VCA Umpires and Scorers Association

A few minutes with Mike Gandy

Mike Gandy is a former VCAUSA Member and 1st Class Umpire, a South Australian Umpire, a Tasmanian

Umpire and a former Director of the Tasmanian Cricket Association Board. He played for Tasmania in a

1st Class fixture against the West Indies in 1968, and after playing, commenced Umpiring in South

Australia, umpiring 30 1st XI matches there. He then transferred to Victoria where he umpired for three

and a half years, including 1st XI matches, First Class matches and a Women's Test Match in 1985.

His work took him to Tasmania where he continued to umpire 1st XI and First Class cricket until retirement

in 1992. Since then he recommenced his playing career with the Veterans Cricket Association, touring

England with the Australian over 60s Team in 2011. Mike has also recommenced umpiring in the lower

levels on the Tasmanian Premier League Competition and in 2019, Mike was honoured with

an Australia Day OAM for Services to Cricket. Mike was also made a Life Member of the

Tasmanian Cricket Association and he is now the Patron of the TCUSA. 

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We spent a few minutes with Mike Gandy to talk about his experience in cricket

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VCAUSA
Thanks Mike 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 growing up.

Mike

I was impatient to arrive - on 26 August 1944 – at the Queen Alexander Hospital in Battery Point,

Hobart - a day too early for it transpired Sir Donald Bradman celebrated his birthday the following day. 

I grew up in Tasmania attending primary school at Glenorchy and secondary colleges in Burnie and Hobart.  Our family also included a younger brother and sister.

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Cricket was always part of my upbringing.  I understand I slept with a cricket bat under the pillow from an early age having been 

encouraged by my father. Sleeping with dad listening to the Ashes radio broadcasts from England and scoring in the ABC book was a

an early memory.  From about ten I started playing in school teams and over the next sixty years never missed a season – cricket

was a constant in my life.

Somehow I batted left handed – otherwise I am right handed in everything I do.  I enjoyed bowling – the faster the better and

as the years progressed I committed my game to bowling to the extent I became a regular 10 or 11 in the batting order while

enjoying the new ball in the field.

School cricket was replaced with grade/club links at Glenorchy playing vocational cricket before employment transfers saw me at

several clubs – New Norfolk, South Hobart and Launceston before returning to Hobart and Glenorchy where I spent several seasons. 

I started work with the Commonwealth Bank in 1962 and in 1975 accepted a transfer to South Australia where I joined the SACA

club Adelaide. Along the way I had taken a great interest in sport administration.  At eighteen I became club secretary at South Hobart

and since have always had a hand running clubs and supporting associations that I have been involved with.  At each club I also

establishing club histories/records – something rarely undertaken.

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In 2000 I was elected to the Tasmanian Cricket Association Board as a Director a step I had long planned to take, but best left until

retirement enabled me to fully commit to cricket.  The election coincided with the redevelopment plans for the Bellerive Oval which

greatly interested me, particularly the plans to incorporate a museum and library in the new member’s complex.  I took on additional

responsibilities including a TCA club premiership study and a tribute to David Boon and the creation of a Field of Fame to honour

Tasmania’s outstanding cricketers.

In 2008 I was appointed chairman of TCA Grade cricket – now Premier League.  On my watch there were considerable changes –

some streamlining administration, others reflecting demographic, environment and commercial influences while the inclusion of

women’s cricket as well as the responsibility for introducing children to the game impacted heavily on club volunteers.

I remained on the Board for fifteen years.

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VCAUSA
What were your career highlights from your playing days? 

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Mike

I enjoyed success with the ball and from an early age was selected in Association representative teams.  In Tasmania in those days, with no opportunity to participate in the Sheffield Shield, intra-state competition between the three regions – South, North and North West – was the pinnacle

of team participation.  Sure there were occasional opportunities to represent the state playing against visiting touring teams from

abroad or even other state elevens but they tended to be exhibition games.  Visiting tour teams always enjoyed a holiday break in

Tasmania with matches in Hobart and Launceston.

So for most of us representation in TCA/NTCA XIs was special.  Over a ten year period I regularly played for both Association teams in

Colts and Senior triangular series played around the Christmas/New Year period.  I also toured NSW with a Tasmanian Colts team

that included Max Walker. 

