Game 1

My first game of the 2010/2011 season and it was not too bad. On the plus side, I was authoritative with my voice and I think that leads to confidence. I used my second ball counter well and got in to a routine with one counter in my left hand and the other in my right. I liked the old counter which has the little levers to push down because I could physically feel the count.

Errors; I got the no-balls right, though a few close ones could have gone either way. My first error was when I did not see a ball that hit a guy's foot, bounced up and then hit his helmet. I saw it as a full toss that was at the body and called it as a no-ball, which it wasn't. Or it was, but at the foot not the body.
My second error was in positioning. I'd just had the thought that my positioning was pretty good, when a ball was hit straight up and on the off side, so I sprinted to that side to see the catch. I glanced up to see that I had the trajectory wrong and I was almost under the ball, so I ran back to my original position where I was able to see the catch being dropped. Would the guy have caught it if he did not have to look at me? Who knows.

All in all, an ok first game. But I need to spot things like full tosses and understand what is happening better.
Game 1 of 24.

Aussis School

The first game of the season. I have my black trousers, I have my long johns on, I have my hat, my sunscreen, the over counter, the ball counter, notebook, jacket, shirt, tie.
A game between King's School Dunedin and Downlands College, Brisbane. So my first international!
A full report later.

New Rules

The MCC rules for playing were given out to us yesterday, and there were a couple of changes. Most are unlikely to influence club cricket or the level of cricket that I umpire, but one rule is that the bowler cannot go over an imaginary line that runs from middle stump to middle stump. Only a few bowlers can even do this, but it is one to watch for.

I hope to be able to umpire quite a bit this summer, and have my gear ready. I was even given an old over counter that my dad used to use. And my sons gave me some bowler's markers which I must put my name on.

Goals

We had the New Zealand Cricket Umpires and Scorers' Association Conference yesterday, and I was very glad to go to it.
One suggestion is that we work out goals for the season, and so I think I will make a start on them. First I would like to get more varied umpiring and a good amount of umpiring, so I think my target should be four games per month, which would suggest 24 games in total. I also want to vary, and so if at least one game per month can be representative and/or outside Dunedin then that would be good. So let's say six representative games and three games outside Dunedin. This is not very much, but it does imply driving to Queenstown or to Oamaru or even Southland...

At the end of the year I should also aim to take an exam so that I can qualify at a higher level. An exam implies studying and so I ought to read through the umpires' handbook. I am not sure what level I am, and so I had better check with JH and the DCA. Still, at the end of the season I ought to be able to take the exam for the next level.

In terms of onfield activity, I ought to try to make sure I am more precise, confident and clear. I should also note after the games events and so on, with the purpose of ensuring greater familiarity with teams and players so that I can call them by name and identify players, which will help discipline.
There is the adage to remember; plan, prepare, perform.

So I need to keep a journal of the games that I umpire.

In summary; 24 games, six representative, three outside Dunedin, the higher exam, notes and organisation.

AGM

Last night was the AGM of the Dunedin Cricket Umpires and Scorers' Association, and it was ok. I did not volunteer for any positions as I think that others know much more than I do and they have a lot more of the necessary knowledge.
The best part was that at the end one umpire handed out some free kit that he had, so I got a shirt with ICC Umpire and sponsored by Fly Emirates. Cool!

SA vs WI

South Africa seem to be doing well against the West Indies. I can't help but think how artificial the WI is; it is not one country but a number of competing nations.

Oh, and Ireland played well but not well enough against Australia on their tour of England (and Ireland obviously!).

Cricket

A small comment on cricket; England beat Bangladesh, as would be expected. I would be disappointed with anything less than a clear victory.
And I have lots of my Wisden to read.