Cricket umpires in short supply
WARWICK Cricket Association is calling for umpires ahead of next-weekend's season opening fixtures.
Having lost five umpires from last season, Warwick Cricket Association executive Colin O'Brien said the association was desperate for more to join up.
"We need as many umpires as we can get," O'Brien said. "We had five all retire from umpiring or move away from Warwick.
"If we can't find enough umpires the players will have to umpire their own games, which we really don't want to happen.
"Umpiring is a paying job."
A lack of umpires would be a further blow to the association, after Diggers were forced to pull out of this season due to a lack of players.
"There were plenty of players interested but we couldn't get enough of them to commit week in, week out," O'Brien, a Diggers player himself, said.
"You've got to be able to put a team on the paddock each week.
"It's disappointing and it's a hard pill for me to swallow.
"But the club still exists and hopefully there will be a team next year."
Diggers players will instead be dispersed to Allora 1 and possibly other teams, with one team to have a bye each week in the seven-team competition.
A meeting will be held at Slade Park at 6.30pm tomorrow to discuss umpires.
- For more information, call O'Brien on 0414 497 296.
- The season begins on Saturday.
