ECB Announces Formation Of Officials Association
Article Date: 28th January 2006
New Umpires and Scorers Association
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that it has decided in principle to establish a new organisation, provisionally titled the ECB Officials Association, to represent umpires, scorers and match referees throughout cricket in England and Wales.
ECB invite ACU&S
The new body will be set up along similar lines to the successful establishment of the ECB Coaches Association (ECB CA) in 2002, and ECB has invited the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (ACU&S) to participate in the new body, along with the MCC and other relevant bodies.
In reaching this decision the ECB Board of Directors was conscious that, apart from the West Indies, all other Full ICC member countries take direct responsibility for their officials and that most other sports in this country operate on the same basis.
Discussion Paper
In order to allow all interested parties to understand the broad principles behind the decision to set up the new organisation ECB has produced a Discussion Paper (which can be downloaded on the ECB website)and is distributing it to the other bodies who participated in discussions earlier this year at which the concept of the new organisation was first discussed with ACU&S.
The ECB has recently announced the appointment of Chris Kelly, currently the ICC Umpires and Referees Manager, to the new post of ECB Umpires Manager. Chris will be taking up his new responsibilities in February 2006. The new organisation will be operational before the start of the 2006 season.
A Positive move says ECB
The ECB believes that the establishment of an organisation representing Officials, under the auspices of the National Governing Body for cricket in England and Wales and supported by the MCC, the Guardians of the Laws of Cricket, will be a positive move that will command widespread support within the game.
It very much hopes that ACU&S and all other interested parties will wish to play a full and constructive part in the establishment of the new body.
