Darell Hair's next test - Developing Cricket Umpires in East Asia-Pacific!
April 18, 2001
Current Australian Test Umpire, Darrell Hair, has been engaged by the International Cricket Council to
undertake the first ever Umpire Development Project in its East Asia – Pacific (EAP) Development Region.
Whilst focussing on the three ICC Associate Members of the Region, the project will establish the status of
cricket umpiring and a proposed plan for its future development in all 14 countries of the East – Asia Pacific
Development Program:
ICC Associate Members in EAP - Fiji, Hong Kong & Papua New Guinea
ICC Affiliate Members in EAP - Brunei, Cook Islands, Japan, Philippines, Samoa, Tonga & Vanuatu
ICC "New Territories" in EAP - China, Indonesia, New Caledonia and South Korea.
The project, to be conducted throughout April, will involve three major components of research, visitations, and
report/plan preparation.
Darrell Hair has officiated in 37 Test matches and 69 One-Day Internationals with umpiring in the 1999 World Cup in England a career highlight. He is also very experienced in umpire training & development at all levels
through his roles with the New South Wales Cricket Umpires Association (these currently include Development Officer, Chairman - Technical Committee, and Vice-President) and his involvement in umpire development
initiatives in emerging cricket nations such as Kenya, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Malta and Malaysia. Darrell has already made contact with all countries of the EAP Region and will fulfil his extensive visits to the ICC Associate Members to conduct training courses and other activities, immediately upon return from his International duties in the West Indies, as follows:
9 – 13 April, Papua New Guinea
19 – 22 April, Hong Kong
26 – 30 April, Fiji.
ICC East Asia - Pacific Development Manager, Matthew Kennedy, said, "The ICC Development Program is about progressing all aspects of the sport in the countries involved. This includes, but is not limited to, facilities
and equipment, administration, elite and grass roots development, tournaments, junior and schools programs, coaching, umpiring and scoring.
"We are delighted to have someone of Darrell's calibre available to fulfil this initial project and all the countries of the Region are excited about the immediate and future benefits it will bring," Kennedy added.
The broad aims of this ICC EAP Umpire Development Project are as follows:
- To establish the history and current status of cricket umpiring in the countries of the EAP Region
- To assess the numbers and standard of umpires in the countries of the EAP and the administration of same
- To promote the sport of cricket and, in particular, the activity of umpiring, within the EAP Region
- To improve the standard of umpires in EAP Associate Members via personal education & training sessions
- To recruit potential umpires for EAP Associate Members via personal education & training sessions
- To increase the understanding of the Laws of Cricket and the activity/role of umpiring amongst the entire cricket community of the EAP Associate Members via personal education & training sessions and other functions
- To assist EAP Associate Member countries to raise funds for development purposes surrounding the placement/visit of a high profile cricket personality (eg. dinner function speaking engagements)
- To develop relationships with, and an understanding from, key contacts within the EAP Region in relation to cricket umpiring
- To provide cricket umpiring resources (manuals, videos etc.) to all EAP cricketing countries
- To propose a plan for the future of umpires' development/administration throughout the EAP Region, recognising the different needs/situations of individual countries.
© ICC
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