I think it is six games for Dunedin CA, one game for my son's school, and the two games in Oamaru.
My objectives were 24...
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Saturday 30 Oct
My mind has been on several things in the last week; firstly learning that our child will be a son, and secondly that I have a job interview in a small town at the north of the south island. A big move and a big change.
Still, a game to umpire at the second grade level between University Grange and Otago Boys' High School. The latter won, mostly because UG batted badly, seizing almost every opportunity to get out by slashing wildly at balls. One interesting aspect of the game was that there was a female player, and she was very good; a little slow at bowling, but had the wicket-keeper held on to a catch the OBHS score would have been a lot lower, and when batting she set an example, by being careful yet attacking at loose balls. I didn't think she was good enough for the senior level because her bowling was not quite sharp enough, and her batting needed strength, but I can see why the University 2nd XI is happy to have her!
Early on I missed a leg-bye, but otherwise I think the game went well and I was pleased. Another Dunedin game.
Still, a game to umpire at the second grade level between University Grange and Otago Boys' High School. The latter won, mostly because UG batted badly, seizing almost every opportunity to get out by slashing wildly at balls. One interesting aspect of the game was that there was a female player, and she was very good; a little slow at bowling, but had the wicket-keeper held on to a catch the OBHS score would have been a lot lower, and when batting she set an example, by being careful yet attacking at loose balls. I didn't think she was good enough for the senior level because her bowling was not quite sharp enough, and her batting needed strength, but I can see why the University 2nd XI is happy to have her!
Early on I missed a leg-bye, but otherwise I think the game went well and I was pleased. Another Dunedin game.
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.
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.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Uni Grange and NEV
An interesting day with at least five Otago Volts playing, presumably to gain practice before their season starts.
I'd hoped to see Aaron Redmond bat, since he is an international, but he gave a simple catch to the wicketkeeper on his fourth ball and so starts his season with a duck. I still need to work on my technique, and had difficult decisions to make in relation to run-outs.
It was suggested I need to display more confidence in order to sell the truth of my decision, rather than be nervous when giving someone out. It is just like teaching; the confidence is crucial!
Today I am umpiring in Oamaru, and it will be a two-day game with a stay in a motel.
Still, another of the Dunedin games, and more of my season objectives to come.
I'd hoped to see Aaron Redmond bat, since he is an international, but he gave a simple catch to the wicketkeeper on his fourth ball and so starts his season with a duck. I still need to work on my technique, and had difficult decisions to make in relation to run-outs.
It was suggested I need to display more confidence in order to sell the truth of my decision, rather than be nervous when giving someone out. It is just like teaching; the confidence is crucial!
Today I am umpiring in Oamaru, and it will be a two-day game with a stay in a motel.
Still, another of the Dunedin games, and more of my season objectives to come.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Oamaru II
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...
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...
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.
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