Sticky Wicket - October 2016

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

Our great match with Blind Cricket SA is not far away!

SACUSA members support exciting new cricket markets from Adelaide to China!

How important is your

VOTE? Sticky Wicket—October 2016 Edition

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Contents September 2016

3

From the President

4

Does your vote make a difference?

6

Graham’s Gags

7

What is the ‘Energiser Over’ ?

8

Update on one of our most admired leaders

9

International Appointments !

11

Events Calendar

facebook.com/sacricketumpiresandscorers

@SACAUmpires

SACA Umpiring & Coaching Manager Neil Poulton 0416 623 518 or 8300 3211 npoulton@saca.com.au Umpiring Coordinator Sarah Fry (appointments, availabilities, reports, votes and match coaches) 8300 3212 sfry@saca.com.au SACA Information Line (including details relating to inclement weather) 1900 950 598

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

SACUSA Committee Main Contacts President Tony Trist 0408 828 129 Vice President Edward Branson 0448 689 976 Secretary: Michial Farrow 0435 872 215 secsacusa@hotmail.com Treasurer: Lynton Donisthorpe 0418 317 856

Patron Neil Dansie OAM

COVER PHOTO: The Bradman Medal is a longstanding SACUSA initiative of which we are very proud. The Medal itself - and all other awards made along with it - are very highly regarded by SA’s cricket community.

Umpires are charged with completing this important activity and this month we discuss the process.

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From the President October swings around again, and with it comes the start of the 2016/17 SACA Premier Cricket season. Adelaide and Suburban, Adelaide Turf, Para Districts and Hills Cricket Associations, among others across SA, begin their competitions this month too, and also have all opted to have as many of their umpire appointments as possible administered by SACA. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all South Australian officials - both those who’ve been umpiring or scoring for many seasons, as well as new officials standing in or scoring their first match the best of luck for the coming season.

While September saw the commencement of the SACA West End Redbacks League conducted in both Adelaide and Darwin, the October leg of the contest has continued only in SA. Umpires Allan Coulthard, Kumar Chandrakumar, Luke Uthenwoldt and Michael Williamson all received appointments to some Darwin f i xt u r e s , and I extend my congratulations to them all.

Adrian Drosd, Bill Marshall, Bruce Stribley, Cain Kemp, Craig Thomas, Jeff King, Lynton Donisthorpe and Snehal Patel all stood in Redbacks League matches in Adelaide, and I offer congratulatory sentiments to them as well. While true that this competition offers a wealth of opportunities to South Australian players, the same is equally valid

for South Australian officials.

Additional competitions to the regular fixtures (such as Redbacks League is) are a welcome way in which to expand opportunities for all roles in the game.

In closing, I would like to say ‘thank you’ to Neil Poulton and his team for creating another Umpiring Seminar during preseason. I was unable to attend but have heard that it was a great success. Well done also to the Panel 1 guys who contributed to the planning and execution of the seminar. It was a fantastic way to kick off a new season which I hope will be filled with positivity, social interaction, and useful instruction to support your cricket officiating experience.

The first social event (outside of the monthly General Meetings which we hold at Woodville Oval) is our ‘Night at the Dogs’ on October 27. Our Social Convenor, Terry Murch, has very kindly agreed to organise this for us, and should be contacted to confirm your attendance if you’re going to be joining us. Further details can be found in this issue of Sticky Wicket.

Here’s hoping that the torrential rain we’ve been experiencing over the last few weeks is over and ready to let us get on with the game!

SACUSA President,

Tony Trist Sticky Wicket—October 2016 Edition

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Does your vote make a difference?

State Panel member, and immediate SACUSA Past President, Craig Thomas, discusses with Sticky Wicket the importance of voting and the consequences of performing it incorrectly.

Some of our members may be aware that there was an issue in one of the awards presented at last season’s Bradman Medal presentation. While it has been rectified and dealt with in cooperation with the clubs involved, it is timely to reflect on the correct procedures for all award voting so that the awards made at the end of the 2016/17 season are accurate and beyond reproach.

SACA umpires should all be aware that the votes they cast in all of the award categories are vitally important and affect the final outcome. As such, concerted attention should be paid during the electronic voting process made during the completion of the online match reporting post-game. For many umpires, this is done in the evening immediately after the match has finished, and at a time when the umpire may be understandably tired. However, this doesn’t diminish the necessity for the voting to be undertaken accurately - our Association’s umpires have always endorsed the public recognition of each season’s best achievers, and this means that it is important that our voting is correct and deliberate.

