Bradford League umpires' chief calls for greater commitment from colleagues (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford League umpires' chief calls for greater commitment from colleagues

3:10pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Bradford League By Bill Marshall

In his last report as chairman of the Bradford Cricket League Umpires’ Association, Glyn Pearson has called for greater commitment from his colleagues and more backing from the league’s management board over discipline.

He reckoned some of the league’s umpires gave unsatisfactory reasons, often at short notice, for pulling out of fixtures.

Realising how difficult Andrew Bullock’s task is as appointments’ secretary, Pearson said: “The initial good start (to the 2011 campaign) did not last and by the end of the season, 26 matches had been played with only one umpire.

“Although this compares well with 2006, when 148 matches (including six first-team matches) had only one umpire, and 2007, when 48 matches were in that situation, it is totally unsatisfactory for a league with the standing of the JCT600 Bradford Cricket League not to be able to staff every match.

“This is the top league in the country and deserves the highest standard of commitment from all its officials.

“I appreciate that emergencies can arise but some of the reasons given to Andrew, often at short notice, were unacceptable.

“It is incumbent on us all to give the commitment that a league of this standing requires.

“Any lack of commitment makes the job of the appointments secretary far more difficult.”

Pearson, who served for seven years as chairman and, prior to that, seven years as secretary and two years on the executive, also asked the league’s board of management to take a more active role where discipline is concerned.

He said: “In my work with the ECB ACO (England and Wales Cricket Board’s Association of Cricket Officials), I see the disciplinary procedures in other senior leagues in the country, and most of them are far more robust than those operated in our league.

“If we are to attract and retain umpires, we must be certain they will always have the full support of the league.”

Pearson also stressed the importance of regular assessment of umpires.

He added: “This is an important form, and assessment marks count for umpires hoping to progress to stand in county age-group cricket and on to Minor Counties and county second XI cricket.

“I attended a meeting at Lord’s recently where umpires were considered for progression based on the marks in their respective leagues during the season.

“The provision of feedback from the assessments has been a major job and I urge all of you to look at it constructively.

“Even if you do not agree with all the comments, you should look at them and ask yourselves ‘is this the way I come across and the way I am perceived by captains?’ and ‘how can I improve in this area?’

“The relationship between captains and umpires is an area on which your executive will be working during the winter in an attempt to improve standards on both sides.”