Premier Grade

During December I was able to umpire a few senior grade games, and I enjoyed them, though they were long days!

School cricket

I have now umpired a couple of cricket games and I have enjoyed the experience. The team has not won much, but it has been good.

We won the warm-up game against the school development team (ie the colts team), but then lost to OBHS and to KHS in the league. That was followed by another loss, this time to the school development team. Still, we have played quite well, we just need to put up more runs, catch a few more catches, and get a few more wickets!

Good news was that my son played one game. He was kind of bored, but at least he played a game.

Uni vs others

I have now umpired University Grange in two successive games; first against Albion at the Albion ground, then in Mosgiel where they played against Taieri. The composition of the side was quite different both times, with a team largely made of Otago Volts players one week, and Otago youth representative teams (eg younger age groups). The result was the same both times; a clear victory for the University.

I made a couple of mistakes, but they were not significant. In the first I called a wide for a ball that came dramatically back in; I justified it by pointing out that the bowler was in my line of sight and I saw it heading out wide. In the second game I was perhaps lax on some no-ball decisions, though I don't think anyone noticed. I also missed a ball that pitched and so, when it was at the batsman's chest I should have called it a no-ball, but as I thought it had pitched I didn't call it.

Rain

The first game of the season and I had been told that the team was to meet at 10.30am and the games usually started at 11am. I was little surprised thus to find that the players were already on the field. Still, I took over from Mr MMcK and umpired. It went well. I did not have too many tricky decisions, though I need to check how many bumpers per over at this level.
It was good to get my eye in and to see the wides and the no-balls. It was also good to be active and to move in to position correctly.

The the wind changed, it became colder and the rain set in. I called it off at 12.55, as the rain was hard and cold.

CD and Albion

The game went well, and I think I allowed it to go on, yet was able to take control when there were no-balls and wides. So I was pleased. OPne batsman complained that I had missed a fine inside edge, and I ought to pay attention to that. I thought soon after that the ball was going down leg but narrowly missing, but perhaps that late turn was the bat touching the ball and so guiding it down leg. So a mistake.

I umpired while W McS bowled, and I gave him a warning for one bouncer, but it was not quite high enough, and so he told me that it should not be a warning unless it was above the shoulder. It is not the best look to be corrected by a player, but then again he does play for the Volts and so knows his stuff.

Next weekend I am umpiring with JH. As one team is the one I umpired badly last weekend, I hope to have a good performance.

Still, another game completed.

Albion & CD

Another game tomorrow, and it should be an easier one than last week. I should also check in my mind that I am ready for no-balls, for wides, leg-byes and so on.

So hoping for a good day. And the prediction is for sun...

Oamaru

THe first day at Oamaru was good and the second better, so all in all it was a pleasing tournament to be involved in. I umpired North Otago on both days, so kind of got to see them too much, but I also umpired Southland and Otago Country. Southland, on the first day, had a great fast bowler and he had North Otago hopping around the crease. Southland put up a pretty good score in merely 37 overs, hitting quite hard and perhaps batting recklessly, and then North Otago tried to last out but didn't. I had a fairly easy game with no particular problems though I had to keep thinking of the intervals, as the game was time rather than overs, which is what we play all the time in Dunedin.

At the end of the day I went to the motel with my fellow umpire from Dunedin and we checked into our rooms, which were pretty nice. Then we went out for a pizza in town, and had a beer each.
I slept pretty well but woke up early and read. I was umpring with D.W., who is one of NZ's best umpires on the top panel and so it was a bit scary that I would have to umpire with him, but it worked out well. In about the 4th or 5th over a ball went down the leg side, the batsman touched it, and it was caught by the wicket-keeper. I gave it out on appeal and DW said "good work, he did touch that". So I relaxed, knowing that my first major decision was correct and approved.

The rest of the day was fine, though I forgot about the tea interval and did not call it on time. Still a satisfactory end to three days of cricket umpiring.

Another goal completed; umpiring outside Dunedin.

Country vs Island

I'll be umpiring Otago Country vs Green Island on Saturday, which should be interesting. I don't know if this is Otago Country's first game in the Dunedin league, since I did not see or hear of them playing last weekend. Still, I understand that a number of the players used to play in the Dunedin league so they should be familiar with the situation. The game will be played at Sunnyvale; I don't know if that will be on the artifical or the real grass. I can't actually remember if there is an artificial at Sunnyvale.

Then on Sunday I may umpire a woman's game; Aotea Electric Otago/Southland Womens Competition, and it seems it is a 40 over game starting at 11.30am. I put my hand up when it was offered, but have not heard back. This would hit one of my goals; umpiring different types of cricket.

Should be interesting.