Umpires sidestepping regional cricket’s decline
Published:Thursday | October 5, 2023 | 12:10 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
DESPITE HAVING to watch the ongoing men’s 50-over World Cup from the comfort of homes, the Caribbean still has reason to smile as the pair of Joel Wilson Sir Richie Richardson will be among the group of officials overseeing duties in the tournament and are ranked among the best in the world.
Wilson, long since considered one of the best umpires in the world, will stand in games played in Trinidad and Tobago while Richardson will be match referee in Antigua and Barbuda.
Jamaica-born umpire Chris Taylor hailed the appointment of the pair and believes it should be a proud moment for West Indian umpiring.
“It’s a great moment for West Indies umpiring. Joel at another International tournament is no surprise as he’s one of the 12 elite umpires and also Sir Richie Richardson being one of the elite match referees as well. It was expected, but we must be proud to have two representatives. It is a big deal for West Indies umpiring,” said Taylor.
Taylor also pointed out that Jamaican umpires have been making a mark for themselves, singling out the likes of Patrick Gustard, Jacqueline Williams and Christopher Wright, who have created a name for themselves on the cricketing map.
JAMAICAN REPRESENTATION
“Patrick Gustard has been on the International panel since 2020 and he just recently returned from the men’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final, so that was great representation from Jamaica in the CPL. Also, Jacqueline Williams, who is one of the most decorated female umpires, having done over 100 Internationals, is Jamaican. We also have Christopher Wright, who also recently returned from the CPL and based on statistics, he was on top in terms of percentage decisions until the end of the preliminary round of the tournament,” Taylor explained.
Taylor, who is a member of the first-class elite regional panel and the youngest Jamaican to be promoted to the senior panel, believes the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic helped to change the way in which umpires were trained and added that as a career, it’s more lucrative now.
“The COVID-19 was a blessing in disguise, as we had to switch to online training and that changed the way in which umpires were trained and got information across. Umpiring is lucrative and that is where the broader scope of umpiring is moving towards and you’re seeing that in a lot of territories around the world,” he added.
Still, Taylor believes that a lack of cricket in Jamaica could deter umpiring aspirants and make it difficult for current ones to progress. The fix, as far as the umpires go, comes through continuous training. Continuous training, Taylor believes could help to ensure that whenever chances arise, umpires are ready to take them.
“Limited matches mean limited opportunities for both umpires and players. But the more training you have means the more the chances of educating persons about the umpiring landscape and what is required. So, when the opportunities arise, people are ready.”