Umpires Announced for EAP Women's
The ICC East Asia-Pacific office has announced the umpires for the upcoming Pepsi ICC East Asia-Pacific Women's Championship in Vanuatu from 14-18 May.
In great news for the tournament ICC EAP Umpire Manager Bob Parry who has recently retired from on field duties at Domestic First Class level in Australia, has been able to enlist the services of fellow Cricket Australia National Panel Umpire John Ward to stand alongside the East Asia-Pacific umpires in a mentoring role.
"It is a great opportunity for EAP Elite & Supplementary panel umpires to stand with an experienced First Class umpire who is willing to assist with their own individual development," said Parry. "Most will only have limited opportunities to stand with a partner of this experience and the benefit was seen at last year's EAP Men's tournament in Port Moresby where fellow CANP member Bruce Oxenford performed a similar role with local umpires in attendance."
Ward will stand alongside three members of the East-Asia Pacific Elite Umpires Panel in Nigel Morrison (Vanuatu), Grant Johnston (Vanuatu) and Geoff Clelland (Vanuatu) as well as four members of the Supplementary Panel in Greg Walton (Vanuatu), Chris Thurgate (Japan), Subramonia Gopalakrishnan (Indonesia) and Brendon Fiebig (Cook Islands).
Following a recent review of current Umpire training resources, the ICC EAP office has decided to move to a more competency based model. The new resources will in part mirror the Cricket Australia Umpire Accreditation program which is currently due for an update and will include some theory components being accessible on line.
"This will prove invaluable for Regions such as ours where prospective new umpires are often located in remote areas and do not have access to local Mentors," said Parry. "The more critical component of the training and development will include on field and off field observation by senior accredited officials."
"With this in mind the upcoming Women's tournament in Vanuatu provides an excellent opportunity to Umpires involved to be assessed to help launch the program back in their home Boards," said Parry.
The six teams that will compete at the championships are defending champions Japan, PNG, Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands and the hosts Vanuatu.
Summary of umpire appointments
John Ward ? Cricket Australia National Umpires Panel
Nigel Morrison ? EAP Elite Umpires Panel
Geoff Clelland ? EAP Elite Umpires Panel
Grant Johnson ? EAP Elite Umpires Panel
Greg Walton ? EAP Supplementary Umpires Panel
Chris Thurgate ? EAP Supplementary Umpires Panel
Subramonia Gopalakrishnan ? EAP Supplementary Umpires Panel
Brendon Fiebig ? EAP Supplementary Umpires Panel