Ostend T20

18-04-2010

With the IPL fever on in India, Belgium is also not lagging behind. Ostend CC is organizing T20 knock out tournament with 8 teams participating in it. Why I am writing about this? Obviously, I had an opportunity to umpire in the tournament.

As per the tournament schedule I had to umpire only in one game (as a field umpire) and incidentally and that happened to be the first game of the tournament. For the second game I was the reserve umpire.

Ostend is in the coastal side of Belgium and approximately 2 hours drive from Brussels by car. I got a lift from my colleague Richard Eames (current ECC umpire, who was the reserve umpire for the first game). We started around quarter to 9 and reached the ground around 11 am. We were the first to reach the ground. The match was supposed to start at 1200 hours. We were surprised not to see even the organizers, leave alone the teams. Soon Scotty also reached the ground with Steve Tovey (Former ECC elite panel umpire from The Netherlands) and Peter De Boeck (Former ECC umpire).

Around 1115, Ostend Exiles, the team playing the first game arrived. Soon after that the organizers also arrived. We umpires were discussing the regulations of the game and other things (including IPL). The other team, Arcadians arrived only around 1145. The ground was also not ready, so their delay did not have any impact on the start of the game.

Steve and myself were supposed to umpire the first game. Richard, we on field umpires and the captains went to the middle of the square for the toss. Exiles won the toss and elected to bat first. We decided for a 1215 start. It was a very pleasant weather, unlike the last weekend. Learning by last weeks experience, this week I was wearing a full sleeves shirt.

Before the start of the game, Steve asked me which end I would prefer. I said anything is ok. He then said, "You missed an opportunity to prove that you were a good umpire". I asked, "Why?". He said, "Whenever your colleague asks this question, you should choose the end, towards which wind is blowing. This would assist you in making decisions on nicks.". The game had not begun and already I had my first learning. Then he allowed me to take the end towards which the wind was blowing. Incidentally that happened to be the end from where the first over was to begin. So that would mean that I would call "Play". I like this very much. More in this case as this was the first game of the tournament.

I counted the number of players on field, checked with batsmen if they were ready, checked with the fielding captain, checked with Steve if he was ready, checked with scorers if they were ready and finally called "Play". The first ball pitched short, at a very comfortable height for the batsman, he went for a full blodded shot, could not middle it, nicked to the keeper and the keeper dropped it. An auspicious start for the Arcadians.

This T20 tournament regulations were close to the ICC T20, and thus they had free hit for a foot fault. I was watching the bowler's foot carefully. There was no luck for me to call a "No Ball" in the first innings. Though in the second innings, I had my chance. This bowler was bowling very close to the return crease. In this process, his back foot landed on the return crease and I had to call a "No Ball". Then I signalled for the Free Hit. This was the first time I had signalled for Free Hit.

During the game, we also had to take off the bowler for dangerous bowling. The Arcadian bowler, bowled two full pitched ball above the waist height in the same over and had been given warning by Steve. This was the final warning. The same bowler came back to bowl, but this time from my end. It was his second over. He once again bowled a full pitched ball above wait and I had to call No ball and take him off. Another first for me in this game.

We had to keep a close eye on the time. The innings was supposed to last only for 1 hour 20 mins. Arcadians did pretty well to bowl their 20 overs in 1 hour 15 mins itself. But they allowed Exiles to score way too many runs. Exiles set Arcadians a target of 244 in 20 overs, which in my opinion was a impossible target. That is how it turned out to be. Arcadian were all out for 81 but in 20 overs. So no early finish. Exiles also did very well to completed the 20 overs in the alloted time.

It was almost two weeks ago (today it is May 3) that I went for this game and now I do not remember much of the game. So I will stop here. Till next time bye.

First game of the season ...

The season for cricket has not started officially here in Belgium, but clubs have already started playing some friendly games to get into the zone before the league actually starts.

So I got a mail from the secretary of our umpire's association on April 9 asking me for my availabilty on the Sunday, i.e. April 11 for a friendly game. I was in fact tempted to say yes, as it had been a long time that I umpired and what is more better than a friendly game to start with. But then I had to give it a second thought. The IPL team that I support, Rajasthan Royals had a very important game that day. I was afraid that without my support, they could lose (which eventually they did). But this game was in Jaipur and their record in Jaipur so far was clean, I mean they had never lost there. So going by that myth I took a risk and accepted the invitation for umpiring (which was a terrible mistake as Royals not only lost but lost miserably).