In 1968 I was chosen to represent Tasmania in a 1st Class fixture in Hobart against the West Indies.  I was bowled for a duck by

Wes Hall and although belted around the park by Rohan Kanhai and Seymour Nurse I did clean bowl Clive Lloyd. It was my only

1st Class match as a player.  Later I would become one of the very few to both play and umpire 1st Class cricket in Australia.

Winning premierships is the highlight of any team player and at Glenorchy CC, there was success winning the TCA 1st Grade (1973-74)

and on either side three state One-Day Knockout Cups. There were titles in minor grades as well.

Hat tricks at school and later in Adelaide and five-plus wicket hauls are good memories as were the occasional special delivery to

claim an important wicket or smash a stump into pieces.  I guess my top score of 52 (twice) playing for Launceston CC in the NTCA

was another special moment for me in a career when too often an innings was cut short by the dismissal of my partner.

Another highlight was being selected in the first Over 60s Australian touring team to England in 2011 and awarded Man of the Match

in the 2nd ODI played in Wales

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VCAUSA
So what led you to Umpiring and where did you start your Umpiring Career?
 

Mike

By the time I reached 35 years my work commitments had started to impact on my ability to devote sufficient time to practice and

subtle ankle problems suggested my playing days were close to an end.  Had I remained in Tasmania the influences of my father and

grandfather to become a lawn bowler could have swayed me but a chance winter meeting with Keith Butler, the SACA umpire advisor,

in a Grenfell Street pub changed all that.

One never to seriously consider umpiring or the role played by these people I was encouraged to undertake the winter umpire school. 

Maybe because of my cricket background the suggestion of an advanced promotion was the key.  Anyway I passed the exam and in October 1979 was appointed to my first match – a 3rd Grade fixture with John Wilson between Adelaide University and Graduates on the Graduate’s ground adjacent to the Adelaide Zoo.  

It was not easy standing lower grade games.  Most of my playing career involved senior cricket so junior cricket where the unusual is often the norm – unorthodox batting techniques and irregular bowling patterns – demanded extra concentration.  It was a good learning process. The following season I was promoted to 1st Grade with Tony Crafter at Alberton Oval between Port Adelaide and Prospect.  The next season I was appointed to a state Under 23 match between Western Australia and Tasmania and a 4th Grade GF as well as umpiring twice in Hobart during a holiday break back home.  I felt very comfortable about my transition to umpiring – I considered being a former 1st Grade player assisted develop my rapport with players. The support umpires gave each other in Adelaide was also special.  It was easy to develop a team spirit with one’s fellow umpire and the senior umpires were only too willing to assist with my learning processes.

Mid-year 1983-84 season I was transferred to Melbourne and it was a well received appointment by SACA to allow me to officiate my last match at Bailey Reserve (the home ground of my former club) between Adelaide and East Torrens. During my time in South Australia I umpired 64 matches – 30 of them in 1st Grade.

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VCAUSA

When did you make the move to umpire with CV. Do do you remember your first match?

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Mike

Prior to my Victorian transfer the SACA provided VCA/VCAUA with a testimonial regarding

my umpiring career so the week after arrival in Melbourne I was appointed to a 2nd Grade

match at Windy Hill between Essendon and South Melbourne.  Former Tasmanian  Robert

Shaw opened the batting for the ‘Dons.

I was quite concerned where my career was headed two appointments later when I was

allocated a 3rd Grade match between University and St Kilda at Crawford Oval in Princess

Park where I had to change on a park bench.  It was quite a come-down having recently

stood on Adelaide Oval. I guess the Victorians had to make up their mind. 

Thankfully I must have met the criteria and I was allocated to stand in 1st Grade for the

last three rounds – initially at Jubilee Park in Ringwood v HEM – with Adrian Crawley. 

It was interesting to sense a difference between the way cricketers from the two states

approached their game – an aggression yet an appreciation of opponents was more

noticeable in Melbourne than Adelaide.  Umpires were generally more experienced having 

undertaken the learning ropes in junior associations in Melbourne.  I suspect there were

very few new-chums who were elevated to 1st Grade in their initial season.  Yet very few

Victorian umpires have become Australian Test umpires in comparison to those from the

Adelaide nursery. I have never been able to comprehend that for, in my time the doyen

of umpire advisors, the guru of cricket knowledge was Bill Smythe.  He had such a beautiful

way to communicate and his teaching skill was exceptional.  It was a pleasure to have

known him and learn from him as well. I enjoyed my three and a half seasons officiating

cricket in Victoria immensely. It was a wrench accepting an employment transfer back to

Tasmania in a senior management role. I knew my umpiring career would take a hit with such a move but for once cricket took a back step.  Anyway I wasn’t sure the move would be a long term one as changes in the banking industry could well have seen me back in Melbourne after a couple of years in Hobart where I was the State Manager Banking Operations

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VCAUSA
What are some of the highlights from your Victorian Career?

