Shires Cricket

 I need a break from all this awful news.

I umpired in shires cricket for some time. I also played cricket in Shires ( where I took three hatricks!)

CricketNSW announced without notice they would no longer pay for the umpires in Shires cricket. The clubs now have to find the money.  They have agreed to pay for two umpires in 1st and 2nd grade but only one umpire in 3rd and 4th grade.

This will mean the clubs will have to find an extrav $15k this coming season. At least three clubs are in financial difficulty because of this so the future is uncertain.

There are a number of points to make.

1. How come cricketNSW did not have a transition period for this action. Let us say it cost $250k each season for umpires. I do not know! They could have reduced the payment to $125k this season and then $75k the next season. Their action merely heightens concerns they are facing financial problems.
2. Having merely one person to umpire some games will be very hard for those umpires. I had to umpire a match on the second day by myself because my partner had a stroke. It was an easy match as it was a strong side against a weak side and both sides were well behaved BUT I was mentally exhausted when the match ended and that was 5 or 6 years ago.
3. The rules will have to be changed when there is only one umpire. The umpire must be able to overrule the square leg if he believes the wrong decision was made as occurs on sunday.
4. The Shires umpire association will lose members. Over time the  premium  paid to umpires in Shires will reduce compared to local associations. Umpires will go to local competitions because of this.
5. If any clubs fold then shires will lose the grounds for good. either the local associations will claim them or the councils will get rid of the turf pitches as they are costly to maintain.

I ended umpiring at the right time.