Paul Baldwin in discussion with Tournament Referee Brian Canniford at this summer's ECC U15B Tournament Photo © ECC

Sunday 24 June
The flight to Toronto, long but exciting - spent the whole time with Dhushan, tour manager, coming up with plans to conquer the cricketing world! Didn't have much time to think about my role in the tournament, hope I get a few games, and don't make a fool of myself.

Landed and got the VIP treatment through customs, and then the heat, must be at least 35 degrees - I have fallen in love with air conditioning! Massive hotel, great room, and TV showing live baseball and other sports all day long, I think I'm heaven. Been awake nearly 24 hours, but you can feel the tension in the hotel now. We've made it to the biggest international cricket tournament in the world. Let the games begin! Found out I've got Argentina v Bermuda tomorrow.

Monday 25 June
Argentina v Bermuda: Yellow school buses, like you see in the films, that's our transport for the next 2 weeks. Played on astroturf, lovely field. I couldn't stop my knees from shaking before the first ball. I called play and then it wasn't a problem, no difficult decisions. The Bermudans were so laid back as to be horizontal! "How's that umps?" "Not out!" "Ok umps, thanks umps, stay awake though, I'm gonna get him with the next ball umps!" "How's that umps?" "Not out!" And so it went on! It was enjoyable, and definitely a learning curve. It's still going straight up!

Tuesday 26 June
Day off, watched Germany play Fiji. They sang songs all day, you could almost hear the waves against the rocks! Got sun charred! Not sun burnt- sun charred! Had umpires meeting, met Darrel Hair, and John Reid, 2 of my heroes, got a 30 min briefing on how to handle games. They said they would be assessing us, with forms to captains, and turning up unannounced at matches. Can't wait!

Wednesday 27 June
Day off, opening ceremony, good food, long speeches. It starts for real tomorrow, must go to bed early!

Thursday 28 June
Malaysia v France: Easy game for Malaysia- they look a class better. Had a good game personally, no problems, apart from the heat, they reckoned it was 40 degrees, felt like more in a tie and shirt! Oh but the beer was lovely afterwards! Then the pool at the hotel - feel almost normal again now. Need food!

Friday 29 June
Day off, went to Niagra falls today, very big, very loud, very touristy, very wet, and the weather again very hot!

Saturday 30 June
Israel v France: France have got better overnight! The Israelis didn't look to be totally awake. The French skipper played a match winning innings, again nothing to do for me. Starting to feel the pain in the legs, and the small of the back! Oh for a massage. Got another game Sunday, I'll be walking wounded on Monday! Need my bed. Standing doing "nothing" for 9 to 10 hours a day gets tiring after a while.

Sunday 1 July
Israel v Malaysia: The day the heavens opened! Wind, rain and 20 degree drop in temperature. The wind blew the sight-screens over twice! Duckworth Lewis also reared its ugly head. Still got the game played, Malaysia won comfortably. Again, nothing to do. I could get to like this international umpiring!

Got back to the hotel, and got a summons from Darrel Hair. What have I done? I may as well start packing now.

7pm. The hour of reckoning! I've been promoted! My next game is Scotland v Singapore. I'm in the "A" group. I've taken an hour to calm down. Had to ring home and tell Dad the good news. Will have to go out for a drink to calm the nerves you understand!

Monday 2 July
Day off. Watched Germany v Gibraltar. Great game, really enjoyed it. Germany won, here we go boys! Next stop the final! Go to go to bed early, big day tomorrow.

Tuesday 3 July
Scotland v Singapore: Easy win for Scotland. But what a team, very professional, very confident and very good. Had to make a decision today. I gave number 11 LBW, only the 2nd appeal of the innings. First ball of the innings, big appeal from the Scots, turned it down. "That was close wasn't it?", "I am awake, it was going past the off!" "Thanks umps". I am now going to go into retirement, I can't get any higher than Scotland. Dad said he watched it ball by ball on the internet through Cricinfo. Have to go out to celebrate my retirement!

Wednesday 4 July
Malaysia v Argentina: So much for retirement! It lasted about 12 hours. The most exciting game I have ever been involved in. Picture the scene. It has rained, the Malaysian total has been revised ý la Duckworth Lewis from 220 to 244?! Argentina require 15 an over, with 15 overs to go. 200 spectators, all West Indian, and the tension hung in the air. The big hitter was dispatching the bowling to all parts of the ground, but the run rate remained at about 13. Then the big hitter went, and the skipper sent in a "pinch hitter" who's biggest total up till now had been 5! We had to call the match referee twice for a new ball, as the balls got smacked progressively deeper into the swamp! The Argentinians by now didn't know whether to watch or turn away, and I just got more and more excited, what a game! They invaded the pitch! Argentina won with 7 balls to go, in failing light and light drizzle. The West Indians said it was the best game they had seen, and complimented the umpiring, especially my not out decision to a "bump ball" from the big hitter trying to play defensive. He played it straight into the ground and the bowler took the catch, diving forward, low down to his right. He was "distraught" and probably questioned my parentage in Malaysian! But the spectators square on the off side and my colleague both confirmed it had bounced. Came back on the Argentininan bus!

Thursday 5 July
Day off. Watched Germany commit suicide against Nepal. Can start packing, we'll be leaving on Sunday.

Friday 6 July
Israel vs Uganda: Uganda are a class above the rest in this division. Didn't look worried all day, Israel tried hard, but you could see the difference. Again not much to do.

Little bit sad today, it was my last game. The euphoria of this week, Scotland, and then the game on Wednesday, and now it's over. Seven One Day International 50 over games in 10 days. I passed through the pain barrier last weekend, I think I also reached what a pilot calls "The bubble". You get so concentrated on what you're doing that you don't consciously think about it. It becomes second nature, move here, signal there, glance across at your colleague and so on. You can relax and enjoy the game. And still I complain! I don't want to go home, the tournament still has a week to run, and we have to leave.

Saturday 7 July
Spent most of the day in bed! Suddenly all the tension is gone, and the pain and tiredness has returned. Watched baseball on TV. Couldn't keep my eyes open. Big shindig tonight, the official reception. Goodbye to all the minnows who are going home and now the tournament starts for the "Big boys". Bags are packed, the gifts have been bought for the girlfriend. Last photos taken for the album.

Sunday 8 July
Still don't want to leave! Unfortunately the bus turned up, and so did the plane. Back home to Germany. I wouldn't have missed this tournament for the world. The experience, the people, the atmosphere, the enjoyment, and the feeling that they were playing for the love of the game. The stakes were high, but the matches that I umpired in were all played to the highest standards.

Reflection.
In retrospect, 3 months later, I still think about the time I spent in Canada, the massive learning curve of ODI cricket, where World Cup places are up for grabs. Germany wanted to have one of those places just as much as Holland. I wanted to umpire the tournament finals just as much as Darrel Hair did. Maybe we will all achieve our goals in the future, maybe not, but the lasting memory I take with me from Canada is the feeling of togetherness that existed. It didn't matter where you came from, or who you were, we were all there to express our love for the game, and that brought us all together.