyone intending to participate in either course or who wants further information should contact the Training Officer, Alan Tuffery (Tel. [H] 848 0941), well in advance.

PUZZLER You call and signal `no ball`. The striker plays no shot and the ball bounces off his pads and runs down to deep fine leg and the batsmen set off for two runs. What should you do? What would you do if the ball crosses the boundary? What should be the entry in the scorebook?

PUZZLER - SOME THOUGHTS You should call and signal `dead ball` as soon as the batsmen have completed one run. The leg-bye is illegal and must be disallowed. If the ball crosses the boundary before they have completed the first run, call and signal `dead ball`. In any event the penalty for the no ball will stand. It will be necessary to repeat the signal of no ball, followed by the bye signal to indicate to the scorer that the runs are to be scored as no ball extras. The batsmen must be returned to their original ends (Law 26.3).

LAW AND PRACTICE Talking of disallowing leg-byes, Law 26.3 also says that the umpire should call and signal `dead ball` when it is clear that the batsmen are not attempting to run. Usually in this situation it is obvious that the batsmen are not attempting the run and the ball is in a fielder`s hands so it may be unnecessary to call `dead ball`. Sometime it may be necessary to call and signal `dead ball` because the ball is not dead and clearly will not reach the boundary. Presumably the intention of the law is to avoid any developments such as an attempted run out. A fielder might also be grateful for being saved a desperate sprint (and possible injury) in an unnecessary attempt to retrieve the ball.

BEAMERS. The June edition of How`s That? gave some useful clarifications of the revised law on `beamers` (properly `fast high full pitches`). It rightly concentrates on the definition of `fast` as perhaps the most difficult element - it is pretty obvious whether it is high (`above waist height of the batsman standing upright at the crease`) or a full pitch. `Fast` must be judged within the context of the game, and the article suggests that an isolated faster ball may be considered as fast for the purposes of this law. This is always provided that it is at least above medium pace.

The area that had previously caused confusion - even within the pages of How`s That? - is the line of the delivery. Within the terms of the law the direction is immaterial. Even if the ball is wide, it should still be called a no ball under this provision (and the bowler warned). As the article says those who want to ignore a ball which is not near the striker `are still thinking in terms of danger or intimidation`, rather than the law as it is now framed.

The view of the role of the two umpires coincides pretty well with that worked out by our own association: namely that the bowler`s end umpire retains primary responsibility but the striker`s end umpire may be better placed to judge the height. The article points out that if the latter does call, any confusion will be sorted out by the mandatory warning procedure which is the function of the bowler`s end umpire. The piece concludes ` ... co-operation between the two members of this particular team has always been regarded as an essential part of good umpiring practice.`

GEMS Apparently an expert television commentator recently castigated an umpire in an international for following the no ball signal by the bye signal when the ball had clearly come off the batsman`s pad. The signal is purely to indicate that the runs are no-ball extras and not to be credited to the batsman. (One incensed NI- CUA umpire was frustrated in his attempts to get through to the commentary box to protest against the commentator`s traducing the umpire.)

Press reports and uninvolved third parties have an account of two players (both Australian professionals) being suspended for life from England`s Northern League for repeated and persistent dissent and abuse of umpires. Apparently in one match both umpires left the field and refused to continue with the player on the field. The captain, supported by club officials, ordered the offending player from the field.

Newsletter edited by Alan R. Tuffery - Tel. (H) 848-0941 atuffery@tcd.ie