10/08/2026
My thoughts regarding umpiring controversies and difficulties.
Umpiring friendly matches in difficult conditions is harder than doing it in a professional setting (that is, whatever you can watch on television or streamed on the internet, with a 3rd umpire, cameras and replays, with excellent wickets...).
Doing it the best you can requires several factors:
1) You must have a good knowledge of the laws of cricket (Laws of MCC, plus local traditions and regulations) - again, when an official league is played, neutral umpires, with official warrant, are officiating. At least, you must have the latest version of the Laws on your telephone...
2) One of the great problems is that most players don't know the laws themselves, so you must be in a position to explain these laws.
3) You must exercice caution - "benefit of doubt" must still hold (https://driftmost.substack.com/p/benefit-of-doubt) in favour of the batter. If something doesn't look right, it's not out (would it really have hit the wicket, was the line crossed, ball so low it in fact rolled, was the catch clean... so many possibilities). We cannot rely on replays...
4) Focus! Umpiring for 5 or 6 overs is all very nice, but a whole game is a different proposition.
5) Formal training should be mandatory. Unfortunately, in our region of France, no courses (either umpiring or scoring - not such a different subject) have been held since 2017 at least. I wish to redress this sorry state of affairs, but until all clubs are affiliated with one fédération or another, this cannot be done in a formal setting.
6) Know that whatever you do, no-one will be happy. Batters are never out, fielders will always think it's out...
