Umpiring crisis hitting Southern Premier League

The Southern Electric Premier Cricket League is facing a shortage of qualified umpires barely a week into the new season.

Roy Harrison, appointments secretary of the South Coast Panel of Umpires who officiate Premier League matches, has told clubs that there are only four Saturdays during the 18-week season that he has enough officials to go round.

In total, the Premier League is 36 umpiring appointments short over the course of the season.

Speaking in the Premier League's new handbook, chairman Alan Bundy reckons there is a twofold reason for the shortage of officials.

"Many umpires no longer enjoy the role due to the adversarial nature of the game today.

"They have to put up with excessive appealing, players forever questioning decisions and, in some instances, cheating," he points out.

"Secondly, there are an unsufficient number of ex-players wishing to become umpires, resulting in a lack of new blood joining the South Coast Panel."

Bundy, a regular official on the Second XI Championship and Minor Counties circuit until this season, has reminded players that the umpires are there to enjoy the game as much as the players themselves.

"If players adhered to the Spirit of the Game, everyone would enjoy the game that much more," he added.

Bundy is urging clubs to persuade one ex-player every season to take up a winter's umpiring course and get themselves suitably qualified to officiate in Premier League matches.

"If every club did this, our problem would be solved inside two years," he said.