'Javelin is just like watching for a no ball'
In an interview with Jonathan Millmow for the Dominion Post, Fred Goodall, the former New Zealand umpire, reflects on the most difficult decisions he had to make in his career
14-Sep-2013
Fred Goodall, the former New Zealand umpire who stood in 24 Tests and 15 ODIs between 1965 and 1988, has since taken his officiating skills to a different arena- the Javelin circle. In an interview with Jonathan Millmow for the Dominion Post, the 75-year-old reflects on his infamous encounter with West Indies in 1980 when he was shoulder-charged by Colin Craft, his javelin career, Richard Hadlee's 300th wicket, and the most difficult decisions he had to make on the cricket pitch.
While on numbers, I ask him about Richard Hadlee's 300th wicket. Conspiracy theorists reckon Goodall wanted to be part of history when he raised his finger for an eternity to adjudge Allan Border leg before wicket. "Paddles said to me 'I had (Geoff) Marsh out earlier in the morning and you didn't give it'. "I can see now 'that bloody Goodall has put his finger up because he wants to be in on the act of being part of the 300th wicket for Paddles'. "He autographed that photo of me, appealing to me and me doing that. I can see the point you are making. 'Ah bloody Goodall getting in on the act'." Border wasn't his most controversial call. That came years earlier at Hagley Oval when he gave Walter Hadlee out in a club game. "The day I gave Walter Hadlee out on Hagley Oval the whole four matches all stopped. "No umpire had the guts to give him out. I was a West Coaster. Ten minutes later was afternoon tea and all the umpires from all the games gathered together and I got lectured by them. 'You must be 100 percent certain'. I was 100 percent certain."