Cricket Umpires Australia
Umpire profiles
| Born | Melbourne, Victoria | |
| Occupation | Police Officer | |
| Favourite cricketer growing up | Geoff 'Swampy' Marsh | |
| One word to describe you | Tenacious | |
| Favourite sporting team | Hawthorn Hawks | |
| Which cricket club did you play for | Richmond, Richmond Union and Kew Cricket Clubs | |
| First ever job | Umpiring indoor cricket | |
| Who would play you in a movie | Tom Hanks I suppose, but it would be a pretty boring movie | |
| Favourite holiday destination | Anywhere on a cruise ship | |
| Which sporting event in the world would you love to attend | Hard to choose between the NFL Super-bowl, or anywhere watching the Socceroos in a Football World Cup | |
| Favourite food | Lamb roast | |
| Which talent do you wish you had | Playing professional golf | |
| What's the best advice you've received from someone | Back yourself | |
| If you could invite three people to dinner, who would they be | Craig Bellamy and Alistair Clarkson to give me insights into being two of the best coaches in Australian sport, and therefore the best managers of young people. Also Gerard Whately to interview them both |
UMPIRING BACKGROUND
Why did you choose umpiring?
I realised my playing career wasn’t panning out as I had hoped, and I wanted to be involved with the game at a higher level
Who has had the most influence on your umpiring career?
Former coach and first class umpire Bob Stratford, as well as colleague John Ward
Describe your memories from your First Class debut
At the beautiful Adelaide Oval. Partner was Rod Tucker (who kept a very relaxed mood). Bob Stratford was the Match Referee, and Daryl Harper, whom I’d never met, came down to watch me get presented with my shirts, and wish me well, which was fantastic also.
Brad Hodge made 195 (in what ended up being his final first class game). Victoria led by heaps on the first innings, but SA were saved by a day-long partnership between Daniel Harris and nightwatchman Cullen Bailey
Which is your favourite cricket ground to umpire at and why
MCG – Because of the History, and because it’s the best sports stadium in the world. As a kid, I was often there with my Dad at the G, dreaming of being out in the middle, and am now fortunate to get that opportunity
What's the strangest thing you've seen happen on field
At the Albert Ground in Melbourne, home of the Melbourne Cricket Club, where a 5 star hotel overlooks the ground. In the last few overs of a close and tense game between the two top 1st Grade sides, a couple in a hotel room were oblivious to the fact that they were being watched, in full view, by everyone on the field. The players on the field were giving a complete and ongoing commentary of the hotel room for more than half an hour, and the closeness of the game seemed like it was the last thing from their minds
Greatest cricket moment you've seen on field
Umpiring the final day of Fawad Ahmed’s first class debut for Victoria, when the opposition seemed completely bamboozled from top to bottom. Also, Evan Gulbis making 229 for Tasmania, batting at number 8, and following it up by getting 10 wickets for the match
If you could invent a new rule for the game, what would it be
Four run penalty (and a free hit) for every no-ball. Hopefully then the bowlers wouldn’t even get close to the line
Why should people get involved in umpiring?
It’s a great challenge, and you meet the most fantastic people, in the best game in the world
What advice would you give to aspiring umpires?
Get to know the laws and playing conditions very well. An error of judgement is always forgiven and forgotten, but a playing condition error is talked about constantly