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Mike

By the time I transferred to Tasmania in October 1987 I’d officiated in 59 matches, including 45 1st Grade fixtures, made my debut as a 1st Class umpire and stood in ten other representative matches.  In all I’d been 133 days out in the middle during my time in Victorian cricket the most in any of the three states I umpired in.

In January 1985 Angelo Nicosia and I were appointed to officiate in the 5th Test match of the Australia and England Women’s Jubilee Test Series to be played at Bendigo.  It was a great occasion – Australia won the match by seven wickets and the series (for the first time). The Australians were dominant with Jill Kennare making 104 and their captain, Raelene Thompson, taking 5/33 in the English girls’ first innings. Media coverage was quite extensive and the match, played over three days, attracted good crowds of 1600+ each day – it was a good experience for me.

Some amusing moments:

• While one of the English batters was running she found her bra strap had broken.  She was at my end and inquired if I had a safety pin and what she wanted me to do with it.  I explained if I did and went anywhere near her, both she and I would be on the front page of the “Melbourne Sun” the next morning.  We both laughed and I called one of the Australian fielders over and handed her the pin to carry out the necessary repairs.  The next day a picture of the two girls with me looking on was on the second back page of the paper.

• My colleague, Angelo, suffered stomach cramps mid afternoon on the second day.  Several players were also sick and the cause was directed to one of the casseroles served at lunch.  A local Bendigo umpire stood as substitute for Angelo through remainder of the session, but when I indicated at drinks that I too was feeling poorly, the word went out and by afternoon tea there were three other local umpires dressed and waiting for me to keel over too. Just like the Hitchcock film “The Birds”.

Three weeks later, Len King and I were appointed to stand a one-day international between Victoria and England also at Bendigo. David Gower was captain of the English XI. The match was part of the Victorian 150th Anniversary celebrations; we each received a medallion.  Bill Smythe was pleased with my performance and indicated I had been short-listed for higher honours.

A 1st Class appointment came as a Christmas present for me and my partner David Holden when the VCA decided to give the traditional Victoria v NSW Sheffield Shield clash on 20 – 23 December 1985 at the MCG to two rookies.  But before that match we were trialed at a state second eleven match between Victoria and South Australia at the Albert Ground on 2-5 December.  Victoria won by nine runs in a thriller – someone broke in overnight and stole over $2,000 worth of gear from the visitors’ rooms. Paul Reiffel and Paul Jackson were to progress to long first class careers.

It was the very best of news to learn from Bill Smythe, who tracked me down at a seminar on home insurance I was delivering at Shepparton, that I’d been given a Shield appointment, and I was on a high for quite some time. The match was however a disappointment for rain curtailed much of the playing time; when it did improve, only the two umpires and the small number of spectators who’d braved the conditions on the final day where interested in playing. It is a sad scenario that the cream of state cricketers only want to play when it suits them – out there are thousands who’d give an eye tooth just to walk onto the hallowed turf.

Ray Bright was Victoria’s captain and regretfully, Dirk Wellham was the NSW skipper.  Dean Jones was Victoria’s vice-captain so there was always going to be a lot of demands on the umpires. On day one, NSW scratched out 241 with Mark Taylor and twenty-year old Steve Waugh making heavy weather of a slow-turner before Geoff Lawson smashed 63. Ray Bright bowled 36 overs on the trot from my end to take 6/74 and by stumps I was pretty tired concentrating on the spinning ball all day but we’d had a good run of decisions so were rather pleased at the end of play.

By the end of day two, Jones had become the first player dealt with under the ACB’s new code of behaviour.  He was disappointed over my decision to give him out for 12 – indicating the ball had come off his boot rather than bat, and uttered obscenities towards the umpire as he left the field. Unknown to the umpires, Jones fronted the Commissioner at stumps and was given a suspended $350 fine for abusive language and public criticism of umpires. The “Age” ran a cartoon showing Jones with his boot in his mouth. Anyway on the field, Victoria crawled to 6/182 from 89 overs with Greg Matthews reeling down 25 consecutive overs from my end with only the one delivery causing grief.

