United States catching Up In Cricket, says Hammy Reid (31 Aug 1998)

31 August 1998

United States catching Up In Cricket, says Hammy Reid

by Sherrylyn Clarke

Cricket in the United States is not so far behind that in the Caribbean, says Hammy Reid, one of four recently qualified international umpires in the United States of America Cricket Umpires Association (USACUA).

"Some people seem to think that because cricket is played in America that the standard is automatically low, but that is not so," said Reid.

The former Rock Hall, St. Thomas resident left Barbados more than 30 years agofor England, where he played "a little cricket" for Catford Bus Garage as an opening batsman and wicketkeeper for 20 years.

In 1985 he went to the Unites States and played for the Somerset Sports Club, before his focus shifted.

"I decided to start umpiring because I had a knee injury and did not want to aggravate it."

That began the long process of being recognised as a qualified international umpire.

Along with Jamaicans Ivor Stephens, Irvine Porter and another Barbadian, Vernon Nesfield, he became one of the first four in the Eastern League.

The USACUA was formed in 1992, and anyone who wants to become qualified has a series of seminars and exams, ending with the West Indies Oral and Practical. Their association is affiliated to the West Indies Cricket Board.

Cricket in the United States is organised into four zones and five leagues. Within this league of 14 teams is the Red Stripe Competition between Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, the Leewards and Pakistan.

Players from each league are sent to trials from which a national team is chosen.

"I am sure that the United States national team will give a good account of themselves when they come to the Caribbean."

The team is training in California, and they will play in the 1998 Red Stripe Cricket Bowl in October.

But the sport also has some of the problems that local and regional teams experience.

"A few young ones are coming into cricket, but not as many as we would like. They are West Indians and not Americans, but if we can get into the schools, I think it will increase."

Reid was the first umpire from the USACUA to go to the International Cricket Competition (ICC) tournament in Malaysia last year.

"It was a challenge officiating, but I did very well up to the quarterfinals, the highest level that a local umpire could have gone."

"I also received a favourable report from the ICC," he said proudly.

Reid is now looking forward to umpiring at a higher level.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)