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Referrals and Rugby
By Richard Seeckts last year, at the end of February, No Comments; be the first!
If you think the umpiring referral system is a shambles, have a look at English rugby. For while Daryl Harper spent much of Saturday making a fool of himself and a laughing stock of the ICC’s latest brainwave, the wheels came right off Martin Johnson’s sweet chariot in Dublin.
We can cope with a team losing, all teams’ fortunes wax and wane over time, but the sheer bone-headed stupidity of some England players beggars belief. They seem more intent on perfecting their body checking, tripping and barging techniques than on scoring points. Cynical play, aka cheating, may well be integral in top-flight rugby, but England are not even any good at that. They get caught all the time.
England’s rugby currently offers zero entertainment, zero quality and zero value for money. With Twickenham tickets at £85, one could question the sanity of those still making the trek to the old cabbage patch, unless they keep going in hope of an Erica Roe comeback. Curiously, however, there is still plenty of excellent club rugby to watch at far more reasonable prices.
Rugby makes better use of technology for referee decisions, though. No player involvement, no guessing for the television match official, just a clear question from the on field referee to answer. Cricket could learn something from rugby. On field umpires should be told to ask the third umpire a specific question if he has doubt, and then make his decision. This could relate to any factual information that technology can provide, with the final decision resting with the on field umpire. Mr Harper playing Eeny Meeny Miny Mo cannot be allowed to continue.
No Comments »Darryl Harper on David Shepherd
By Will 5 years ago, at the end of July, 6 Comments »
Fellow umpire Daryl Harper has posted his thoughts on the recently-retired David Shepherd, including this gem:
6 Comments »In August 2000 at The Oval, Courtney Walsh walked out to bat for the final time in a Test match on English soil. He was greeted with a guard of honour from his opponents as he entered the ground in his customary batting position at number eleven. As I stood with Shep and applauded the champion, David recalled that Don Bradman had been given a similar send-off on the same ground, 52 years earlier in his final Test match. As I returned to my position at the bowler’s end, I passed the big West Indian whose eyes were flowing with tears of emotion. I quickly mentioned the Bradman link as Shep had recalled, adding that the Don had made a second ball duck! Courtney threw his head back and vowed to do better than that. The first ball from Domenic Cork passed outside off stump and Walsh flashed at it without getting close. The second delivery was pitched on off stump and Walsh pushed forward with his bat. The ball eluded the wood and cannoned into the front pad, somewhere near the knee roll. It wasn’t a tough decision for me…..Courtney Walsh had emulated Bradman in his final Test innings in England.
Daryl Harper’s thoughts on England and Bangladesh
By Will 5 years ago, mid-June, 1 Comment »
Daryl has an online diary, as has been publicised here before, and has recently and belatedly posted his thoughts on the 2nd Test between England and Bangladesh. No other umpire, that I know of, is doing this – so it’s pretty exciting, and maybe newer/younger umpires might follow Daryl’s lead and even start blogging. That would be awesome. He also has some interesting photos.
1 Comment »Daryl Harper on England v Bangladesh
By Will 5 years ago, at the start of June, No Comments; be the first!
Nice piece by umpire Daryl Harper (as mentioned back here) on the England / Bangladesh Test at Lord’s:
No Comments »It is interesting to note that the ninth wicket partnership between Mashud and Anwar was valued at £186,000. Now that seems a trifle exaggerated but if there had been less than ten overs bowled on the third morning, the paying public would have been due for a full refund of the cost of their tickets. By surviving for 17.2 overs today, only 50% refunds were necessary.
Daryl Harper’s online diary
By Will 5 years ago, at the end of January, 5 Comments »
Literally stumbled across what appears to be umpire Daryl Harper’s online diary, at http://www.cricketump.com/