Victoria inched to 9/273 with Paul Hibbert making 148 before Bright declared and in the remaining three hours play, the Blues’ Taylor, Steve Small and Wellham eased to 1/154 to ensure the game was “dead in the water”. Again there were some disputed decisions but the two captains decided to use us as punching bags when it started to rain claiming it dangerous to play in; they bitched about the condition of the ball, and made the most of the fact we were both in our first match.

Small went on to make 123 and NSW were 3/319 when the match was concluded at 5.30pm with the captains’ agreement – one of the few things they seemed to agree on during the entire match. Wellham was quoted in the paper as saying, “The attitude in appealing for dismissals was I thought, quite wrong. Handstands and cartwheels are unnecessary when you are appealing. It creates tension between the teams and makes it hard for the umpires to cope, but I thought they did fairly well.”

I was back in Bendigo with Angelo Nicosia again in February 1986 to officiate in the New Zealand Youth Tour of Australia. The Kiwi XI proved a little stronger than the Victorian U19 XI, winning by 34 runs. Apart from Geoff Allardice none of the players on either side advanced to 1st Class ranks.

The following season provided me with further honours with appointments to two of three matches involving the Indian Youth Tour of Australia. I stood the 3rd Test against Australia in Shepparton on 4–7 December with David Holden and a few days later, the second – a one-day international between the two teams, with Angelo Nicosia again back at the MCG.  Players to make their name later included Joe Scuderi, Ali de Winter and Geoff Parker (Australia), and Venkatapathy Raju (India).  Australia was too strong winning the Test by ten wickets with a day to spare and the ODI by 87 runs.

In January 1987, Victoria hosted the National Under 17 Championships and I was appointed to the MCG final (again with David Holden) between NSW and Victoria. NSW won the title after recovering from 5/29 to reach 302 thanks to a brilliant 160 from Craig Chilvers.  Victoria made 209. Michael Slater was vice captain of NSW; the only others to progress to senior cricket in the carnival teams were, Greg Blewett, Shane George and Darren Lehmann (SA), Shaun Young and Dene Hills (Tas), and Brendon Julian (WA).

Also in January 1987 I was appointed, with Angelo Nicosia to the State 2nd XI match between Victoria and Western Australia at the Albert ground – a game of high scoring.  Doug Harris hit up 193 in WA’s score of 6/507 declared and Victoria replied with 537 with Ian Frazer making 195.  Darrin Ramshaw, Peter Gonnella and Mark Lavender (WA) later played Shield while Colin Miller (Vic) played Test cricket.

The following week I was back in the grades and watching the runs flow at St Kilda where the home team flayed the University attack to score 4/416 with Tasmanian influence, David Robinson (143) and Stephen Maddocks (113) had a first wicket partnership of 193; both were club records.

My last match in Melbourne was at South Melbourne in October 1987 – an interesting game involving Rodney Hogg, captain of Waverley, and Graham Yallop, the South Melbourne captain. Both had South African connections. Hogg was making his debut back in the VCA and there was an apartheid demonstration at the ground. ABC TV and a plethora of media were on hand for a big story. The threat of a pitch invasion failed to eventuate and the rent-a-crowd dwindled away mid afternoon – at least the jazz aerobics in the adjacent clubrooms was entertaining.

During my association with VCACUA I joined the committee as Treasurer and felt a close affinity for a number of my umpiring colleagues. Apart from David Holden and Angelo Nicosia whom I shared a number of senior appointments, Dan Bomford, Robin Bailhache, Len King and Darrell Holt were not only top umpires but good mates.

Every second year the Victorian and South Australian Umpires would alternatively host an Easter exchange visit.  I was fortunate to play for both sides a couple of times; enjoying a win for both SA and Victoria

VCAUSA

And after Victoria?

Mike

In Tasmania the umpiring structure was fragmented. In fact cricket was undergoing a major upheaval. A command group led by Denis Rogers was elected to replace the TCA Board and in turn his group took control of Tasmanian cricket from the Tasmanian Cricket Council. It was a time when the ACB was threatening Tasmania with the boot.  “Get it’s act in order or return to the second division.”  As a consequence cricket relocated its headquarters to Bellerive Oval. 

