I have had some details about the Oamaru trip confirmed; we leave Dunedin at 08.15 on Sunday and then umpire all day. We stay in a motel, and a thermos is a good idea if we want some hot drinks inside us, and we get $25 for an evening meal, which is better than McDonald's but hardly luxury. We get lunch on both days.
The games are declaration, and so I need to wear white. Which was ironic because I had just put my blue kit in to wash...
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Oamaru
The Under 18 tournament is on in Oamaru this long Labour weekend, and I will be umpiring on Sunday and Monday. As yet, I don't know any of the playing conditions of the game, but I will be able to look it up I hope.
So some progression in my umpiring. I will achieve a goal, that of umpiring different levels and outside Dunedin.
So some progression in my umpiring. I will achieve a goal, that of umpiring different levels and outside Dunedin.
Saturday, 16 October 2010
CD vs KCC
I did not have a great day today, and I feel like the good positive and confident impression that I have generated so far this season has taken a step back.
Things were going pretty well until a batsman, who'd been dominating proceedings, decided to take an aggressive offside line to bat from, and then the very next ball cut back and had him stuck in front. I gave him out LBW and the next couple of players were unimpressed with me since he'd got out at 99 runs. Well, it is not my business if a player is reckless when he has already accumulated a high score.
In a way this preyed on my mind, since I felt that side would give me a bad rating. THen I gave a narrow LBW, and with hindsight I should have only given plumb LBWs. The batting side lost too many quick wickets, and I think they blamed me, though my colleague gave out one LBW too, and most of the dismissals were catches.
Late on, I judged a that a wide ball was not, and the non-striking batsman complained that I gave that against his side, and so seemed to suggest some sort of favouritism. Then I missed a leg bye, in that I was answering a question and forgot to signal to the scorers, and while that bothered me, I was asked another question about the powerplay. I'd forgotten to note down when the powerplay was taken, and so did not know when it ended. Careless!
So I need to get on top of things next week.
It was also a cold day; I kept hoping the weather would warm up, but it stayed cold, and that affected my concentration.
Still, another game, more expereince, and more practice.
Things were going pretty well until a batsman, who'd been dominating proceedings, decided to take an aggressive offside line to bat from, and then the very next ball cut back and had him stuck in front. I gave him out LBW and the next couple of players were unimpressed with me since he'd got out at 99 runs. Well, it is not my business if a player is reckless when he has already accumulated a high score.
In a way this preyed on my mind, since I felt that side would give me a bad rating. THen I gave a narrow LBW, and with hindsight I should have only given plumb LBWs. The batting side lost too many quick wickets, and I think they blamed me, though my colleague gave out one LBW too, and most of the dismissals were catches.
Late on, I judged a that a wide ball was not, and the non-striking batsman complained that I gave that against his side, and so seemed to suggest some sort of favouritism. Then I missed a leg bye, in that I was answering a question and forgot to signal to the scorers, and while that bothered me, I was asked another question about the powerplay. I'd forgotten to note down when the powerplay was taken, and so did not know when it ended. Careless!
So I need to get on top of things next week.
It was also a cold day; I kept hoping the weather would warm up, but it stayed cold, and that affected my concentration.
Still, another game, more expereince, and more practice.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Regular meeting
The bi-weekly (every two weeks) meeting of umpires went well. I was a little late because I ate supper late, and leisurely and chatted to my beloved, then realised I had to be away.
The grading of umpires by captains came up, and it was almost amusing to see the look on one very experienced umpire's face when he got grades of five and six out of ten.
I was complimented that I did well by the observer, which was good to hear. We were also told that we are unlikely to get games outside Otago if we are over 45, which is me. Oh well.
Still, a game on Saturday and then on Sunday I will watch my son play. I guess I might as well watch from the middle.
The grading of umpires by captains came up, and it was almost amusing to see the look on one very experienced umpire's face when he got grades of five and six out of ten.
I was complimented that I did well by the observer, which was good to hear. We were also told that we are unlikely to get games outside Otago if we are over 45, which is me. Oh well.
Still, a game on Saturday and then on Sunday I will watch my son play. I guess I might as well watch from the middle.
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Cancelled game
I forgot to post that the women's game I was supposed to umpire was cancelled. So when will I learn if I can make 23 women happy in one day?
Country vs Town
Were there any particular problems in this game? Well, I didn't think so. I was sure about the LBW that a player asked me about, and in other points I gave a caught behind that was pretty guaranteed. In the first innings I gave the LBW that I already mentioned, and which the player asked later, at the innings break, where I thought it had hit.
I was then very circumspect, as I thought that perhaps I was concentrating on line, but not paying enough attention to height. But the Otago Country innings opened with an LBW appeal early on, and it was so plumb I gave it. I wonder if Green Island thought I was an easy umpire, because they then appealed for half a dozen chances, which I gave not out. When I mentioned this to my other umpire, he said that it was perhaps a game, to see who could appeal the fastest and most enthusiastically. I did not mind it, as I was sure that the ball was going down leg side.
Funnily enough, at the end of the game, someone said, 'good decisions' to me, though I don't know if it was ironic, or a mickey-take, or to tease the guy who had complained...
I was then very circumspect, as I thought that perhaps I was concentrating on line, but not paying enough attention to height. But the Otago Country innings opened with an LBW appeal early on, and it was so plumb I gave it. I wonder if Green Island thought I was an easy umpire, because they then appealed for half a dozen chances, which I gave not out. When I mentioned this to my other umpire, he said that it was perhaps a game, to see who could appeal the fastest and most enthusiastically. I did not mind it, as I was sure that the ball was going down leg side.
Funnily enough, at the end of the game, someone said, 'good decisions' to me, though I don't know if it was ironic, or a mickey-take, or to tease the guy who had complained...
2nd Senior Game
My second senior game of the season was between Otago Country and Green Island, and it ended with a fairly convincing victory for Green Island. One player said that I'd given him out LBW when it hit him on the thigh pad, but I am still sure, and my square leg umpire backed me up, that it was the right height.
I will add more to this, but I have to go and umpire another game. Unfortunately it is pouring with rain and a cold southerly is predicted to bring weather havoc to the South Island, so I don't think there will be a game!
Two senior games so far...
I will add more to this, but I have to go and umpire another game. Unfortunately it is pouring with rain and a cold southerly is predicted to bring weather havoc to the South Island, so I don't think there will be a game!
Two senior games so far...
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