Lancashire Association of Cricket Officials Newsletter May 2020 Welcome to the May LACO Newsletter, the second Special Interest Articles: we have issued since the ‘crisis’ began. I hope you and your families remain healthy and are keeping This month, Tim Mansfield, our safe. Communications Officer conducts a You will be aware that the ECB has announced that fascinating interview with our no cricket will be played before the beginning of President Tommy Wilson. We hope July at the earliest, I continue to be in regular this is the first of a series of contact with Lancashire Cricket and the local interviews, so if you have any ideas leagues and as soon as we get any further information we will let you know. There is plenty of of who you would like to see speculation about what the cricket season, if there interviewed in the future please let is one, will look like but the truth is nobody knows. us know. In addition, we have reports from both our Education Officer, Dave We may find out more on Tuesday when Tom Chaloner and our Development Officer, Harrison CEO of the ECB appears before a House of Peter Robinson as well as some Commons Select Committee but even this is likely comment from myself on a recent to be more about priorities and options being posting and discussion on our Facebook considered rather than any firm information. It page. There is also a quiz with a £25 seems highly unlikely we will have any cricket until prize to keep those grey cells working! the Government is in a position to introduce a ‘test- trace-isolate’ policy which is some weeks off yet. In the meantime I hope you enjoy the Newsletter. I must say a big thank you to all our contributors, if there is anything you would like to see covered or if want to contribute an article please get in touch. I hope you enjoy the Newsletter and remember to follow us on Twitter @Lancashire ACO and on our Facebook page. Keep well and keep safe. Tommy and a packed crowd watch Bishen Bedi bowl to Greg Chappell about equal numbers giving place on the first run, the Rob Hales writes: ‘out’ and ‘not out’. batsmen should be given not out despite the late dead ball call. So what is the right answer? I am sure you have all heard There was a player who Your starting point is Law 23 the old joke about the commented that he should Bye and Leg Bye. Englishman asking the be given out but I think that Law 23.2.1 states: Irishman for directions to was on the basis that the If a ball delivered by the Dublin, to which the player who made the bowler first strikes the Irishman replies “Well if I comment used to be a person of the striker, runs was going to Dublin I bowler who ‘only appealed shall be scored only if the wouldn’t start from here!” when they were out!’ Well this very much came umpire is satisfied that the to mind when I looked at striker has either attempted the recent excellent post to play the ball with the bat Clearly the process would made by Kevin Wilson of or tried to avoid being hit by involve the umpires taking possession of the match ball MCUA on the LACO the ball. and consulting and also Facebook site. 23.3 Leg Byes not to be awarded then states: ensuring the scorers were clear about what decision His question was: If in the circumstances of was finally made. As to You are the strikers end 23.2.2 the umpire considers umpire. Batsmen appears to whether the batsmen is out that neither of the or not well this is not play a shot but misses the conditions therein has been covered by the Laws and it ball, which hits his pad, they met, then Leg Byes shall not would be up to the umpires run and then return for a be awarded. on the day to resolve the second run, the fielder Then the important part: issue and make the returns the ball to the If the ball does not become appropriate apologies. wicketkeeper and the dead for any other reason What it does stress is the batsmen is just short of his the umpires shall call and importance of all umpires ground when the wicket is signal Dead Ball as soon as knowing, understanding put down fairly and there is the ball has reached the and applying the Laws of the game correctly. In this an appeal for a run out. As boundary or at the case the Law clearly states you raise your finger, completion of the first run. simultaneously your that the umpires must call colleague calls and signals ‘Dead Ball on completion of the first run.’ Can you dead ball, stating no shot The reasoning of most of imagine the scenes if this played. What is the the people who suggested happened off the last ball of the batsmen was out was outcome? the game with 2 needed to that because the ball does win! not automatically become Kevin went on to say this If you want to join in the Dead under Law 20 it must conversation please feel was something that has still be live and therefore free to email your views or happened to him on at least the batsmen should be even better join our group two occasions, I assume you given out. Whereas the ‘not on Facebook (Lancashire were at Strikers end Kev! outers’ view was that as the Scorers & Umpires LACO) The posting received a intention of the law only and also follow us on number of replies with just allows for a run out to take Twitter @LancashireACO contact David Chaloner on David Chaloner At this time, we would be [email protected] normally finalising our dates and he will attempt to dig writes: for our off season education out the answers you need. programme for 2020/1. For Firstly, commiserations to any number of reasons, we Thanks to Tim Mansfield for those who missed out on have left this in abeyance, setting up our Facebook the Stage 3 Course in not the least of which is our page to which you should March. It is hoped we will discussion with the have received an invitation. be able to go ahead with Lancashire Cricket Topics and scenarios seem this in the autumn. In the Foundation, which now has to be emerging daily and same vein, thanks to all overall responsibility for there is a pretty robust and those who had signed up to recruitment of umpires very informed level of accreditation after your across the county. debate on officiating topics. Stage 2 courses. This programme will be held In the meantime, if there Stay safe! over until 2021. are any queries over education matters, you can An Interview with Tommy Wilson As we hunker down during the Lockdown I took the time to interview one of the best known and much loved characters in the Lancashire umpiring world (Tim): Tommy, It’s great to talk with you as ever. Can I start with an easy one? When and where did you start umpiring? (Tommy): At age 14 I was a club umpire with my local team Bretherton. At 15yrs 6months I was accepted onto the Southport and District league panel for 1953. (Tim): You had a season on the first class list in 1978. One of the games you stood in was Middlesex v Nottinghamshire at Lord’s. Famous players – Randall, Rice and French for Notts;, Brearley, Radley, Gatting, Emburey, Edmonds and the frighteningly quick Wayne Daniel for Middlesex. What are your memories of the game? (Tommy): I was appointed to the reserve list of first-class umpire in 1976. In those days there was only two umpires on the reserved list. That season, due to David Evans, a test match umpire being taken ill, I was drafted in to umpire the Roses match at Headingly. In 1977 I again umpired on the reserve panel and once again I was called on. This time it was to umpire the Australians versus Northants. Greg Chappell scored 161 and Lennie Pascoe took six for sixty-eight, bowling himself back into the test team for the next test at Trent Bridge. I no balled him 7 times in the innings. In 1978 I was appointed to the first-class list. The game you mentioned at Lords, Middlesex versus Notts, we had trouble with light on the final day. We came off and were stood on the balcony looking at the dark clouds passing the ground. A spectator started to talk to us about weather and light conditions, when along came Mike Brearley the Middlesex captain, who said, ‘improving don’t you think, what if I bowl Edmonds and Emburey, would you start then?’. So off we went to talk to Notts. Derek Randall was sat there and said, ‘if you bowl the spinners, I’ll bat.’ Out we go. Brearley sets his field. Four slips, two gullies. Randall walked past me and said, ‘what’s going on, he’s not bowling’. The penny drops and I looked behind me. Twenty-five yards away in the gloom, stood Wayne Daniel, ready to bowl. Randall then had a confrontation with Brearley. Randall said, ‘I’m not facing him in this light’. Brearley said, ‘the light’s better, get on with it’. I looked over at my colleague at square leg, who came across.