Sticky Wicket September 2012

FIRST MEETING OF THE SEASON Welcome to our first SACUSA meeting for 2012/13 cricket season.

Tonight we not only welcome members and guests, but more importantly it is the first meeting being presided over by our incoming President Ted Branson and also our elected Executive Committee. W e look forward to his year which surely will have his normal enthusiasm about just about everything, not the least being where to leave meeting-rubbish!

President Ted in his youth addressing the team during a lunch break, or is it Lord Hawke?

Up-coming events 12 September - SACUSA Meeting followed by Grade Bylaws Study 15 & 16 September - State Umpire Seminar 19 September – Grade Bylaws Study 1 October - West End Cup Round 1 6 & 7 October - SACA A, B, C, D Round 1 6 October - Women’s A T20 Round 1 13 & 20 October - Junior Grades Round 1 14 October - Women’s B T20 Round 1 14 October - Ray Sutton Shield Round 1 20 October - Women’s A Round 1 SACUSA Office Bearers President: Ted Branson Vice President: Craig Thomas Treasurer:

Lynton Donisthorpe

Secretary:

Michial Farrow

Sticky Wicket, on behalf of members, recognises the work of the outgoing Executive and the huge

Current Committee members:

contribution of our Immediate Past President Lynton Donisthorpe. It is welcoming that Lynton’s experience and untiring work for our Association is not lost, he being elected as our new Treasurer.

Incoming Committee Members:

Max Bartlett and John Ketley

Jeff King and Tony Trist Auditors:

Bob Woods and Simon Fry

facebook.com/sacricketumpiresandscorers

Contacts Secretary - Michial Farrow 0435 872 215 secacusa@hotmail.com Sticky Wicket - Tim Pellew 0414 58 58 42 pellew@internode.on.net

SACUSA 2012 AGM

WARNING: Test Match

On 8 August at (dead on time) 7.30 pm, our AGM was held! A change of venue for the evening found us at Glandore Oval; home of the Adelaide Cricket Club.

Copies of the Annual Report were distributed to attendees on arrival and will eventually be available on the SACUSA web site.

There is a Test Match, Australia v South Africa, at Adelaide Oval (or what there is of it) from Thursday, November 22 to 26, 2012. And guess what, none of the SACA umpires will be attending the match on Saturday 24 as they are scheduled to be umpiring Grade cricket that day. Other Associations will shortly advise their programmes.

Our retiring President Lynton Donisthorpe welcomed the approximately 70 in attendance, and in particular, our Patron Neil Dansie, many life members and guest speaker Cate Ryan, the SACA Competitions Coordinator.

13 written apologies were received. It was particularly welcoming to have members from Adelaide Turf Cricket Association, Adelaide and Suburban Cricket Association and Para District Cricket Association. (apologies if any others were there and not acknowledged).

Cate Ryan addressed the meeting and outlined the upcoming SACA season’s programme, and advised that this season there are 13 cricket carnivals being held in Adelaide. Note here that there is a need and opportunity for plenty of umpiring duties for these carnivals so be ready throughout the summer for these carnivals.

Cate advised that she has been appointed to a position with Cricket Australia in Melbourne; it will be sad to see her leave her current SACA position that she embraced so well for 26 hours every day, and we wish her well in her new job.

The meeting proceeded with summaries of the written annual reports prepared by our President, Secretary, Treasurer and Social Committee followed by the election of Officer bearers as shown on page 1.

A highlight of the evening was that Chris Hollard received Life Member status.

This was a well deserving and highly regarded recognition of the enormous amount of time and effort that Chris has inputted to our Association and his many years of umpiring. Congratulations Chris.

The SACA Umpiring Manager Neil Poulton addressed the meeting and outlined details of the season-opener meeting held on 23 July, and advised other mportant meeting dates in our pre-season preparation for another year of umpiring. Our thanks go to Neil for the huge input he provides to cricket umpiring/training, with much of the effort having a direct spin-off benefit for umpires in general and for our Association.

