Victoria’s cricket fields are seeing a welcome influx of umpires, with numbers soaring across the state. In the past 12 months alone, an impressive 451 new umpires have signed up, bringing the total active umpires in Victoria to a healthy 2,666. This represents a significant 20 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to Cricket Victoria’s General Manager of Premier and Community Cricket, Liam Murphy.
“We’ve experienced a substantial growth trajectory over the last three years,” Mr Murphy explained. “Prior to that, we faced considerable challenges. The impact of COVID-19 created significant hurdles for our umpiring cohort, but what we’ve witnessed in the last two to three years is consistent year-on-year growth.”
A Surge in Junior Umpires
A key focus for Cricket Victoria has been cultivating the next generation of officials, with a concerted effort to encourage more underage umpires into the game. This initiative has yielded remarkable results, with junior umpire numbers blossoming from virtually non-existent a few years ago to an impressive 765 current officials.
“The learning and development programs we’ve implemented in recent years have truly fostered a stronger connection within our community,” Mr Murphy noted.
Regional Hotspots Still Feeling the Pinch
Despite the statewide surge, Mr Murphy acknowledged that challenges persist in certain regional and metropolitan pockets of Victoria.
In the Sunraysia Cricket Association, located in the state’s north-west, the umpire shortage remains a pressing issue. The association currently has only 13 active umpires to officiate 21 senior matches each weekend. Chris Howes, the association’s Director of Umpiring, highlighted the stark reality: “In theory, we require 42 umpires to adequately cover all games. Even with a minimum of 24, we could potentially have one umpire per grade. Right now, we’re likely about 15 short of where we need to be.”
Mr Howes elaborated that while first and second-grade matches are generally covered, the association still faces occasional shortages for second-grade games. He identified recruiting new umpires as a difficult undertaking.
“Historically, we’ve often tried to recruit past players,” Mr Howes said. “They make excellent umpires because they possess a deep understanding of the game and its nuances.”
However, he pointed to the burgeoning popularity of masters cricket in recent years as a contributing factor to the decline in available umpires. “With more players participating in over-40s, 50s, and even over-60s and 70s cricket, they tend to extend their playing careers rather than transitioning to umpiring,” Mr Murphy observed.
Within the Sunraysia association, the existing umpire pool reflects this trend. Of the 13 umpires, three are over 70 years old, and six are over 60. Mr Murphy also noted that some umpires prefer officiating in lower grades due to the shorter match durations. “We’re understaffed, so they’ve been umpiring a lot of second-grade cricket, which involves 70 overs. I know they’ve been struggling a bit with the physical demands.”
The Gippsland Region’s Umpiring Gap
A similar scenario is unfolding in the Bairnsdale Cricket Association, nestled in Victoria’s Gippsland region. This association relies on approximately 12 umpires but would ideally need double that number to comfortably oversee all matches across a weekend.
David Kinsey, the Bairnsdale Cricket Association’s Umpire Advisor and a member of the Victorian Premier Cricket Umpire Panel, cited a declining interest in cricket among younger people. He believes the extended match durations and prolonged exposure to summer heat deter many. This trend, he noted, is also reflected in umpire recruitment.
Mr Kinsey further expressed concern over a perceived “slippage” in player behaviour towards umpires in Victorian country cricket. This, he feels, is actively discouraging individuals from taking up umpiring.
“People are increasingly reluctant to accept direction from an umpire on the field; they prefer to do their own thing and often believe they are always in the right,” Mr Kinsey stated. “It’s challenging to accept a decision when you’re wrong, especially when someone else is telling you you’re out or turning down your appeals. Being an umpire alone in the middle of the field with 11 players shouting at you can be an incredibly difficult position to be in.”
He expressed hope that improvements in player conduct would encourage more individuals to remain involved in the sport after their playing days conclude. “Younger guys and girls should play cricket for as long as they can,” Mr Kinsey advised. “And then, once their playing careers are over, they can bring that valuable experience across and take up umpiring.”
