VCA Umpires and Scorers Association

Paul Jensen started officiating in Victorian Premier Cricket in the 1978/79 Season. 

Of all current CV Premier Cricket Umpires, he is the earliest starter - Paul has officiated in more than

500 Premier Cricket Matches, plus 12 Sheffield Shield Matches, and 8 other List A Matches plus

some Interstate 50 Over matches. Included in these are 319 Premier 1st XI Matches, including two

1st XI District Grand Finals - Melbourne vs Fitzroy Doncaser in 1993/94 with Bill Sheahan,

and Melbourne vs Collingwood in 1994/95 with Darrell Holt.

 

Paul has also umpired another 500 (approx) matches in various other Associations, as

well as Umpire Administration Roles in Metropolitan League, VJCA/VTCA, Sub District

and Cricket Southern Bayside Associations. His umpiring journey has taken him to 10

different Countries (more on that below), and on top of that, he now serves the CV Panel

as a mentor in 4th XI. That's 45 years with Victorian Umpiring - a very impressive  resume' indeed.

 

We spend a few minutes here with Paul to find out a little more about his journey.

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VCAUSA
Thanks Paul for spending some time with us. We’ll chat shortly about your Umpiring career, but just before we do that, can you please tell us a little bit about your life outside Umpiring. 

Paul

My introduction to cricket was listening to Ashes Test Matches on radio from England. I remember listening to John Arlott and Brian Johnston commentate - those early days had me spellbound and hooked on the sport. My early days playing cricket was on the street; Ray Bright who went on to Captain Victoria and played for Australia, was one of our players, and for both of us, those games developed our early aspirations for very high honours in the game.  

My school, St Bernards Essendon, had a greater focus on football than cricket so my early cricket playing experience was with local VJCA club Newport ANA. I was a battling all rounder and became the guy who was sent out to umpire at square leg, holding a bat to indicate I was on the field for umpiring duties. Aside from cricket, I completed an applied Science degree part-time, and kept busy with my employment at CSL

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VCAUSA
So how did the Umpiring bug hit you?
 

Paul

The umpiring bug took hold in 1977 with late night/early morning interest in England v Australia series. I focused

on the way the umpires went about their craft and I wanted to be like them – Dickie Bird, Lloyd Budd, Tom Spencer,

Bill Alley and David Constant. John Arlott would blend their playing and umpiring careers into his commentary and

I watched closely how they plied their profession in relation to player behaviour. Each had their own style of dealing

with match management and I was fascinated.

 

In the cricket season of 1977-1978, I commenced umpiring with the VJCA. My first match appointment was at

Parade College with veteran umpire Vic Compassie. At the start of that season I faced a dilemna; my beloved North

Melbourne footy club had tied with Collingwood in the 1977 VFL Grand Final. I thought that surely the VJCA would

put back their season commencement to allow me to see North in the Grand final replay. It was not to be - so

Parade College it was. I got through ok. The Parade captain commented “you will never get a game on the MCG” -

all these years later I still see him and I thank him very much for his motivational words. I had a reasonable first

season being rewarded a Semi Final and appointed emergency for a Grand Fnal. 

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VCAUSA
So how did you progress into the CV Premier (District Cricket) Panel?

Paul

VCA umpire Ted Jackson was VJCA Umpires Adviser. He was a legendary VJCA player and a highly respected First XI

umpire. He suggested that I attend the VCA Umpire Winter Umpire classes conducted by former Test umpire Bill Smyth. 

Bill's lectures were conducted with an element of theatre. I could not wait for the next week to roll around. I sat the exam and was invited to join the VCA umpires panel for the 1978-1979 season - of course I accepted.

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VCAUSA 

What do you remember of your early days umpiring with CV (VCA as it was known then)

 

Paul

My first match was 4th XI  Carlton v Hawthorn - East Melb at Carlton #2 ground with Alan Luxton. I enjoyed it and could not wait for my next appointment. After six games, I received a letter from VCA assistant secretary, Bill Price, indicating that a regular 3rd XI umpire was unavailable, and I was his replacement. I was elated, this was my Test Match!  More 3rd XI matches followed, then back to the 4ths for the remainder of the season.

I was priviledged to be appointed to a Semi Final with Bob Gainford and then a Grand Final with Jim Williamson followed.

 

The panel of 1978-79 contained a wonderful mix of Test, First Class and very experienced operators - Robin Bailhache, Bill Copeland, Ray Isherwood, Rex Whitehead, Dick French, Kevin Carmody, Colin Jones and Angelo Nicosia were all there. Former Test and First Class Umpires Jack Collins, Ian Stuart and Ken Collicoat were also always at meetings and match day grounds to observe and pass on advice.