Some minor SACUSA Constitutional amendments were proposed to the meeting and were carried at a voices vote.

After the ever popular drawing of the raffle and collection of prizes by numerous members, a wonderful hot and cold choices finger-food supper was provide, and thanks go to all those in having this supper prepared and provided.

What cricketer has a higher Test match batting average than Sir Donald Bradman?

A. In 1948, West Indian opener Andy Ganteaume hit 112 against England in Trinidad in what turned out to be his only Test innings, and thus ended with a Test average of 112. In this match , all four openers –Ganteaume, George Carew, Jack Robertson and Billy Griffith – got hundreds in a high–scoring draw.

WARNING: Australia Day There is no international cricket in Adelaide on the Australia Day weekend, Saturday 26 January. Now there’s a first!

SACA Grade cricket is scheduled for that day so all umpires are expected to be available.

Wine There is still some SACUSA wine available at $120 /dozen. This wine from one of our sponsors St.Johns Road is outstanding and is tremendous value.

Contact President Ted Branson if you want some, or some more!

I use the camera to surreptitiously film each ball, Rudi, so I can check a decision!

Call-up? No, cool-down Last season, one of our regular but ageing Panel 3 umpires was telephoned early on the last Saturday morning of the season by our SACA Cricket Umpiring Manager, Neil Poulton, whose opening remark was “I just had an umpire drop out of A Grade” My heart leapt: Paradise was in the wind; I could die happy; Nirvana was at hand!

I thought in a mille-second “yes, my shoes are clean and my gear is pressed and ready to go, albeit hours earlier than my regular match start time.”

Neil continued, “I’ve moved your partner X to B Grade and Y to A Grade. Z will be your new partner.”

Hope Springs Eternal!

Scorer Tom Palmer Older umpires and scorers, or should it be those who have been around for quite or a long while, may remember Tom Palmer, who was a very long time A grade popular scorer for University Cricket Club. Tom passed away a couple of weeks ago. We offer our condolences to Tom’s family.

Scoring While updating some scorer training material a scorer, Tony Izzard, noticed an error in the scoring section of the new (2010) edition of Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring. The second bullet point on page 247 states that: If the striker is out Caught when running and they have crossed to change ends the entry will be w‘ The underline under the w has been omitted.

Notchers’ News is advised that the omission has already been identified by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and is flagged up as an issue to be addressed at the next reprint. In the meanwhile scorer instructors are advised to tell all those attending courses. Readers may wish to make a manual amendment to their copy of Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring (2000 Code. 4th Edition 2010).

Tony believes that the whole section on underlining merits a review and would like to see the following included in the text: Underlining is used when the batsmen are not at the ends as expected from the scoring record entry.

The above article is reprinted from the June 2012 issue of English publication Notchers’ News. Scorers may be interested in this publication that can be accessed at www.notchers.co.uk Spirit of Cricket In the 2000 edition of Laws of Cricket, many revisions were made by the MCC, the recognised sole authority for the laws and amendments.

One notable inclusion in the 2000 edition was the Preamble defining the Spirit of Cricket.

Now, how about the following as a bit of history: By order of the Committee of the MCC (dated June 20 1892) was an inclusion as an appendix to the Laws entitled, Instructions to Umpires. The instruction concludes: “Umpires should not allow themselves to be unduly influenced by appeals from such of the field who were not in a position to form a judgment on the point appealed upon, or by tricks – such as throwing up the ball, on appealing for a catch at the wicket, without waiting for the decision. Umpires, being the sole judges of fair or unfair play, should remember that such devices are obviously unfair, and are not in accordance with the spirit in which cricket should be played.