Even umpiring had its own divisive administration under the guise of the Tasmanian Cricket Umpires Council consisting of representatives of the three regions. It had a constant squabble with the TCC over umpire accreditation and state appointments. Little was done to improve umpiring standards yet out of the mire Steve Randell emerged as one of Australia’s finest umpires – sadly to fall out of favour following indiscretions as a younger man and spending time in prison.

Tasmania’s umpires did not have the benefit of the experience of others from interstate – their skills were home grown and ‘inbred’. Generally, the visiting teams considered Tasmanian umpires a ‘bit of a joke’ and it was against this background that Steve Randell made his mark on the international cricket scene.  Firstly he was fortunate to have an administrator like Bob Ingamells, Tassie’s delegate to the ACB, who tirelessly fought to have Tasmania represented on the National Umpires Panel. 

Steve was the first such appointment and in his first match – a day-

nighter in Sydney between Australia and Pakistan, he gave Javed

Miandad run out by a whisker.  Richie Benaud called it the best

decision he’d seen.  It was good, it was right – so right in fact Steve

could have been accused of a hometown decision; certainly the benefit

of the doubt went against the Pakistani. Steve had established himself,

not just because he didn’t make many mistakes, but his laid-back

nature appealed to the players as did his penchant to hand out ‘minties’

and ‘jelly-babies’ from an endless supply in his pockets.

My arrival in Tasmania and appointment to 1st Class fixtures by the

TCC was disputed by the TCUC who insisted I undertake their

examination before being elevated to umpire at the state level. It

caused a ruckus.   I was the meat in the sandwich.  The state

selectors appointed me to stand in an International match in Hobart

on 23rd January 1988 between Tasmania and Sri Lanka with David Gregg.

It was the very first 1st Class match played at Bellerive Oval.

My next appointment – a Shield match with Victoria – a week later, was

with Randell at the NTCA Ground in Launceston. It was an unusual

experience for me, coming home and umpiring a 1st Class match in which

I knew all the visiting players and only a couple of the home team. 

It was a great match which went down to the wire with Tasmania holding the Victorian attack at bay with one wicket in hand when stumps were called.  I enjoyed the match and the friendship of the players as well as standing with Steve.

The next match a few days later was in Hobart, this time Western Australia was Tasmania’s opponent and I felt for the first time just how lonely the local umpires must have felt.  WA fielded and throughout the morning session I was paid the customary courtesies by the bowlers, but nothing more.  Just before drinks in the afternoon session, Tom Moody eased up next to me at square leg and got involved in a conversation.  Obviously he knew all about my umpiring, my vocation and recent transfer; I had the feeling during the first three hours that I was been tested – sorted out.  Thereafter all the West Australians would take time out to talk and I didn’t have any ‘minties’ either.

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It was a busy period for on 24 February we were back in Launceston for back-to-back Shield and McDonald Cup games against Queensland.   The captains were Brian Davison and Allan Border.  It was Ian Healy’s first class debut.  Dennis Lillee, out of retirement, had joined Tasmania adding to the pleasure and enjoyment of cricket enthusiasts while Ian Botham played for Qld.  Tasmania won the Shield match by 94 runs with David Boon scoring centuries in each innings - Tas 481 (David Boon 108, Trevor Hohns 5/115) & 8/290dec (David Boon 143) d Qld 5/363dec (Greg Trimble 138*) & 314 (Robbie Kerr 96, Claye Young 6/120) and the following day won the one-dayer by five wickets - Qld 8/150 lt Tas 5/151 (David Boon 73).  Of interest they used orange balls.

It was a special year for me but the following season, 1988-89, was to be my last as a practicing umpire in 1st Class cricket. I stood in two matches, both in Devonport between Tasmania and NSW and Queensland, but by this stage it was becoming difficult to take time off work to officiate as my employer, the Commonwealth Bank, had the view my role as one of the state managers was more important than playing cricket. On reflection the Bank had been most generous over the years with special leave approval whenever requested.

During this time the ACB appointed Tony Crafter, a former Test Umpire, to become the National Director of Umpiring and set up a structure to be implemented in each state. I travelled to Melbourne for several meetings with the other Umpiring Directors and returned with a brief to restructure umpiring in Tasmania.  It had the blessing of TCA Chairman, Denis Rogers, who over lunch one day, requested I dismantle the TCUC. The following season I took over as the State Umpire Director.