 

Jack Collins resumed on the VCA panel the following season after standing in World Series Cricket Matches. In that year, I commenced in the seconds, and finished that season with appointments to the last three 1st XI fixtured matches. My season was rewarded with standing in the 2nd  XI Grand Final, Richmond v Footscray with Adrian Crawley.

 

My taste of 1st XI cricket became permanent and eventually, my 1st XI career tally reached 319 matches, with the pinnacle being my two District Cricket 1st XI Grand Finals - 1993-94 was Melbourne v Fitzroy- Doncaster with Bill Sheahan, and 1994/95 was Melbourne v Collingwood with Darrell Holt. I am honoured to be amongst the names who have officiated the District Final and honoured also to be a member of the prestigious CV 200 Club, having umpired in excess of 200 1st XI Matches.

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VCAUSA
What about your lead in to First Class cricket? What do you remember about that?

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Paul

My 1st Class Umpiring Career started in 1990/91 and went until 1996/97. I vividly

remember how it started. I was preparing for Day 2 of a district match when Peter Binns

from the VCA rang me and said “What are you doing next weekend?” My response was

that I was “umpiring my appointed district match". Peter in his dry and measured tone

said “Would you like to umpire Victoria v Tasmania?”  My response was, “Ok”.

 

I made my debut as an Umpire in the Sheffield Shield match, Victoria v Tasmania at

the Junction Oval in 1990/91. My colleague Robin Bailhache was superb in settling me

prior, during and post match. The two teams did not like one another and trouble was

on the horizon.

 

On Day 1, Robin took me into the Tasmanian dressing room and introduced me to all

the players. My first decision was a caught behind, got it right and I quickly settled.

There was an incident between both Captains on Day 3, just before lunch.

The Captains - Simon O'Donnell from Victoria and Dirk Wellham from Tasmania were

at each other, but my colleague, Robin and I had the matter under control in an instant.

Only earlier that week, Robin in his role as Director of Umpiring had covered player

behaviour in great depth at a VCA umpires monthly meeting so everything was fresh in

my mind.

 

Given that the incident happened just prior to lunch, the press contingent gathered

around us at the lunch break with their pens poised - they wanted to know what had

been said between the two Captains. Now at that time, there was a very serious conflict

taking place in Iraq and the Press surrounded us and inquired "what were Dirk and Simon talking about?". I responded that they had been discussing how they would solve the conflict in Iraq !

 

Things settled down, the four days went very fast and Victoria won after tea on the final day. It took me about three days to recover from the match as four days of concentration, pressure and composure, surrounded by some of the best players in Australia performing at their best, was intense.

 

I umpired Sheffield Shield Matches involving all the states, the highlight being Victoria v New South Wales with all the Test players involved. Shane Warne bowling to Mark and Steve Waugh was memorable and the banter between the players was exceptional. I then retired from the CV panel after the 2010-11 season - my tally of 503 games at the time included 319 District 1st XI,  and 20 List A matches (Sheffield Shield and First Class matches involving touring sides plus some 50 Over State matches). 

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VCAUSA
From your Sheffield Shield and List A Matches, who were some of the best Players you have umpired, and what was the best innings you saw whilst umpiring? 

 

Paul

The best Players that I saw included Basit Ali, Inzamam, Peter Such, Andy Caddick and Desmond Haynes. They all impressed me in the games that I stood in - some faded, some went on but I remember that 'Inzy' hit the ball harder that any player I have seen.

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The best innings I have seen as an umpire was 324 not out scored by Dean Jones in the first Day/Night Shield match during the 1994/95 season.

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VCAUSA
We briefly mentioned earlier that you had umpired in several countries.

What are some of those countries? 

 

Paul

I've been priviledged to umpire in many places. Cricket has given me the opportunity to

umpire in Victoria, but also in all the States in Australia. In addition, I have umpired

in Italy, France, Holland, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, UK, Thailand, Burma and New Zealand.

I feel very priviledged. 

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VCAUSA
We know that you're now back into the Panel and assisting with mentoring

our newest Umpires. What advice have you got for the current generation of Umpires?

Paul

Certainly, there are few pieces of advice that I'd like to provide.

• Firstly, try to be available for as many games as possible - remember that every match you miss,
  means that you're giving someone else the opportunity to take your spot

• Secondly, ask for help. Approach former and current experienced umpires on any umpiring issue
  you are concerned about, no matter how trivial you might think it is. Everyone will be happy to help,
  but you need to ask for help

• Thirdly, treat every match no matter what grade as 'Your Test Match'. For most of the players
  this may be the highest level they achieve, so give it your best shot

• Lastly, you are allowed to enjoy the game and have fun

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Umpire development is my passion - this was enhanced during the 2022-2023 season when I returned
on-field as a 4th XI mentor. 

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VCAUSA

Thanks for your time today Paul. It's very much appreciated - we look forward to seeing
you continue to help our current generation of Umpires. 

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