The following wording regarding the voting process for the awards made annually at the Bradman Medal presentation is taken completely from the SACA Premier Cricket By-Laws, which can be found online at http:// premiercricket.sa.cricket.com.au/files/25/files/Bylaws/SACA%20Premier% 20Cricket%20Bylaws%202017%20Final.pdf : C.W. Walker Memorial Trophies A trophy shall be awarded annually for wicket-keeping performances in each of the 1st Grade and the U16 and U14 competitions. Each umpire in these matches has available ten (10) votes for each wicket-keeper, these votes to be allotted for the performance of the wicket-keepers in that match. A score between zero (0) and ten (10) must be allotted to each wicket-keeper. Where a team uses more than one (1) wicket-keeper, umpires should allot their votes to the wicket-keeper who keeps wickets for that team during the majority of that match, or, when necessary, should apportion the votes such that wicket-keepers of a team are collectively receiving a score out of ten (10).

Talbot Smith Fielding Trophy Umpires in 1st Grade matches must each lodge with the Competitions Coordinator within seventy-two (72) hours after the completion of any match, their votes for the two (2) best fielders, excluding the wicketkeeper, in such match, irrespective of whether such fielders are members of the same team. Five points are awarded for the first choice, three (3) points for second choice. Umpires may bracket the two (2) names submitted as of equal merit, in which case four (4) points shall be awarded to each player.

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The Bradman Medal In matches played in Men’s 1st Grade which are also part of the West End One-Day Limited Over Cup, umpires shall lodge votes in each competition independently. The members of the South Australian Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (SACUSA) Inc. present an engraved medallion known as the “Bradman Medal”, to the cricketer chosen as the “Premier Cricketer of the Year”. The votes, on a 3-2-1 basis, are cast after each 1st Grade match by each of the officiating umpires. The criteria that govern the award comprise: Actual cricket ability displayed; A player’s attitude towards the game; A player’s demeanour, behaviour and dress. Similar awards on the same voting basis and criteria are made in the Men’s 2nd Grade (KC Butler Medal), Men’s 3rd Grade (Sid Daly Medal), Men’s 4th Grade (McLeod/Wilson Medal) and Women’s 1st Grade (Karen Rolton Medal), Women’s 2nd Grade (Lyn Fullston Medal), Men’s West End One-Day Cup (Fred Godson Cup) and Men’s SACA Twenty20 Medal.

Spirit of Cricket Awards Umpires in Men’s 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Grades, U16 and U14 Grades and Women’s 1st and 2nd Grades must lodge with the Competitions Coordinator within forty-eight (48) hours after the completion of the match, votes in relation to the Spirit of Cricket. Only one (1) voting form will be used per match with umpires allotting a score between zero (0) and fifteen (15).

Generally, many umpires largely look at the statistics for the awards, but the other two criteria a player’s attitude towards the game, and a player’s demeanour, behaviour and dress - are also important to consider in all of the ‘fairest and best’ awards. Additionally, accuracy in determining the EXACT player you are voting for is imperative. We are all human, and can make mistakes in voting for a correct initial, instead of a correct player, OR voting for a correct surname instead of a correct individual. Mistakes can - and DO - happen. I implore all umpires to take a little extra time this season to ensure that their voting is correct so that non-wicketkeepers don’t receive wicket-keeping votes, and non-performers don’t receive performance votes (just because their given name initial is the same as that of the intended vote recipient’s). PLEASE - take your voting privilege seriously and ensure that your votes count in the best possible sense of the word.

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Graham’s Gags Morris, an 82-year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical.

A few days later, the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm.

A couple of days later the doctor spoke to Morris and said, “You’re really doing great, aren’t you?”

Morris replied, “Just doing what you said, Doc: ‘Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.’”

The doctor said, ”I didn’t say that … I said, ‘You’ve got a heart murmur - be careful.”

If you keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, you’ll have trouble putting on your pants.

Take my advice — I’m not using it.

Wife: “Do you want dinner?”

Husband: “Sure! What are the choices?”

Wife: “Yes or No.”

I changed my password to “incorrect” so that whenever I forget it the computer will say, “Your password is incorrect.”

A woman ran a red traffic light and crashed into a man’s car. Both of their cars were demolished but amazingly neither of them was hurt.