Cricket Umpire Killer A report from a Bangladash newspaper of an incident 30 Jan, 2012:

ANSWER OR OPINIONS SOUGHT Leg Side LBW

Why is an LBW not out for balls pitching outside Nazrul Islam, 15, ran onto the pitch during an amateur the line of leg stumps? Maybe a reason could be game in the remote northern district of Kishoreganj and that, as we all know, it is harder for a batter to play started an argument with the umpire, who took one of leg side shots than off side shots, and thus possithe players' bats and hit the teenager. Islam showed no bly a reason is to prevent “deliberate” leg side serious injury from the blow during the game on Friday bowling, and/or, if it is harder to play leg side but suffered an internal haemorrhage overnight and shots, it may be easier for a bowler to hit a batters died in the hospital the following day, local police chief pads in front of the stumps, particularly from a left hander bowling over the wicket.

Mosharraf Hossain said: "The two argued over a not-out decision by the umpire. What are your opinions, or alternatively, does anyHe accused the umpire of bias. At one stage, the umpire one actually know the answer? became angry, took a bat and hit the young boy on the Interestingly:head," The Official Laws of Cricket of 1894 includes: The umpire was being sought for questioning but he had The STRIKER is out - …. If with any part of his gone into hiding, the police chief said. (surprised!!) person he stops the ball, which in the opinion of the umpire at the bowler’s wicket shall have been Umpire Registration Benefits pitched in a straight line from it to the striker’s  Umpire Member Benefits Card wicket and would have hit it: - “Leg before wicket.”



Cricket Australia Accreditation Renewals



JLT Cricket Insurance Premium Paid



Discount on Cricket Australia Accreditation Courses

Here’s a situation which gives pause for thought; from a limited-overs international.



Access to training materials and seminars



Season Ticket to all Ryobi Cup matches at Adelaide Oval



Access to Cricket SA corporate health plan and associated discounts from BUPA

The bowler is bowling right arm round the wicket. He bowls a front-foot no ball, and the umpire signals a free hit for the next delivery.

The striker has not changed so the field must remain the same. The bowler says to the umpire,'I'm bowling over the wicket.'



Discount on Internet from Internode



10% Discount on bicycle accessories from all Standish Cycles Stores



10% Corporate Discount on Membership to Goodlife Health Clubs



3 Day pass to Goodlife Health Clubs

Tough for off-spin bowlers!!

No Ball Puzzler

The commentators were of the opinion that he should not have been allowed to do so.

Comment. There is nothing in the playing regulations to deal with this specific situation and it does seem a bit unfair because it amounts to changing the field. (ie bowler is now in a different location! Some umpires argue that [the fictitious] ‘Law 43 — Common Sense’ should apply and allow it.

What would you do?

With thanks to David Duffy for this comment from the Leinster Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association(Ireland) newsletter.

John (Keg) Ferguson Keg passed away recently after a short illness. Bill Penley recalls:John Ferguson was Sturt's A Grade captain in my first A Grade match. It was one of those stinking 43 degree days and we were expected to wear collar and tie regardless (in those days). Vern Bell was my partner and we went out to set up the stumps on Unley Oval and assess the conditions. I decided that I would begin at the southern end due to the northerly wind that was blowing and that Jeff Kowalick, Sturt's quick would want to bowl down wind.

When we reached the race we met Keg who took one look at us and said "Get those B... ties off. I want comfortable relaxed umpires not dinner guests”. We obliged instantly.

With the usual 5 minutes to go we walked out on to the ground to be followed by the fielding team, Sturt. Jeff Kowalick came out of the race looked towards the middle and headed straight for me; he was going to open into the wind. What a lovely chap he was, he introduced himself, handed me his cap and congratulated me on my first A Grade match.

The game went off without any real problems until Vic Cristofani, East Torrens captain, came into bat. To put it mildly Vic was different: he specialized in antogonising bowlers, frustrating fieldsmen and upsetting field placings. He would bat a foot outside leg stump and slash balls over slips or even cover. Then he would bat a yard out of his crease or outside off stump. He took strike differently for every ball. He really had Kowalick at his wit's end as to where to bowl the next ball.

Then all hell broke loose. Jeff came into bowl but bowled without passing me and the ball was directed head high at Cristofani. He took evasive action but was struck on the thumb and the ball went for 4. Next thing Vic is coming down the pitch waving the bat ready to connect Kowalick and I became the meat in the sandwich.