This was game between Antwerp Cricket Club and Arcadian cricket club to be played in Rumst (near Antwerp). It was home ground for A.C.C. The game was about to start at 1330. It was a 40 overs game. So as per the Laws of Cricket, the umpires have to be there atleast 45 minutes before the game starts. Since I do not have a car, my collegue for the day Scotty (who is also the secretary of our association) offered me a lift. I had to be at the predefined pick-up point near Brussels Airport.

Sunday i.e. on April 11, I woke up early (around 9 am). Yes, by Sunday's standard, this is early. I did my daily chores and got ready by 11 am. Left my home about 1130 am clad in the umpire's attire (White T-Shirt,black trousers and white shoes). It was bright and sunny and I thought it would be a nice time out there in the middle. I was also a bit excited to have this opportunity of practice, before the actual league starts. I reached the pick up spot around 1220. Met Scotty and exchanged pleasantaries. Then we started off to the ground.

We reached the ground around 1245. The home team was present in full strength doing warm-up and some fielding drills. We met Jeremy there, member of the club and one of the umpires in the panel, also the webmaster of BLACU's website (http://www.blacu.be/). It was breezy out there in the ground. Scotty and myself went around the ground to have a feel of the ground. The sun went off and we started to feel the drop in the temperature. I was wearing only a T-Shirt, and in my mind I was thinking how would I stand out there in the middle for 40 overs in this condition. It was already 1330 and the visiting team had not shown. So already a delayed start was on the cards.

Around 1335 we saw the first signs of the visiting team reaching the ground. We met both the captains and took the team sheets. It was decided that they will have a 14 a side game. The visitors had only 12, so the home team loaned 2 of their players. This would mean that at any point of time only 11 players will be on the field but all 14 will bat. There can be any number of substitutions and law with respect to player occupying the field after he has gone out will have no role to play.

When we came back to prepare ourself for the game, my colleague was kind enough to lend me his fleece. This helped a lot to counter the cold weather (at least to begin with). We went for the toss. The home captain tossed the coin, the visiting captain called heads and the result was tails. The home captain decided to bat. We agreed that we would reduce the game to 35 overs a side and the game would start at 1355.

The game started and I started at the Striker's end. It was cold and I was wondering if I could pass the endurance test. The second over, which was my firt over from the bowling end began with a wide. With the cold wave, I was happy to strech my arms to signal it. It was not an auspicious start and it was evident in a minute when the bowler went for a six in the same over. I was happy now to strech my arms above the head to signal six. Not bad exercise in a cold weather. The over was an action packed one. The batsment who was hitting effortlessly was now at a non striker end. I do not exactly know what went through his mind. He all of a sudden went for a non existing single, when the batsman hit the ball to mid off. It was an easy run out decision at my end. Another chance to strech my arm.

The bowling from Arcadians ws not exceptional. They were viewing the game as just a practice opportunity and in my opinion, there was no intent of winning that was visible. There were lot of catches dropped. But with the cold weather, no one would have dared to take the skiers. The home team set visitors a target of 204 in 35 overs, which was indded a good target.

I was releived at the end of the first innings. It was too cold to stand out there. I just verified the scores with the scorers and rushed into the club house. We were served with the lunch. There was vegetable sandwiches and I was releived that there was something vegetarian. It was getting coler and colder and the thought of another 35 overs was making me nervous. My colleague was again very generous and he understood the situation very well and gave another windsheeter to wear on. So now I was clad in the fleece and the windsheeter. This gave me some more comfort and strength to stand out there in the middle for another 35 overs.

The chase was not great but the bowling was very good. The fielding was also much better than the visiting team. But since it was 14 a side, there were plenty of batting to come. The batting lasted till the 35 overs and the visiting team could score only 142 losing 11 wickets. The ordeal for me was now over and I could get into the club house. We spent there some time and then Scotty and myself left the ground. It wass very warm in his car and I was very happy. He dropped me back in the airport. By the time I reached home it was 9 pm and I was very tired.

The much awaited season had un-officially begun and it was a cold start. Hoping that the coming days on the field would be better.