After they crawled out of their cars the woman said, “Wow! Just look at our cars! There’s nothing left, but fortunately we are unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should meet and be friends and live together in peace for the rest of our days.”

The man replied, “I agree with you completely. This must be a sign from God!” The woman continued, “And look at this - here’s another miracle! My car is completely demolished, but my bottle of 75 year old scotch didn’t break. Surely God meant for us to drink this vintage delicacy and celebrate our good fortune.” Then she handed the man the scotch. The man nodded in agreement, opened the bottle, drank half of it and then handed it back to the woman. She took the bottle, immediately put the cap back on, and handed it back to the man.

The man asked, “Aren’t you having any?”

The woman replied, “Nah - I think I’ll just wait for the police.”

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If you’d like to experience a very special format of cricket, meet amazing and beautifully friendly people, and show us your cricketing skills that could maybe be used in next year’s Crockett Shield battle against our Victorian colleagues of the VCAUSA … then contact Michael Williamson to be included in this great match competing with our friends at Blind Cricket SA. This is a cracker of a game!

What is the ‘Energiser Over’ ?

SACUSA Member and former Sticky Wicket Editor, Tim Pellew, recently took a trip to Sri Lanka, where he was fortunate enough to meet some of the players taking part in the Red Bull Campus Cricket competition - a contest which pits college cricket teams from across the world against each other in an exciting T20 format. Here Tim shares a report on the fixture which introduces the Energiser Over, something he thinks sounds like fun!

Games in the recently completed Twenty20 format Campus Cricket tournament in Sri Lanka, which involved university sides from Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates, used a new Playing Condition organisers titled as an ‘Energiser’ over.

Under that rule, batting sides had to nominate at any time an over between the sixth and twentieth as an ‘Energiser’. In it all runs scored were doubled while five runs were awarded to the fielding side if they took a wicket.

Score sheets available for the 15-match series record runs scored in a such a way as Penalty Runs.

Reports claim the ‘Energiser’ proved to be a game changer for many teams in the tournament with Bangladesh’s University of the Liberal Arts snatching a two-wicket win against Pakistan’s University of Central Punjab after amassing 28 runs in the 16th over, for 56 overall, while chasing 153 to win.

While the Energiser over is new to the competition, there is also a two innings format for the Twenty20 series, where teams bat twice in ten over blocks. Hitesh Walunj, the captain of India’s Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Commerce, believes the "format has a lot of potential. Though it might look complex, a lot of strategic decision making goes into it and it makes it more interesting and less tiring for the players as there are two innings of 10 overs”.

Further information can be found at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/top-stories/Two-innings-energiser-overNew-innovations-at-Red-Bull-cricket/articleshow/54277905.cms and http://www.redbull.com/in/en/ events/1331747859631/red-bull-campus-cricket

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The beginning of the cricket season also signals the time when SACUSA membership fees are due - and we’d appreciate payment by December 31 if possible. If not possible, no worries we’re happy to work with you to create a payment plan. Just contact our Treasurer, Lynton Donisthorpe, on 0418 317 856 or at lyncar@primus.com.au to make payment arrangements.

Update on one of our most admired leaders

MAX BARTLETT Everyone knows Max - Panel 1 Umpire Coach, 2009 Life Member, Chair of the History Sub-Committee, former President, and all-round great bloke!

Unfortunately, Max has been suffering some health issues this year, and has had a rough start to the season which will prevent him from mentoring the umpires he loves supporting so much.

SACUSA sends many great wishes to Max while he’s dealing with his challenges, and we’re sure all members look forward to catching up with him again soon.

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International Appointments !

On Friday, September 9th, Martin Bradshaw and I had the pleasure of officiating in the girls’ T20 game at Railways Oval between Jinan Third (from Shandong Province) and Adelaide High School.

then repeated into English. All we wanted was to do was to get the game proceeding, but the dignitaries seemed to want to keep going with their speeches and translations.

After a week of heavy rains and floods with storms, the ground was prepared by SACA ground staff and presented magnificently with the pitch flat and hard, well grassed and looking good for both batters and bowlers. It was a tribute to the ground staff to get the pitch and oval into such good condition.

When the speeches did finish at 2:30, we invited Mr Geng to have the opening bowl out on the ground (as in the tradition of the famous John Howard) but his group thought better of it so he was given a bat and out on the pitch had an "airy" swing at the ball, followed by another swing which was hit well to mid wicket amid great applause.