Vern had called "No Ball" for a throw and was also coming towards me to speak to Kowalick and advise him that he was on report.

Fergie came to me and asked if he could take Kowalick off and I responded that he had to be injured. "Will you accept mentally disturbed as an injury?“ was Keg’s quick reply. One cannot argue with a well respected lawyer on that issue so Kowalick was sent to deep mid off and Dennis Childs bowled the last 2 balls of the over.

It didn't finish there! Next day’s Sunday Mail headline "New umpire orders State bowler out of attack". That morning the phone rang about 10.30 with Neil Blundell, SACA Assistant Secretary, calling to inform me that Sir Donald would like to have a word. There was a Shield game at Adelaide Oval at the time and I needed to come to the Committee Room. I was unable to tell him what had led to the problem because it began behind me but he congratulated me on the way it was handled and that what I said confirmed Mr Bell's account of the event. From memory, Jeff got suspended for the rest of that match and one more.

Fred Godson and Max O'Connell returned from Shield duties next round and I returned to B Grade.

I played with University in a C Grade grand final against Prospect. Keg made a ton as opener. We won by an innings! Ed. Switch Hit

Woof

From Ian Chappell, former captain of Australia writing on Cricinfo: ‘In addition to disadvantaging the bowlers, the switch hit could unfairly help the batting side win a tight Test match. By swapping at the last moment, a batsman could induce a no-ball under the maximum- two-fieldsmen behind-squareleg law to gain victory without hitting the ball or the bowler knowingly doing anything illegal.‘ Comment. Well, actually no it couldn’t, Ian, because the leg and off side are established by the striker’s stance when the bowler starts his run up [Law 36.3, Smith p 195].

An old Irish farmer's dog goes missing and he's inconsolable.

His wife says "Why don't you put an advert in the paper?"

He does, but two weeks later the dog is still missing.

"What did you put in the paper?" his wife asks.

"Here boy" he replies.

Did you know?

Only once has a South Australian cricket team hosted a first class match against a visiting touring team away from Adelaide Oval. The venue, of all places, was UNLEY OVAL! The match was South Australia against Lord Hawke’s Eleven in March 1903. Lord Hawke’s team was all amateurs and it toured officially as the Marylebone Cricket Club.

The match was to be played at Adelaide Oval, but the match was abandoned as the oval had been booked for the 28 March 1903 by the League of Wheelmen for cycle racing.

(For those who are unaware, Adelaide Oval used to have a cycle track around the field just beyond the boundary. My (Editor’s) grandfather used to tell me about his visits, with good crowds in attendance, to watch the cycling when cricket was not on).

Upon hearing of the cancellation of the eagerly awaited match, the Sturt Cricket Club offered to host the match. The League of Wheelmen complained to the SACA claiming that the match would take patrons away from their event. SACA allowed the match to transfer to Unley Oval.

The club erected marquees and seating to supplement the existing grandstand, with seating for 1000 people.

6000 attended the 4 days of the match from 27 to 31 March. (No Sunday play in those days). Local residents enthusiastically supported the event.

One of our umpires in the off-season (with a red jacket so he can be found if he falls!) looking from 6oo metres, in Switzerland, for a cricket field.

Sober Call During the 1950s, it was customary for the West Indians to estimate the runs to be scored from a shot. It was not, therefore unusual for the batsman to play a shot and call, ‘Come one’, Come two’ or ‘Come three’. On one occasion, under a blazingly bright Caribbean sky, veteran captain, Frank Worrell played a leg glance and set off, calling ‘Come three’ to the young Gary Sobers.

With the deep fine leg fielder emerging from the backdrop of a densely packed crowd, as the batsmen crossed, Sobers was heard to say, ‘Go back two!’

Thanks Bob Eldridge for this story. I guess you were there, Bob, to witness this!

