The umpiring journey: '˜It was a low key start, but I am happy with that'

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Sussex Sports editor Mark Dunford is in his first year as a qualified umpire, after passing his ECBACO Level 1 course over the winter. On Saturday he umpired his first match.

“It was a very low key start to my cricket umpiring career. But I am more than happy with that.

I am not going to lie, being the league appointed umpire for the West Sussex Invitation Cricket League Division 1 clash between Broadwater and Crawley Down, there were some nerves.

Yes, I have umpired in games before, but only as a player standing in when I was not batting.

DM16114320a.jpg Cricket: Broadwater v Crawley Down (batting). Photo by Derek Martin

I was going to be stood out in the middle for potentially 95 overs, and could have had potentially 45 overs or 270 balls of decision making ahead of me.

Fortunately the game only lasted 60.3 overs so less balls that could spark controversy.

In the weeks leading up to the match, I had plenty of advice coming my way. ‘Remember, you know the laws better than the players’, ‘don’t take any **** off anyone’, ‘Just talk to the players, be their friend’ were just some of the comments.

But I had made a decision early on I would do it my way by learning as I go.

If you would like to find out more about the ECBACO training courses, email [email protected] or email SACO secretary Derek Knight on [email protected]

I was delighted the forecast was good, the last thing I wanted to deal with on my first game was a rain affected match.

When I turned up at Broadwater Green, I was welcomed by home skipper Nigel Waller and home umpire Leighton Treagus and straight away they made me feel relaxed.

It is clear players and officials appreciate people turning to umpiring as it take pressure off the clubs on the day.

After checking out the pitch, ground and facilities it was nearing 12noon, half an hour before the start of play. There was one thing missing - the opposition.

We quickly referred to our West Sussex Invitation Cricket League handbook and it stated that if a side had not arrived by 15 minutes before the toss,the home side could claim the toss.

It got to 12.15 and still no opposition captain, although there were a couple of Crawley Down players milling about.