Concluded a long season 'in the coat' last Sunday, it had started on 22 April.
76 umpiring gigs of assorted levels. Well over 100 LBWs given - surely some of them must have been out
Highlights were my first games at Lords (OK, the Nursery End but still Lords) and The Oval and my first International (from one of the Test playing nations) player umpired.
One extremely tough and unpleasant League game. This resulted in two Disciplinary Reports (the first two I have ever submitted). One captain was done for orchestrating and leading persistent and excessive (in amount, volume and length) appeals and generally showing ill grace. He also, apparently, insulted me personally, although my colleague heard this I did not. If we'd both heard it he would have been well into the fire. One of his team mates was reported for illegal fielding (an automatic report) having left the field early in an over without umpires permission (he stepped into the trees to, ah hem, relieve himself) he came back on two balls later and happened to field the next delivery. Had he not fielded the ball we might have been able to have a quiet word of guidance on the correct protocol at the end of the over - as it wa,s penalty runs, and the automatic report, had to follow.
I admit I was quite down that evening and the following day, where I was lucky to do a game that, although serious, had two teams that play the game correctly, which helped get me back on the road.
Apart from that the League stuff was most enjoyable.
Comment of the season came in an U16s swish and giggle match involving two rather good private schools.
The ball is short and wide outside the off stump. The batsman sets up for the 'climb on' square cut that the delivery appears to deserve but the ball, after pitching, cuts in a bit. As a consequence the batsman has to adjust his shot and instead of giving it the kitchen sink gently steers it behind point.
A call from mid on.
"Ohhhhhh............. passive aggressive!................. He's got domestic issues!"
Psychoanalytical sledging!
I turned to the lad and applauded.
A fine comment wasted on the young.