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Zimbabwe umpire in the spotlight
Tiffin could be left in a spin
August 1, 1999
Scyld Berry on why the ICC's umpire policy may again come under fire at Old Trafford
Last year's climax to the Test series against South Africa was marred
by the umpiring mistakes of Pakistan's Javed Akhtar at Headingley - so
numerous as to be comical - and by those of Mervyn Kitchen and Steve
Dunne at Trent Bridge to a lesser extent. If England had not won 2-1,
the we-was-robbed moaning might still be going on.
As the present series is hotting up at 1-1, a warm welcome is
guaranteed at Old Trafford for the International Cricket Council
National Grid umpire, Russell Tiffin. A spinner's pitch, with the ball
rebounding into the hands of yelling silly-points and short-legs off
pad or glove - or was it the bat? but no, the umpires cannot consult
the snickometer - would be demanding for the most hardened umpire in
more chivalrous days, let alone for an inexperienced Zimbabwean in a
dog-fight.
Far from bending a deferential knee to the Mother Country as New
Zealand sides traditionally have, and racked no more by the
inferiority complex which used to go with the silver fern, Chris
Cairns and Dion Nash are using their full ration of expletives. And
stoking the fires behind the scenes, or rather off-camera, are the two
players who have swapped countries: Roger Twose, who converted to
being a Kiwi, and Andy Caddick, who emigrated to England because he
was peeved at his treatment in Christchurch, where Cairns was
considered to be the kiddy.
Twose's workshop at mid-on ('24-hour ball-polishing, all means
considered') produced ideal balls for New Zealand to swing in
England's first innings at Lord's and to reverse-swing in the second.
Caddick's tendency to have off-days is sure to be kept in check so
long as his former compatriots are around to rile him: in four Tests
against them he has taken 20 wickets at 18.
Such a bottom-of-the-table scrap may prove a severe test for David
Shepherd, standing in his only Test of the series after a taxing World
Cup when he was constantly in demand as the Friendly Fireman. For
Tiffin it will come as some contrast to the game between Hampshire
seconds and Essex seconds which he stood in at Bournemouth last week
by way of preparation.
Tiffin, aged 40, has officiated in nine Tests to date, a record which
has the makings of an international career of some substance, but one
which disguises his lack of experience overall. Zimbabwe's domestic
season consists of a handful of first-class matches on which he can
cut his teeth.
Tiffin may enjoy a splendid, faultless match at Old Trafford. But if
he should have an Akhtar-ish game, the ICC will again be asked why
should every country nominate two umpires to the international panel
(England four) even if it does not have two of international standard,
on the grounds of diplomatic expediency not of merit?
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