The importance of umpires in cricket is not to be underestimated at any level, but at the top end of the amateur game, their availability is paramount.

Dedicated to their role, trustworthy in their actions, respectful to the captains, their teams, the game and the spirit of cricket, are underwritten requirement, as is their knowledge of the Laws of the Game and importantly, the application of them whilst on the field of play.

Connect: Pembrokeshire witnessed this is person on Saturday (May 24) at the Gerald Hicks Recreation ground, when Carew hosted Haverfordwest in a Pembroke County Division 1 league game.

Carew left arm slow bowler Barry Evans had floated in a low full toss towards the ‘Garden End’ where Haverfordwest batsman Ben Field played his shot with ferocity, but mistimed the flight of the ball which ballooned straight up in the air and gloveman Tim Hicks pouched the ball before being engulfed by his jubilant team mates.

Batsman Field made the slow trudge back to the changing room area, situated on the balcony above the clubhouse, shaking his head in disbelief at his dismissal, but more probably in frustration with himself, for not thumping it into the nearby Kesteven Court estate.

Quietly, and not obvious to spectators or players, square leg umpire Jon Willington standing at the strikers’ end had signalled ‘dead ball’, by crossing his wrists below the knee, his actions indicated the delivery is no longer valid, Willington going further by confidently reiterating this communication directly to the departing batsman.

Willington had also called ‘Time’, which stopped the game and walked towards his colleague standing at the non-strikers end, Ian Gow. After a swift interaction, the batsman was called back from the boundary line to resume his innings, the explanation of the umpire’s decision clarified, to the scorers.

There was no dissent from the Carew players, testament to their faith in the umpires applying the ‘Laws of the Game’ without prejudice or malice, a credit to the Rooks skipper Rhys Davies, team mates and the Carew Club as a whole.

Connect: Pembrokeshire spoke to top Premier League umpire Simon Richards to explain further. “The new ‘Head Strike’ protocol, which was issued the season before last, under Law 20.1 has been implemented by umpire Jon (Willington). He would have been briefed on the remit of the protocol in the amateur game, to ensure player safety around head injuries and/or concussion, and in this instance, he has correctly called a dead ball. If the ball hits a batsman on the head or anything he is wearing on his head (helmet / cap) then it immediately becomes a dead ball. The deflection from the bat onto the batsman’s head, no matter how small the impact, renders any further process in the play irrelevant as the ball has become dead. In this instance it would be recorded by the scorers, Jayne (Cole, Haverfordwest) and Julie (Davies, Carew) as a dot ball and play would resume with the next delivery after the non-striker end umpire calls play, of course after they had both checked on Ben’s (Field) health and wellbeing.”

The game at the time was at a crucial stage, with top order batsman Field regarded within Pembrokeshire as one of the ‘Towns’ key batsman and his side had lost 3 wickets when the incident occurred, just passed the mid innings mark of the 45 over encounter. Field went on to score 53 out of his sides 146ao, title chasing Carew winning the game by 6 wickets, Hicks putting on his batting gloves as opening batsman to also score 53, in the victory charge.

Umpires play an important part in any game and the esteem Gow and Willington hold within the local game is testament not only their own standing in the eyes of spectators and players alike, but as flag bearers for their colleagues up down the Country who consistently apply the ‘Laws of the Game’ with minimum fuss. Connect Pembrokeshire takes great pride to highlight and applaud the role of the ‘third team’ to all and sundry, encouraging those interested in taking up the best seat in the house, to take the plunge and get in touch with their area umpiring organiser.

The spirit of cricket lives long which is important for all involved. Connect Pembrokeshire reiterates its praise on a ‘job well done’ by Messer’s Willington and Gow. Your flags fly high with applause, as does the index finger unfortunately for batsman but for the euphoria of all bowlers.

Photo: Batsman Ben Field, wicketkeeper Tim Hicks and Barry Evans