LETTER OF THE DAY - Umpires no-ball Becca for baseless accusation

THE EDITOR, Sir:

We write in response to an article titled 'A cricket season best forgotten', written by Mr Tony Becca and published in The Sunday Gleaner of August 19.

In the article, Mr Becca spoke to the state of cricket in the country, as well as what he called the poor performance of the umpires and players in the recently concluded Senior Cup competition.

While Mr Becca was able to supply statistics to substantiate his remarks on the performance of the teams in the competition, and while he was able to cite examples of the indiscipline displayed by some players, not one example was mentioned by the columnist to support his claim that "the umpires, most of them were incompetent ... ".

This type of loose, unsubstantiated commentary is damaging to the reputation of our members. Unless Mr Becca can point to any particular instance in which members misinterpreted the laws of the game, or failed to uphold the playing conditions, he should withdraw those unfortunate comments.

While we recognise that as individual umpires we are not infallible, we take umbrage to the sports writer's categorisation of the competence of members of an association that continues to produce quality umpires such as the four who recently attended the West Indies Cricket Board's Emerging Panel of Umpires Seminar in Barbados.

Mr Becca should also be mindful of the stewardship of international umpires such as Douglas Sanghue and Steve Bucknor, who are renowned for having served the game of cricket with distinction.

DANIEL WARREN-KIDD

Honorary Secretary

Jamaica Cricket Umpires' Association