On reflection I know the standard of umpiring in Tasmania improved; umpires now feel good about themselves and are confident to communicate and handle the competitiveness of the first class scene; they also looked good for I’d made some real progress with dress standards, appearance and address.  No more were Tasmanian umpires considered from ‘Hicksville’.  I’d also like to think that Steve Randell became a better umpire – I know his attitude to the ‘umpiring team’ changed and he no longer had the need to ‘feed’ lollies to the fielding team.

I carried on until the end of 1991-92 when I retired completely from umpiring at Grade level.  My son David was entering his teenage years and I was keen to support his sporting interests so my involvement in cricket took a back seat besides one of my protégés, Bernard Knight, had become the TCA Umpire Advisor and the reigns of office were in good hands.

Since we have seen Tasmania produce a number of excellent umpires – three are presently on the National Panel – Sam Nogajski, Michael Graham-Smith and Darren Close. The latter stood with me in Devonport all those years ago before moving to the UK for vocational opportunities.

By the time I retired from umpiring in Tasmania I’d officiated locally in 66 games on 111 days. In all I had umpired for eleven seasons – 211 games over 360 days – that’s a year in one’s life!  This included 21 first class and other representative matches and twelve finals.  My 1st Grade list included 118 appointments – 30 in SACA Adelaide, 45 in VCA Melbourne and 43 in TCA Hobart

VCAUSA
Any other highlights from CA Matches?

Mike

During my time all Test cricket in Australia was officiated by local umpires – it wasn’t until 2002 that only “neutral” international umpires were appointed to Test cricket. As such the number of Australians to actually stand at the highest level has plateaued out with only a few appointed at a time to the ICC Senior Panel. This raises an unusual statistic I can claim as it is possible, having officiated in three different states, that I have stood with more Test umpires in Australia than any other. In total I have officiated with twelve Test umpires – Max O’Connell, Robin Bailhache, Bruce Martin, Tony Crafter, Peter Cronin, Dick French, Daryl Harper, Len King, Ray Isherwood, Rex Whitehead, Bill Sheahan and Steve Randell

VCAUSA
What do you do outside of cricket? Are you still involved in cricket?

Mike

I have remained a student of The Laws of Cricket and pride myself on a good knowledge. Often I am still asked for a clarification for the interpretation of the Laws – always a talking point. In this regard for some time I have been Veteran Cricket Australia’s Umpire Liaison Manager – a role assisting VCA with Laws and Playing Conditions and Championships Appointments.

As well, following a decision to withdraw of playing following a knee operation in 2015, I have officiated at annual VCA championships as well as local veteran social cricket matches. A decision by Cricket Tasmania to introduce an Over 40’s Grade was enough to have me re-register as a TCUSA umpire in 2017 and since I have made myself available to stand most weekends – mostly in 2nd and 3rd Grades assisting new umpires – a role I have welcomed.

In 2019 I was honoured with an Australia Day OAM for services to cricket and Cricket Tasmania approved Life Membership for my services to the Association – only the thirtieth in over 150 years. I am also the Patron of TCUSA

VCAUSA
Is there any advice you’d give to up and coming Umpires now?

Mike

Having returned in recent times to umpire at CTPL Grade level and assist with the development of new umpires I have great faith in the organisation structure that supports grade and community cricket. We are well supported with funding and technology is far better than in my playing days.

Umpiring has moved well with the times. Computer aids especially have assisted develop training facilities and attention to personal development provided by advisors, support scrutineers and senior umpires is quite good – certainly in Tasmania and I have no reason to believe the same doesn’t apply interstate. Perusal of internet web-sites suggests we are all on the same page.

The appointment of interstate officials to CA matches across Australia assists in sharing skills and I can but hope the time is close whereby Australian umpires will again stand Test cricket matches in this country.

The resources available to umpires to learn about the Laws of Cricket are excellent and it is important to take every opportunity to study them – even familiarity with the unusual circumstance for you never know when such a situation may arise.  That’s cricket.

It is important newcomers appreciate the importance of teamwork, concentration and honesty – by doing so the art of umpiring can be a most rewarding experience and vocation.

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VCAUSA

Many thanks for sharing some of your time today Mike. It's very much appreciated. Good luck in your future and go well.