The pressures of modern life are such that people are becoming busier and having less time for leisure (with demands of work, trading hours and family). Historically cricket has been a male activity, primarily discharged on a Saturday “as of right”. The modern family situation has changed all that, parents looking to have equal share of a leisure day off and sharing the parenting role. Increased pressure to succeed/survive, together with increased expectation of being rewarded financially for ones effort has placed huge pressure on the voluntary sector.
Declining respect for authority and the spirit and traditions of the game has necessitated formal intervention (Code of Conduct). Players rarely acknowledge that the game is for all to enjoy not just them. Sporting activities on offer for young people in the past was limited – today the range is vast and can often be discharged from the home or couch (video games, etc). Who in their right mind wants to open the batting in a two day game with the prospect of being out early on day one of a club game thereby waste two days of weekend activity? When there’s surf, skateboarding, girls, etc which in most cases is considered more fun.
So for the past five years and the future, an increasing recognition to offer “substantial” financial reward to attract and retain umpires beyond the level of the leisure umpire – so called professionalism – preferably involving former players. Increased sophistication in the use of technology for televised games has placed Umpires under greater scrutiny, in some cases intolerable scrutiny. Players and commentators are rarely genuine when they remark that “umpiring is a thankless task”. In my view too many who are connected to the game take the availability of umpires for granted.
Under-19 Cricket World Cup
For the first time the event was hosted by an Associate Member country and Malaysia had that honour and a chance for its people to see the stars of the future. I was fortunate to be selected to officiate at the tournament and must say I had a very enjoyable time. The first part was split into four sections with two of them in Kuala Lumpur, one in Johor and the other in Penang. The two highest placed teams from each section going onto play in the super league and the other two playing in the plate section. Getting down to the quarter finals in the super league, New Zealand played India and were stretched to the limit with Corey Anderson and Tim Southee featuring and maybe a couple of catches may have changed the result for the Kiwis. In the other semi, Pakistan who were going for their third consecutive world cup win, were pipped by South Africa. The only fortunate thing for me with the Kiwis being beaten was that it allowed me to be selected to officiate in the India vs South Africa final which was a huge honour and for Umpires in New Zealand. In the final, India struggled to 159 all out and with South Africa losing three early wickets before the rain interruption left them a total of 115 in 25 overs, (DL) only to be 103/8. Probably a worthy victory as India remained unbeaten throughout. Looking back I think any of the four semi finalists could have won the event and I believe New Zealand had a much better build up and preparation hence their results. Overall the tournament was very well organised and all the comments were very positive which must have been pleasing for the organisers.