Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

Sticky Wicket 2016 Presentation Night Edition Newsletter of the South Australian Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association Established 1911

2015/16 Seasonal Celebration Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

Your Umpires & Scorers Association SACUSA Committee - Main Contacts

SACA

President: Craig Thomas

0434 165 310

Umpiring & Coaching Manager: Neil Poulton 0416 623 518 or 8300 3211 npoulton@saca.com.au

Vice President: Tony Trist

0408 828 129

Secretary: Michial Farrow

0435 872 215 secsacusa@hotmail.com

Umpiring Coordinator: Sarah Fry (appointments, availabilities, reports, votes and match coaches) 8300 3212 sfry@saca.com.au

0418 317 856

SACA Information Line (including details relating to inclement weather) 1900 950 598

Treasurer: Lynton Donisthorpe Patron: Neil Dansie OAM

Sticky Wicket Editor Kristen Thomas 0414 326 978 cricketwidow@y7mail.com

facebook.com/sacricketumpiresandscorers

@SACAUmpires

Contents From the President ............................................................................................................... 3 A Coach’s View....................................................................................................................... 5 2016/17 Season Launch ........................................................................................................ 6 Raffle Prizes ............................................................................................................................ 7 Silent Auction ....................................................................................................................... 10 Umpire Award Biographies............................................................................................. .12 Buckett Hammond Award Biography…………………………………………………………….16

COVER PHOTO: “Season of SACUSA” - the movie trailer created to promote our Presentation Night, is a bit of fun that can be seen on our Facebook page. Feel free to make suggestions throughout the season regarding what you’d like to see your Association provide. Email details to cricketwidow@y7mail.com or speak with a member of the Executive Committee.

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

From the President

This is the final column I’ll write as your President, and although I can honestly say that it has been a privilege to serve the membership in this role for the last two seasons, I also have to admit that I’m pretty tuckered out and am ready to pass the baton to whoever our membership votes as the incumbent.

Reflecting on the 2015-16 season, as well as my whole two year tenure, I can see that a lot has happened in our Association, and I expect that to continue. Although I believe that we saw a slight reduction in meeting attendances this season, overall I feel that SACUSA is strongly placed to build up its relevancy to SACA umpires and scorers over the next couple of years. Stanton Cup continued with increasing enthusiasm from both sides, and I’d like to tender my congratulations again to Doug French and his team at ATCUSA for increasing its competitiveness and taking out the honours in 2016. Our colleagues at Adelaide Turf have thrown down the glove and challenged us to improve, so keep your eyes peeled for another fixture later this year - one which we’ll use as a tryout for 2017’s Crockett Shield team.

Speaking of Crockett Shield - though true that it was lost to Victoria during my presidency, the reality is that the ties between SACUSA and our friends at VCAUSA are stronger than ever. Social media now allows all members to connect and interact between the biennial fixtures. Players and partners, supporters and officials have found, over the last year since we parted ways in Glen Waverley, that keeping up with each others lives is

easier than ever. The match - which was first played in 1931 - is arguably in its healthiest state since its inception.

SACUSA’s Hall of Fame event in late 2014 was heartily supported by both SACA and Cricket Australia. Guests from across Australia attended, and we will duplicate this at our May 14 Presentation Night when some of the family of the next Hall of Fame inductee, Reg Nelson, fly in from Sydney to see their forefather welcomed to the Hall of Fame fold.

I’d urge you not to underestimate the value of this initiative. Our Hall of Fame - and that of the NSWCUSA - is the first instance of official recognition of the people who are such an intricate part of the game of cricket, but who don’t seek to impose themselves on it. The best of the best should, in my opinion, be noticed and appreciated, even though they don’t seek it. The sustainability of the game of cricket is dependent on, not only a ttra ctin g pl aye rs, b ut a lso attracting officials. This cannot occur if the roles aren’t promoted as legitimate pathways of involvement. The Hall of Fame is serving our beloved game well.

The overall standard of umpiring in all grades is improving in quality, and this is in no small part due to strong performances from a number of umpires who’ve been given a chance to officiate at a higher grade than their panel level stipulates. I wish all SACUSA members the very best with their officiating careers, and look forward to catching up in 201617.

Craig Thomas Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

http://cricketwarehouse.com.au/ 83 Gillies Street, ADELAIDE 8223 1522

facebook.com/BREAD-at-the-Guardian 33b Hasting Street, GLENELG 0429 879 007 Handmade from organic flours and traditional recipes by artisan baker,

Mark Archer Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

by Max Bartlett

In talking with several umpires, umpire coaches and cricketers toward the end of our just completed season of Premier Grade Cricket I thought it would be appropriate to sum up some my thoughts on it. As I am sure most of you will have now had your ‘one on one’ discussions with Neil and reviewed your season’s performance, so will the coaches undergo a very similar process in the coming weeks. How have we performed in our role as sounding boards and advisors to you, the on field umpire?

Did we communicate effectively with you and answer your questions to your satisfaction? How can we better ourselves in our performance?

We like to think that over the past eight seasons under the direction of Neil that we have made large strides forward in providing better feedback to umpires, no longer the secret observations and confidential reports of years gone by. Times have changed in cricket and society dramatically in the past decade.

