BEST IN NSW: Cricket umpire Ricky Field of Scone has won the NSW Cricket Umpire of the Year trophy for the third time.
Good reflexes are a prerequisite of a good cricket player. They are also an asset to a good cricket umpire.
For Scone country cricket umpire, Ricky Field, taking up umpiring was a natural progression after his “body couldn’t keep up with the game” anymore.
“I just love cricket and I still wanted to be involved with the game, which is why I decided to try umpiring when the body started slowing down,” Mr Field told The Scone Advocate.
Taking up the top job in 1999, Mr Field has risen to the top of his field winning the NSW Cricket Umpire and Scorers Association trophy for NSW Country Umpire of the Year three times, including the 2011/12 season.
“It’s a great honour to be recognised for doing a good job,” Mr Field said.
The award is calculated on points collated from his umpiring performance at approximately twenty representative games a year including the NSW Country Cricket Championships and the Sydney Cricket Ground Cup by team captains and managers.
Mr Field said a good umpire had to understand the cricket laws, have a good rapport with players and an ability to manage difficult circumstances.
“I think I’m quite resilient, particularly against player’s constant appeals,” Field said.
“I am also very fortunate that I have a very understanding wife and children as the season can take up a lot of time over the weekends.
“I just love the camaraderie, meeting so many different people and learning from other national rated umpires,” he said.
When not umpiring, Mr Field still enjoys watching cricket on television.
“I have to stop myself sometimes, I am always critiquing the umpire’s decisions,” Mr Field said.