Scores were:

New Accredited Presenters

MCC 553

Saturday 1st of September brought together some of our umpire coaches & umpire coordinators from 3 associations to spend the day working through the Cricket Australia, Presenter/Facilitators course.

Conducted by Denis Burns, Cricket Australia’s Umpire Educator. The group was introduced in detail to the new training materials embedded in the Level 2 Umpire Program courseware. After a long day culminating with a short presentation by all the participants the coaches continued into the evening with dinner at The British Hotel.

– Neil Poulton

South Australia 304 South Australia follow-on 454 MCC 108 George Giffen played in the Unley Oval match

South Australia won by 97 runs, with Sturt player Harry Hay (originally named 12th man) taking 0/70 and 9/67.

I guess you didn’t know!

Pollock, by Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco (Mexican Art???)

Paddy shouts frantically into the phone "Baby’s coming; her contractions are only two minutes apart!"

"Is this her first child?" asks the Doctor.

"No", shouts Paddy, "this is her husband!"

Umpire Administration Officer It is with pleasure that I announce the appointment of Cheryl Barnett as SACA’s new Umpire Administration Officer. Cheryl has had a long involvement in cricket and with the SACA in various roles including a placement as a Women in Cricket Officer last year. Cheryl’s primary role will be to keep us all organised, ensuring availabilities are done on time, match paperwork is completed, umpires are paid on time and take control of the ever growing SACUSA My Cricket database.

Cheryl participated in the State Umpiring Forum earlier in the year as a representative of Western Suburbs Junior CA and as such already has an excellent understanding of the structures which exist in umpiring. Cheryl is planned to commence next Monday 17th of September. – Neil Poulton The journey of a new umpire Many things have changed in the way umpires are recruited into umpiring and their road to standing in their first match. The majority of new umpires this year have got their start through the SACA website submitting an online form for more information about umpiring. These new candidates first receive in the post a flyer about umpiring, a DVD containing our TV advert and interviews with Simon Fry and Steve Davis. They also receive a registration form for the next level 1 umpire course and a list of dates to choose from to enrol in the course. Upon attending the 3 hours introductory course, the umpires receive a Level 1 umpire manual, laws of cricket book, interactive training CD and a ‘Match Day’ DVD. The new umpires also their first umpiring shirt. The green shirts which are becoming common place out on the ground and help signify an umpire is learning the craft and we should all be understanding to this process. From there the new umpires this year have undergone another 6 hours of additional laws study including a 50 question, open book exam to bring them up to speed. Add to this association By-Laws study nights & this weekend’s seminar a new umpires will go through over 25 hours of formal training before they step on to a game. It has been a steep learning curve for our rookie umpires, now as we transition from pre-season to in-season they need to learn about My Cricket, Paperwork, Votes, Ground locations and most importantly get to know their new friends in you their fellow umpires. If you see a new umpire at a meeting, or are lucky enough to umpire with one, remember what it was like when you started Spud Well, a Girl Potato and Boy Potato had eyes for each other and finally they got married, and had a little sweet potato, which they called 'Yam'.

Of course, they wanted the best for Yam. When it was time, they told her about the facts of life. They warned her about going out and getting halfbaked, so she wouldn't get accidentally mashed, and get a bad name for herself like 'Hot Potato'.

Yam said not to worry; no Spud would get her into the sack and make a rotten potato out of her!

But on the other hand she wouldn't stay home and become a Couch Potato either.

She would eat properly so as not to be skinny like her Shoestring Cousins.

When she went off to Europe, Mr. And Mrs. Potato told Yam to watch out for those hard-boiled guys from Ireland and the greasy guys from France called the French Fries.

And when she went out West, she must watch out for the Indians so she wouldn't get scalloped.

They sent Yam to Idaho P.U. (that's Potato University) so that when she graduated she'd really be "in the Chips".

But in spite of all they did for her, one-day Yam came home and announced she was going to marry Richie Benaud.

"Richie Benaud!!!!, they cried. They were very upset and told Yam "You can't possibly marry Richie Benaud because he's just ... “just a COMMONTATER!" Ouch!