Wildy: When the time to retire from playing I knew I would miss being involved in cricket so I started umpiring for Addiscombe 3rd XI. Despite playing for over 40 years, I realised how little of the laws I knew so I did an umpires course and got qualified. I was then persuaded to join the championship panel on a Saturday and umpired for ACC on a Sunday.

Gavin: Initially it was to help out with the ACC Colts team my son Jamie played in. Then the idea was to umpire some 4th XI games to encourage the Colts to transition to adult cricket. I started doing my umpiring badges, then the 2s came calling!

Steve: I had umpired Colts games when my son Robert was playing and when he moved into the 4’s under the captaincy of Robbie Narine and Steve Hasler I would help score and occasionally umpire. I did the umpiring course and then started doing 2s matches. I was then asked to join the Surrey Championship Panel and signed up for the 2018 season. I must be doing something right as I was promoted to List 1 for the 2020 season.

Would you rather play county cricket or umpire in a Test match?

Wildy: Umpire a Test match

Gavin: Definitely umpire in a Test match.

Steve: I know could never play at the Oval, Old Trafford or Lords, but could I officiate there? Possibly. I would love to see how far I could get as an Umpire and if I am promoted to the Premier list on the Surrey Championship I could be officiating County 2nd XI players and possibly umpire Minor Counties matches.

What is the best bit of umpiring advice that you have ever had?

Gavin: Take your time when making decisions.

Wildy: Always ensure you know the playing conditions of the competition you are umpiring and be aware of what is going on around you to prevent an incident happening.

Steve: I was told early on that I would make mistakes, the secret is to focus on the next decision not dwell on what you cannot go back and change. I try to remember that we have more time than we think and should use that time to analyse all the factors of a decision.

Who do you think is the best umpire in world cricket?

Wildy: Well I have to pick an English umpire although he has just retired from Test cricket Ian ‘Gunner’ Gould

Gavin: You rarely see Marais Erasmus make a mistake and his interaction with players is excellent.

Steve: The advent of DRS has seen some umpires come under a lot of scrutiny which appears to have undermined the confidence of some. My own choice would be Simon Taufel.

What is the funniest/silliest situation you have seen on pitch when umpiring?

Wildy: When umpiring at Chessington my colleague and I could not work out why with spinners bowling for most of the innings the fielding side were so far behind the over rate. After quite a few discussions we realised the master clock we were using was going backwards! ...Also my first premiership match was Esher v Normandy and quite a few ex-Addiscombe members were playing. The Chairman of the umpire’s panel was very surprised when half the players were calling me ‘Wildy’!

Gavin: Once when I was umpiring an away match, the Addiscombe skipper was so incensed by a batting collapse that as we all walked off the pitch, we all saw him break one of the plastic chairs by the pavilion. It was not a good look. I had to give him a stern talking to…and he apologised to the opposition and paid for the chair!

Steve: Once I was umpiring when two batsmen collided mid-pitch during a run. The fielding side had time to decide which batsman they were going to run out. But the indecision confused them and they failed to run out either! It was hilarious.

What is the most challenging thing about umpiring club cricket?

Wildy: For many club matches you often are the only appointed umpire and being asked to umpire both ends. The concentration required is immense.

Gavin: My greatest challenge is to convince both sets of players that I don’t make many mistakes and that I am totally impartial.

Steve: The number of appeals, many which are just ridiculous. It is a challenge because the more you say no the more desperate and vocal some players and their team become.

Which decisions are the most difficult?

Wildy: Definitely run outs and stumpings

Gavin: Thin edges behind off spinners

Steve: When umpiring to a slow bowler as there are so many more things to think about in a compressed time-frame. Some spinners complete an over in 3 mins so a decision may be needed every 30 seconds - whereas some quick bowlers take longer than that to get back to the end of their run up!

Does the volume of an appeal really make any difference?

Wildy: No. You have to take into account that some clubs try and test and intimidate you - especially if they have not seen you before or if you have just been promoted into a higher list.

Steve: Having been a football referee since 1985 I am used to loud appeals for fouls. But I am there to make my own decision and no matter how others try and influence me I need to remain my own man. So no, the volume of an appeal makes little difference to me. Something that has stood me well over the years is knowing that whether or not my decisions are good, bad or ugly they are HONESTLY good, bad or ugly.

Gavin: It might have done when I first umpired, but not these days.

What winds you up most about players' behaviour?

Steve: As in society as a whole, it feels that those in positions of perceived authority can be challenged with impunity. The good thing is that cricketers are generally better behaved than most and the recent Law changes have given clearer guidance on what the scales of punishment are for a broad range of offences.

Gavin: Cheats. That includes batsmen who don’t walk and fielders who appeal for things they know are not out.

Wildy: I am a real ‘poacher-turned-gamekeeper’ here, but I would say its players criticising umpires decisions and then when you discuss it you realise that they do not even know the laws.

Big thanks Wildy, Steve and Gavin for sharing your views and more importantly for all the time you give up to umpire for Addiscombe and for the Championship. It is hugely appreciated (most of the time!)

PS: sorry about the chair incident Gavin! I am a reformed character

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