12 February 2008

Taufel undecided..

The sport is in danger of losing its best umpire, and it is not difficult to imagine why at the age of 37, he is thinking it is already a bit too much.

I was hoping it would not need something like this, for the ICC to start getting its act together on broadening the panel to make life easier for those already on it.

Without compromising on accountability, that is..

9 comments:

Viswanathan said...

I hope it is not due to the IPL lure.

Any idea how much the umpires will be paid?

straight point said...

its very easy to say that they should expand elite panel...but where are the umps???

modern coverage makes umpire looks crap...and makes them standing naked in front of all world to see...

it was thankless job earlier also but not its sh!t job...couple it with ICC reluctance to come up with any aid for them and you will see no one with right mind will see this profession as viable career...

Anonymous said...

Because he is the only worthwhile umpire around, he gets to move around a lot more I suppose, hence the family-time crisis.

Gaurav Sethi said...

spot on scorpicity. At times, I do believe I've seen him umpire in two separate games simultaneously. But then, maybe I'm just seeing double.

Gaurav Sethi said...

Excellent collage, island express -like the Kumble close up, SRT howl and the young Meryl Streep look alike!

John said...

C'mon guys! Weren't we bemoaning the lack of quality fast bowlers in India not too long ago? The MRF Pace Academy had a huge role to play in changing all that. Similar initiatives with umpires could do the trick in unearthing umpire gems of judgment and poise.

And thanks, naked cricket. Let's just say I was quite 'happy' when was putting it together.

TM said...

You should check out the requirements for becoming an ICC umpire- it requires shit loads of expertise and experience at the domestic level. The experience requirements make it almost impossible as it doesnt pay well and requires full time commitment and availability. That is one of the imbalances that will need to be addressed for more umpires to come out of atleast India

John said...

Good one. The national boards have to pull together as well. To raise the standard of cricket domestically, the standard of umpirig must also rise. So, national boards have an incentive to raise the standard of umpiring.

Anyone got any ideas on how much an umpire gets paid for a Ranji game? Are Indian umpires truly 'professionals'?

Soulberry said...

The thing is we'll see more of this henceforth...players will retire rather than linger on unless there are some special goals close enough. Same with umpires.

We'll see spots opening up once the player is 33-35 years of age. Umpires too will quit at a decent age.

The thing is job security has improved in cricket with IPL and ICL. It is now a worthwhile career to follow seriously...better than many others once you have slogged to make the grade.

Careers can extend upto 40-45 with a month or two of 20 over cricket (what they used to do on senior tours) with a lovely pay packet.

From that age on...it's just quite cool for most would have developed something else by the side by then.

Umpires too can begin umpiring schools, write about umpiring, conduct TV programmes on umpiring, coach, turn ICC teachers of an ICC school of umnpiring in developed and developing cricket countries...sky's the limit!

IPL and ICL (which will actually take over the senior tour while IPL will have the fresh retirees and current players)will change the world for everyone...from the Bosses of the game, through players and umpires, right down to the groundsmen, scorers, commentators, and writers on the game.