While the Western NSW Junior Cricket Carnivals are a great way for players from all over the state to strut their stuff on turf wickets, there’s also huge benefit to the town.
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While many aspects are often spoken about – for example, the economic boon and the exposure for cricket in the city – but the city’s umpires also have 10 days of experience on the field.
It’s especially good for younger umpires, who will have two weeks alongside experienced umpires to hone their craft.
One of those is 15-year-old Tom Anderson, who has been umpiring for two years.
He said the carnival was a fantastic chance for him to learn.
They always come up to you and say ‘that wasn’t out, it wasn’t’ but I say ‘mate it was plumb’.
- Tom Anderson
“It’s really good experience, the more experience you get the better you’ll be. Four days straight it more experience and longer game periods day after day,” he said.
Anderson was away for last year’s Western carnival, but had the chance to take part in the over-50s national competition at Easter and said the ODCA took care to pair him with an experienced umpire.
Umpiring chief Steve Warrington said he wanted to ensure he, Ian Findlay and other experienced umpires had the chance to work with their young charges.
“We try not to be dictatorial, we try and guide them,” he said.
He echoed Anderson’s sentiments on the carnival.
“It’s a really good experience for these guys,” he said.
“It’s a bonus for us to have them. I know the people down at Bathurst are very envious of us, and it’s great for us but also for the boys.
“If they move on from Orange for uni or work, they can take umpiring with them and it can be something to fall back on.”
Anderson said he wasn’t thinking that far ahead – for him it’s a chance to see his mates still involved with cricket and be around the sport while making some cash on the side.
“My dad looked at the course one day and said ‘you’d be good at that’, so I went along and found it interesting how the game works and that there are a lot of rules you don’t see as a player,” he said.
“Sometimes it can be hard in long periods of time but you’re always in the game waiting for something to happen.”
He said the players, parents and spectators in Orange had a good attitude towards his umpiring.
”Everyone’s pretty good normally and people respect your judgement, if it’s just off and really tight and you call it not out they’ll respect your decision. You know you’re not going to get harassed for making a bad call,” he said.
He said the only exception was when he fired his mates on LBW decisions.
“They always come up to you and say ‘that wasn’t out, it wasn’t’ but I say ‘mate it was plumb’,” Anderson said laughing.
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Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
