The EDP's new umpire exchange scheme is now up and running, and two European umpires have already travelled to England to spend a weekend increasing their knowledge and experience. This is how they got on:

George Poulimenos (Hellas):

The umpire exchange project is undoubtedly very useful to the development of European umpires wishing to broaden their experience in the game. It gives the opportunity to stand in games that are competitive yet very different in structure and essence from the usual league and championship matches on the Continent.

I was picked up on Thursday 26 June at Gatwick by EDP umpire instructor Denis Stones and driven to the HSBC Club ground at Beckenham. MCC was playing the HSBC XI and Graham Cooper was umpiring. A very nice ground, an interesting game and a very pleasant clubhouse were the perfect introduction to this umpiring weekend. The next day we went to the Rosebowl - the new Hampshire CC ground in Southampton - to watch the first day of the match between Hampshire and Gloucestershire. Some 22 overs were lost to rain but overall it was a nice experience.

Then came the first day of actual umpiring. I was standing in the game between the MCC and St. Paul's School. My fellow umpire was John Desmond, whom I had met many years ago in Corfu on a tournament, much to Graham's surprise. MCC batted first and got 225 ñ 4 dec. and then a very interesting innings by the St. Paul's batting order meant that, with two overs remaining, any result was possible. In the end the MCC bowled out the last batsman to a very tight win by 8 runs. On Sunday there was a club game between the Follies Farm Old Spots CC and the Stranded Whales CC, at the magnificent private field of Follies Farm, an estate owned by a Greek ship owner hooked on the game of cricket. A very interesting match was the result of a first innings by the Old Spots in a big hitting mood which produced 185 runs and several catches, and an equally relaxed captain's innings by the Whales which took them to 3 runs from the final two overs to win. The young batsman batting last could not cope with the pressure and was bowled out giving the hosts a well deserved win, which was celebrated at the clubhouse in almost Greek mood.

Graham was very helpful and accommodating throughout the weekend, even finding me a Thai restaurant at short notice and always providing bits and pieces I should have brought from home (towels, bowling marks, overs cards and a pencil). He drove superbly around three counties ever trying to give me a different view and even managed to avoid the notorious M25 Sunday night traffic and get me in time to Heathrow. His advice and support during the two games I stood as umpire was very detailed, earnest and helpful and I think I have put some of his tips in action already.

Overall, I enjoyed the trip enormously and I'd like to thank the selection panel for picking me and Graham for all the good work he put in. Hopefully the other umpires will have an interesting experience, too.

Niels Bindslev (Denmark):

Photo © ECC

The ECC were delighted to welcome Niels Bindslev to England for a seven-day visit from July 6 to 13th 2003. Niels is from Denmark where he is a regular umpire in the Copenhagen area.

He landed at Heathrow on Sunday and was immediately whisked off to rural Hampshire to watch a National Village Knockout Match, Easton and Martyr Worthy vs Blackheath (Surrey). He witnessed a very exciting match in which the bowlers dominated. The visitors only managed 74 in their innings but very soon had the home side in disarray at 32-7. However, some steady batting by the 8th wicket partnership saw the home team go through to the last 16.

On Monday and Friday Niels umpired in the Cranleigh School Cricket Festival where he experienced the delights of English Public School cricket at its best. The Friday game was the most memorable, with Cranleigh scoring a massive 272-5 dec. in 51 overs thus allowing Merchant Taylor's 57 overs to score 273 to win. A well-paced innings by the visitors saw them home by 6 wickets in the last over.

On the Wednesday Niels umpired the match at Imber Court between the Metropolitan Police and MCC. The MCC side (featuring Lucas Bush from Luxembourg, who was on a 2-week summer placement with the MCC Young Cricketers) batted first and scored 229-5 dec. The Police were well on target to overhaul that but faltered in the last 2 overs to end up 7 runs short of what should have been an easy victory.

Photo © ECC

Not all the week was spent umpiring and on the Thursday Niels went to the Mote to watch the County match between Kent and Nottinghamshire. Chasing a first innings total of 341 Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 135 and Kent decided to rub salt in their wounds by batting again instead of enforcing the follow-on. On an easy paced pitched Kent rattled up the runs with 3 batsmen scoring centuries and ended the day declaring at 418-4 ñ a lead of 624. Incidentally, at the match on Friday a Merchant Taylor batsman also scored a century so Niels witnessed 4 centuries in two days.

To end the week Niels umpired a Surrey Championship Division 3 match between Blackheath and Ripley. This was probably the easiest game of the week for him since the home side could only manage 135 in their innings and Ripley passed the total only losing a few wickets and with plenty of overs to spare. Tired but well pleased with his experiences Niels travelled up to Scotland on the Sunday to spend a few days recovering from all his exertions.

The visit was a great success as far as the ECC was concerned with Niels responding excellently to the challenges laid before him. Niels was able to experience cricket under English conditions and by the end of his visit had been taken through all the aspects of English cricket ñ Schools cricket ñ Representative MCC ñ and League ñ thus taking quite a few memories home to Denmark.