Move designed to increase support to top officials
In another move that will increase the level of support to the world’s top match officials the International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed five regional umpires’ performance managers (RUPMs) to coach, mentor and assist the umpires as they strive for on-field excellence.
The five RUPMs are experienced and respected figures in the game and have all umpired at a high level. They will work towards the continued development of elite umpiring in their specific regions and will provide individual support programmes that assist international officials in the various aspects of umpiring.
The newly appointed RUPMs are:
John Holder ( Americas and Europe )
Arani Jayaprakash (Asia, including Bangladesh and India )
Peter Manuel (Asia, including Pakistan and Sri Lanka )
Ian Robinson ( Africa )
Bob Stratford (Pacific)
The RUPMs’ appointments are effective immediately and they will be based in their respective regions.
“This is more good news for the game as it will provide expert support to umpires around the world,” said David Richardson, ICC General Manager – Cricket.
“I am delighted with these appointments. The five regional umpires’ managers all have first-hand experience with the trials, challenges and rewards of umpiring at a high level. They all have credibility and respect in the cricket world and they know the issues that face umpires these days. I have no doubt these appointments will be good for the umpires and the game.
“This move is part of the ICC’s commitment to ensuring that the standard of international cricket umpiring remains high and continues to improve as we seek to get the most out of our best officials,” he said.
These additions to the ICC team follow the appointment of former Natal and Middlesex fast bowler Vintcent van der Bijl to the position of ICC Umpires’ and Referees’ Manager. Van der Bijl will be responsible for the overall management of elite match officials.
Earlier this year, as part of a focus on the role of match officials, the ICC expanded the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires from 10 to 12 with the addition of Australia ’s Steve Davis and Sri Lanka ’s Asoka de Silva to the list.
Some biographical information on the RUPMs
Bob Stratford (Pacific, including Full Members Australia and New Zealand )
The former first-class umpire has been working in the area of cricket umpiring administration since 2001 in his native Australia . He is currently in the position of Umpire Coach for Cricket Australia as well as Umpires’ Manager for Cricket Victoria . His background of on-field officiating in cricket at first-class level gives him the relevant practical experience to compliment his considerable administrative skills. He has also been involved with the Cricket Australia International Development Programme (Umpiring) as an educator and he has been working hard developing and delivering training programmes in such places as Bahrain , Malaysia , China and Bangladesh .
Ian Robinson (Africa, including Full Members South Africa and Zimbabwe )
Robinson has been umpiring internationals since 1992 and in total has stood in 28 Tests and 90 ODIs. He is one of Zimbabwe ’s most consistent and respected umpires and a member of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires. Robinson’s most recent international action came this year in Malaysia at the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2008. He also has plenty of administrative experience as he was a Zimbabwe Cricket Union board member for 14 years.
John Holder (Europe and Americas , including Full Members England and West Indies )
Although he played 47 first-class matches as a right-arm seam bowler for Hampshire, Holder is probably better known as a respected and talented umpire. He stood in 11 Test matches and 19 ODIs during a first-class umpiring career that has stretched from 1983 to the present day and has been a highly regarded figure on the English county scene during that time. He was born and grew up in Barbados but has spent many years living in England , making him an ideal candidate to look after elite umpires from both the West Indies and England .
Arani Jayaprakash (Asia, including Full Members India and Bangladesh )
A talented batsman, who scored six first-class centuries and 21 fifties for Karnataka during the 1970s and early ’80s Jayaprakash went on to prove himself as an umpire as well from 1989 until 2008, standing in 13 Tests and 38 ODIs, his most recent one-dayer coming in 2006. He brings a wealth of cricketing knowledge to his new post.
Peter Manuel (Asia, including Full Members Pakistan and Sri Lanka )
A veteran of 11 Test matches and 47 ODIs, Manuel, who is from Colombo, Sri Lanka is an experienced former umpire who has been deeply involved with the training and development of match officials in his native country and throughout the members of the Asia Cricket Council since his retirement from international umpiring in 2006.
ICC MEDIA RELEASE