The game was scheduled to start at 2pm, but shortly before start time, a police escort of motor cycles followed by limousines arrived with dignitaries who were invited, so naturally a ceremony was held with speeches to be made.

The players (Jinan was outfitted with full crisp whites with Chinese writing along with symbols and Adelaide had their black and white shorts and polo shirts) lined up on the field with us.

A formal welcome was given to all including the Shandong Vice-Governor Xia Geng and his team of support crew.

This was then repeated into a version by an interpreter.

Chinese

Then, the SACA public policy manager, Ben Page, spoke some words, repeated into Chinese by the interpreter, followed by Mr Geng, and these were

So, the match started at 2:40pm at last.

Jinan won the toss and decided to bat first. Their Captain was the only girl who offered to speak English, so communication was difficult.

As a surprise to us (expecting the girls to have no idea of playing the game) they played with stylish shots and ran aggressively between the wickets and ended with a score of 3 wickets down for 130 (due to Martin’s coaching ability he gave to one girl who did not understand a word he said but Martin, with his actions, will take the credit for her score of over 50 runs).

Then Adelaide had their turn at batting, looked very apathetic with

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all out falling short by 25 runs.

The Chinese girls were very courteous to us both, bowled well and fielded with plenty of enthusiasm and encouragement given to each other.

They knew the game well, where to field and back each other up in particular.

So, the match ended at approximately 5:30pm, and we were presented along with the SACA Scorers with a typical Chinese good luck charm to commemorate the occasion.

History had been made as the first match between a Chinese and an Australian team and as a forerunner to the AFL debut next year between the Port Power and Gold Coast in Shanghai.

(The match occurred as part of a SACA deal announced after it had signed a five year agreement with the Shandong Cricket Association in June this year.

Further information can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-24/ saca-signs-deal-to-grow-the-game-of-cricket-in-shandong/7541612) Footnote: If SACA are looking for the match ball, they may have to retrieve from China as Martin kindly gave it to them as a memento.

Editor’s note: A photo of our history-making umpires hasn’t yet been able to be acquired from SACA, but we are hopeful that a pictorial can appear in a future edition of Sticky Wicket.

Photo (featuring Malcolm Green) courtesy abc.net.au ABC News Lauren Waldhuter

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October 12th

6pm onwards

SACUSA General Member Meeting @ Woodville Cricket Club (free BBQ tea included)

15th

Premier Cricket begins

16th

West End Redbacks League

20th

6pm

SACA Panel 1 Training @ Adelaide Oval Advanced Officiating General Principles - Part 1

23rd

12pm

Crockett Shield Preparation Match against the SA Blind Cricket Team @ Adelaide Uni

November 9th

6pm onwards

SACUSA General Member Meeting @ Woodville Cricket Club (free BBQ tea included)

17th

6pm onwards

SACA Panel 1 Training @ Adelaide Oval Advanced Officiating General Principles - Part 2

24th to 28th

Day/Night Test Match @ Adelaide Oval

TBC

Stanton Cup Cricket Match against ATCUSA

Late afternoon

December 14th

6pm onwards

SACUSA Christmas General Meeting @ Woodville Cricket Club Partners & family invited (Bring a plate to share)

21st

8.30am to 4.30pm

Big Bash League Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat @ Adelaide Oval

31st

Big Bash League Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers @ Adelaide Oval

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January 6th

Big Bash League Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes @ Adelaide Oval

11th

6pm onwards

SACUSA General Member Meeting @ Woodville Cricket Club (free BBQ tea included)

16th

Big Bash League Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades @ Adelaide Oval

24th

Big Bash League Semi Final

25th

Big Bash League Semi Final

28th

Big Bash League FINAL

February 8th

6pm onwards

SACUSA General Member Meeting @ Woodville Cricket Club (free BBQ tea included)

16th

Finals Preparation Evening B1 Media Room @ Adelaide Oval

TBC

Family Fun Day

March 8th

6pm onwards

SACUSA General Meeting @ Woodville Cricket Club (free BBQ tea included)

22nd

Evening

Bradman Medal Presentation @ Adelaide Oval

25th &

SACA Premier Cricket Grand Finals

26th

April 14th to 17th

Easter Crockett Shield SACUSA v VCAUSA in Adelaide

May TBC

6-45pm

15th Annual SACUSA Presentation Dinner

August TBC

SACUSA AGM

*Please note that the SACUSA Golf Day hasn’t yet been scheduled.

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