The demands on umpires to communicate effectively with the participants in the game, namely the players and captains especially, has required the umpire of today to be almost a master in these personal skills. Almost every decision you make is questioned, while in days gone by it was perhaps only one in ten which may have required some sort of explanation. (Perhaps the real generational branding should be ‘Generation Why’!)

While my role has been to work with the Panel 1 umpires, I have been fortunate to observe the Panel 2 members also when they have performed in first grade games. I must

also admit to having a look at the talent coming through, as well as those experienced umpires working at that level, on every occasion I have had the opportunity to be working at multi-ground locations. It is my opinion that umpiring is being well served at premier level in this State. I am genuinely excited by the development and standards that you are achieving in your officiating. The numbers who are keen to improve in all aspects of the game’s management is something which gives me, and I am sure all other coaches, a great sense of satisfaction.

Certainly those Panel 1 and 2 members are now under pressure to maintain their positions in those panels such is the development of the newer umpires coming through. Where we had an average age of well over 50 years in recent years, in Panel 1 it is now coming down to a much more ‘athletic’ age group!

(Hopefully that is an acceptable term!)

In closing I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your enthusiasm, your dedication and your willingness to ever improve in putting your best performance possible on every occasion. A coach’s role also involves a certain amount of ‘public relations’, finding ourselves on almost every ground facing comment from those involved around the perimeter of the game. This season has revealed to me that all of the hard work we have been putting into our development has been worthwhile with a resounding amount of positive feedback from the clubs. Well done, enjoy your off season and hopefully we will see you back again next season equally refreshed and keen to start again.

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

Important Dates Laws Study: Monday 15 August (new umpires only) Laws Study: Monday 22 August Laws Study: Monday 5 September Umpire Seminar: Saturday 17 September (All Umpires) Umpire Seminar: Sunday 18 September (Panel 1 Only) Laws Study: Monday 26 September *Times and venues to be advised at a later date

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

1st prize: Pack of limited edition publications by former Adelaide Oval Museum Curator, Bernard Whimpress, numbered and signed by the author (valued at over $100)

2nd prize: Pack of cricket books by SA authors, Bernard Whimpress & David Jenkins, signed by authors (valued at over $100)

3rd prize: Gunn & Moore mini bat, hand signed by Shane Watson (valued at $100)

4th prize: Goodie basket - lovingly created by SACUSA’s own Nat Williamson (valued at $100)

5th prize: Adelaide Strikers Walk out Polo—old SACA logo (valued at approximately $50)

6th prize: Café Numero Uno $50 gift card 7th prize: Hentley Farm 2015 Shiraz & 2014 The Stray Mongrel (valued at $56)

8th prize: Hentley Farm Blanc de Noir Vintage 2015 & 2015 Riesling (valued at $52)

9th prize: Hentley Farm Poppy 2015 Field Blend & The Rogue 2015 Field Blend (valued at $49)

10th prize: ‘Bread at the Guardian’ collection of various freshly baked breads (valued at over $40)

11th prize: Coverdrive Couriers voucher (valued at $40) 12th prize: Cricket Australia 2013-14 Ashes Tie (valued at $35) 13th prize: St Morris Newsagency lottery tickets (valued at $25)

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

Proud sponsors of SACUSA for many years For all your courier and transport needs give David, Chris or Mick a call on

8346 6600

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

Distinguished South Australian Wines

Proud supporters of SACUSA for many years Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

Du Jour Menu with paired wines for two people at Hentley Farm, Gerald Roberts Road, Seppeltsfield “The Hentley Farm Restaurant has a strong focus on utilising the produce from our unique microclimate on the banks of Greenock Creek, from wildly growing on the property and in the waterways, to our onsite garden beds and the utilisation of our property grown and produced wines. From there we look to showcase the highest quality produce that the Barossa and surrounding regions have to offer.

We do not publish a menu, but cater to any dietary requirements. We pride ourselves on offering a very guest focused experience, connecting diners with the people and the produce of the farm, whilst being both memorable and educational.”

Cricket Memorabilia Autographed by Players 2015/16 Redbacks Sheffield Shield Playing Top Signed by the Redbacks’ Shield Finals Side

Autographed Mini Bat by Australian T20 Team V India 26th January 2016 This match was Travis Head’s T20 international debut

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

The Hotel Grand Chancellor on Hindley Street in Adelaide will play host to our VCAUSA guests during Easter 2017 when we once again contest the coveted Crockett Shield. SACUSA is fortunate enough to have been offered a gift voucher as a Presentation Night Silent Auction item (to be used by 30 November 2016) for overnight accommodation in an Executive Room, including Full Buffet Breakfast for two in Bistro Sixty5.

Why not treat yourself to a night as a guest in your own city?

See bidding sheet on Raffle Table on the night!

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

South Australian Authors, Bernard Whimpress and David Jenkins, have very generously supported the SACUSA Presentation Night in 2016 by donating some of their signed publications.

The NSWCUSA history that David co-authored in 2013 is still available and can be purchased directly from the NSW Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association (http://nswcusa.nsw.cricket.com.au/).

Many of Bernard’s publications are available for purchase. Please contact Kristen Thomas at cricketwidow@y7mail.com for further purchase details of particular books if you are interested. Prices range from $25 to $40 for the selection showcased in our raffle prizes.

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition

Sticky Wicket - 2016 Presentation Night Edition