Whatever they're paying Test cricket umpires, it isn't enough

Bat and ball / Andrew Hughes / 12 February 2008 / Leave a Comment

Cricket addict Andrew Hughes wonders why anyone would want to be a cricket umpire when so much is expected of them for so little reward

It used to be said that the umpire's decision was final. But these days, it is just the beginning. After the decision come the interminable replays, the snickometer, 'Hawkeye' analysis, commentator's verdicts, and newspaper opinions. If an umpire is deemed to have made a significant mistake, the orgy of character assassination can last for days and extend to death threats or the burning of effigies. Steve Bucknor was just the latest umpire to go through this trial by media but every single member of the Elite Panel of Umpires have at one time or another been vilified for a mistake or a perceived mistake. Even the current umpire of the year, Simon Taufel, has been on the receiving end. Does this mean that every member of the Elite Panel is incompetent? It seems unlikely. Yet rather than accept that to err is human, the media demands perfection.

The technological genie cannot be persuaded back into the bottle, certainly not by the ICC, who are addicted to television revenues. But neither can they bring themselves to embrace it fully. We are effectively asking our umpires to be judged by technology without their being allowed to use it to help them. Future generations might look back and marvel at what sort of person would ever want to be an umpire in such circumstances. Certainly it appears you need to possess a hide thicker than a rhinoceros. Other essentials on the CV include a Zen-like calmness under pressure, the wisdom of Solomon, an owlish ability to concentrate for extended periods and 20-20 vision.

Ex-pros often talk about the importance of gaining the respect of the players. But no one is ever entirely clear how this is can be achieved. Gone are the days where any authority figure benefited from unconditional deference. Neither is it the case that only the very best players could ever earn respect, as this would severely restrict the pool of available umpires. In fact, since the inception of the Elite Panel in 2002, only one of their number has been a former Test cricketer: Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghathan. The current panel is a mix of ex-first class and club cricketers and two in Bucknor and Billy Doctrove who have never played the game.

Respect is earned, it seems, by umpires who make accurate decisions and don't appear too officious. But every umpire will at some point make a mistake and will from time to time need to exercise their authority. They are, after all, expected to enforce the ICC's rigorous code of behaviour on the field. At the same time, they have to try to retain the good will of both sets of players (many of whom seem under no constraint to behave themselves) with the full knowledge that the ICC won't back them up if they make an honest mistake. It seems that the ideal personality for a modern day umpire is a combination of android, martyr and schoolteacher. Whatever they're paying them, it isn't enough.

Asad Rauf was added to the Elite Panel in 2006 and has quickly built a reputation as a calm, composed and no-nonsense official. He will be taking the field with local umpire Gary Baxter when New Zealand entertain England in the Third One Day International on Friday. Neither Rauf nor Baxter are likely to find themselves under too much pressure from two of the meeker international sides. England on the other hand are most certainly under pressure after a shocking performance on a saggy mattress of a pitch at the Westpac Stadium last Saturday followed by another comprehensive defeat on Tuesday morning.

Some familiar frailties were once again evident, most notably their stodgy batting in the first fifteen overs. They will hope to improve significantly on the quicker, bouncier wicket at Eden Park, Auckland and are currently available at [1.8] in a very immature market. New Zealand meanwhile, look a different side to that which flopped so badly in the Twenty20 games, due mainly to the return of captain Vettori and Jacob Oram and will be looking to wrap up the series as quickly as possible by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead on Thursday morning.

Note: Being a cricket umpire or any professional umpire or referee isn't an easy gig. Last year over in the States the most famous NFL official made a blunder that caused a team to lose a game and for him to receive over 20,000 letters and e-mails deriding him. Ed Hochuli knew he had screwed up but that is part of the game. Graham Poll gave a player three yellow cards before sending someone off in a World Cup game in 2006 arguably costing him the chance of refereeing the final. We can agree it isn't an easy job and fans get on officials back quicker than anyone else. This summer Betfair are doing a special website for The Ashes series where we'll see what the real hard core fans think over at fanvfan.