Cricket Umpires Australia
Umpire profiles
| Born | Frankston, Victoria | |
| Occupation | Police Officer | |
| Favourite cricketer growing up | Dean Jones | |
| One word to describe you | Committed | |
| Favourite sporting team | Richmond Tigers | |
| Which cricket club did you play for | Rowville Cricket Club | |
| First ever job | Sales Assistant | |
| Who would play you in a movie | Tom Cruise | |
| Favourite holiday destination | Lombadina – Western Australia | |
| Which sporting event in the world would you love to attend | NFL Superbowl | |
| Favourite food | Roast lamb | |
| Which talent do you wish you had | The ability to build. I haven’t got a handy bone in my body | |
| What's the best advice you've received from someone | “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
I’ve always felt embracing your fears will allow you to overcome them |
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| If you could invite three people to dinner, who would they be |
Gregg Popovich – I would like to learn about his leadership and development styles Aung San Suu Kyi – I am fascinated with her story and passion John Howard – I am interested in his decision making process particularly in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars |
UMPIRING BACKGROUND
| Why did you choose umpiring? | My last couple of seasons of playing with the Rowville Cricket Club, I sustained a snapped achilles, broken jaw and knee reconstruction. As a result, I decided to retire from playing however wanted to remain involved in the game. I went to the Winter Classes in Victoria and enjoyed learning the laws of cricket and the challenges umpiring offered. I applied and was successful in joining the Cricket Victoria Panel and haven't looked back. | |
| Who has had the most influence on your umpiring career? | The two most influential people in my umpiring career have been Bob Parry and Richard Patterson. Both have provided unwavering support, advice and guidance that has assisted my development | |
| Describe your memories from your First Class debut | I was fortunate enough to see my first hatrick at my end. Doug Bollinger was the bowler and he got the wickets of Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain and Scott Boland, the last of which was LBW. On day 3, Nathan Lyon bowled 33 consecutive overs from my end. He was getting significant turn and bounce and it was a fantastic challenge |
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| Which is your favourite cricket ground to umpire at and why | The Melbourne Cricket Ground. The atmosphere and history is unprecedented in Australian sport | |
| What's the strangest thing you've seen happen on field | I was umpiring a premier cricket match when a large swarm of bees swept across the ground. The locals had seen it many times before and immediately all got on the ground until the swarm passed. One of the opposition players though he could outrun the swarm and was bitten multiple times. After establishing he was okay we all had a good laugh at his expense | |
| Greatest cricket moment you've seen on field | I was fortunate enough to watch Colin de Grandhomme smash 210n.o in the National Championships in New Zealand. He faced only 120 balls. He hit the ball to every part of the ground and it was a pleasure to be in the middle and watch the onslaught | |
| If you could invent a new rule for the game, what would it be | I love the game the way it is | |
| Why should people get involved in umpiring? | You get the best seat in the house to watch the greatest sport. Whilst umpiring you will see the physical and mental challenges faced by the players and the way these players face fear and adversity. Umpiring also teaches you people management skills that are transferable to other aspects of your life. More importantly, you will learn a lot of about yourself and how you manage difficult situations | |
| What advice would you give to aspiring umpires? | First and foremost you need to enjoy the challenges umpiring has to offer and the game in general. Umpire each match to the best of your ability as it is a Test match for those participants. Ensure you have a multi-faceted approach to improvement. 1 - Fitness; 2 - Knowledge of laws and playing conditions; 3 - Technique/self-development; 4 - Preparation. If you improve these four areas, your umpiring performance will also improve |