Favourite Umpire

[imaginarydiva]

I was wondering who u guys rate as the best umpire currently.I think its Simon Taufel beacuse hes probably giving the most accurate decisions in the present period.(Do i also have to mention that hes got killer looks?)

[Occasional Fan]

Tricky one this, and bound to cause controversy in some quarters, umpires unfortunately often being seen as only as good as their last decision. It won't be a popular choice on the subcontinent, but I still have a lot of time for Steve Bucknor. Over a period of time, he doesn't miss much. Darrell Hair in second place.

[Zainub]

Killer looks? I'm not sure about that, but I'd agree about how good an umpire Taufel is. Difficult to say if he's the best considering we still have some of the best and most experienced umpires ever namely Bucknor and Shephard around. I rate Aleem Dar fairly highly as well. I also think Billy Bowden is very under rated. I don't like the way certain fans ridicule him for the way his goes about his signalling, I don't think he comprimises on his concentration doing all that. And he's made some very good decisions over the last 2 years or so. Harper, Hair and Dave Orchard are all respectable. It's hard really to say whose the best.

Ironic though that even with so many good umpires around, people still complain about poor umpiring standards all the time.

[Andy Mellon]

As a qualified umpire myself, I think I'm ideally placed to add to this discussion.

I have to agree with most people so far. I think Simon Taufel is by far the best umpire around at the moment. He seems very fair and not prone to making rash decisions. Bucknor, Hair and Orchard also seem reasonable. I always like the way that Bucknor takes time over his decisions and doesn't appear to be easily swayed by the players. I've always liked Shep, but I think he's lost the respect of several nations and may be forced to step down.

Now, Billy Bowden - personally I don't mind the chap, but other umpires I've worked with say that he devalues the profession and has made it easier for players to see the umpires as less than untouchable. What I mean is that in the past, players took the umpires decision - and although not happy with it - ultimately accepted it. The less professional umpires become, the more 'approachable' they come across and the more argumentative players will look to take advantage of it. Therefore, my opinion is that Billy is not a bad umpire, but maybe bad for the profession.

[Zainub]

Shep has definately not lost the respect of all fans from this part of the world, those who accuse him of bias and what not and are in minority I'd like to think. I still have a lot of respect for him, and I will always do.

On Bowden, are you in anyway trying to suggest he lacks athourity when on field? If that's the case I don't agree. I think he handles him self well quite well, and is quick to step in if things tend to get out of control. I haven't seen so far any instance of how the "more argumentative players" have taken advantage of him. Recently when he gave Sehwag out LbW to McGrath when there was a big inside edge and Sehwag had something to say to him on the way back (for which he was later rightly fined and reprimanded) I thought he kept his cool very admirably, and did not let that event affect his future decision making.

[Andy Mellon]

No Zainub, you've misunderstood me. The controls at the highest levels are sufficient to counter-act any potential loss of authority in that fines and disciplinary procedures can be imposed thus ensuring that Billy does effectively still command the respect he needs. I feel that (in the UK at least) it creates a bad example for players at the lower levels in that in some people's eyes, the authority of the umpire is reduced to a certain extent. There are examples in the UK game this year that there has been a serious decline in respect for umpires at club level and I think that Billy exacerbates this to a small, but noticeable extent.

[Occasional Fan]

Interesting point, Andy, and I can see what you are getting at. It might be a UK thing though - my Dad, not a man still in the prime of youth, it has to be said, is convinced that the police lost a lot of respect when they started wearing pullovers instead of tunics and stopped wearing ties on hot days. In the end, we all turn into our own fathers, and I have to say that I - OK: also not still in the prime of youth, but let's pass over that - sometimes think he might have a point!

As far as umpires are concerned, I am old fashioned enough to think that there is at least a risk - perhaps the case is not proven yet - that their authority could be undermined as they abandon their uniform and individualise their physical styles. The extreme example of uniformity in civilian life comes in the legal profession: one reason all barristers wear the same striped trousers, black jackets, wigs and gowns is to make it clear to the court and the public that they are all alike - i.e. all equally professional in their practice of the law.

Billy Bowden, from what I've seen, seems a solid sort of guy in the pure umpiring sense, but a haircut and a bit less of the theatrical stuff would not go amiss. At the moment, he is seen as different from most other umpires, and that can't be good for the profession. Something has clearly gone wrong when the closing credits in a TV broadcast are shown over a compilation of the umpire's eccentricities rather than one of the day's highlights of play. Dickie Bird was right: no-one pays to watch the umpires. I'd like dear Billy to be a bit less visible.

[Zainub]

I'm not convinced OF and Andy, can't see how him having a slightly different style will make players respect him lesser or encourage them to have a go at him. I know that a lot of the guys on the international circuit think he's a character and all that, but I don't think anyone has the guts to go and misbehave with him because he is that sort of a person. I've seen it happen, Danish Kaneria was bowling against Sri Lanka in the 2nd test in Karachi, and appealing a bit over enthusiastically, Bowden wasn't happy and he let him know it. If you carry out a poll most test players and one-day players will tell you I think that they respect him just as much if not more or less.

[Occasional Fan]

On the professional circuit, Zainub, I am sure you're right. I think Andy was more concerned about the possible (and, as I say, it may not yet be proven) effect on the impressionable young in the amateur game. In the end I am sure the young are more influenced by the players than the umpires, but there's still room for some caution on Billy's part. Unfortunately, as soon as it looks as though the distance between umpires and players is being closed, the youngsters will try to close it a bit more. I despair when I see the way professional soccer players treat referees, and there is no question that their outrageous behaviour and language spills over into all levels of the game. My brother refereed soccer for a while at Hampshire league level, but gave it up because he was fed up with having fourteen year old kids effing and blinding at him every week. Cricket, fortunately, is light years away from that sort of disgraceful situation. I just hope that everyone involved in the professional game, players, umpires and administrators, can keep it that way, otherwise cricket will start losing people like Andy Mellon for the same reason soccer lost my brother.

[Andy Mellon]

You've hit the nail on the head there OF. That's exactly the point I was trying to make. The problem with closing the gap between umpires and players is effecting the lower levels of the game rather than the higher levels (test/county cricket) as the players at the higher levels understand more of the difficulties of umpiring and have been brought up to respect the umpires. As evidenced by cases of serious disciplinary misdemeanors at club level (e.g. Anurag Singh for Cannock this year and a dispicable example of racism in the South Coast area (although that was player vs player)) we need to do more to shore up the lot of the umpire as there is no way in the foreseeable future that umpires can be dispensed with at club level, as some are suggesting should be done at the top levels.