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| August 31, 2006 | Thursday | Sha'aban 6, 1427 |
ECB mulls assessment panel for umpires
LONDON, Aug 30: Umpire assessors are being considered by the England and Wales Cricket Board and controversial official Darrell Hair could be in line for the new role. The ECB will discuss introducing the assessors at its autumn meeting and up to five candidates could be selected.
Umpires will not have reports made about them at each county match but about five times a season.
Hair could be considered if he is no longer Test umpiring after the fall-out from The Oval ball-tampering row.
Peter Willey, chairman of the umpires' association, is in favour of the proposal and also for Hair to be a part of the new set-up.
This will provide constructive feedback and will be different to the issues the players are concerned with
Hair's international career is uncertain after he penalised Pakistan for ball-tampering on day four of the final Test against England.
As well as looking at the umpires' performance, the assessors will also act as coaches, able to offer advice.
Chris Kelly, the ECB's umpires and match referees manager, told newspapers in England: "This will provide constructive feedback and will be different to the issues the players are concerned with.
"It will also provide work for umpires who are not content with a life away from the game, but they need to be prepared to go along with changes in umpiring."
Former umpires who could be considered include Dickie Bird, David Shepherd, John Hampshire and Mervyn Kitchen.
—Agencies
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