Middlebrook makes impressive progress through umpiring ranks James Middlebrook’s umpiring debut at Lord’s last Friday continued his meteoric progression from County Championship winner to member of the first-class umpires’ reserve panel. It was at Lord’s in September 2015 that Middlebrook helped Yorkshire clinch back-to-back County Championships in what turned out to be his penultimate first-class match. He was back at Lord’s last week to umpire the Varsity Match, his latest appointment in a busy schedule that will see him stand in 77 days of cricket organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board this summer. Middlebrook’s rise to the first-class umpiring ranks may appear rapid but he began planning for his second career in cricket four years ago following discussions with present and past international umpires Richard Kettleborough, Rob Bailey and Peter Willey. ” They encouraged me to stand in local matches to see whether I liked umpiring and Rob and Peter helped me to find matches – club games, youth matches and disability cricket – in and around Northampton on my days off,” said Middlebrook, a former PCA rep for Essex. ” So I was getting experience of umpiring while I was still playing county cricket. ” I have also spent the last three winters in Australia umpiring out there. The first year I was playing for a club in Melbourne but I also umpired in matches on Sundays and in midweek. ” The last two winters I have been out in Melbourne umpiring from Christmas to March. I have worked my up and last winter I was umpiring in First Grade cricket. ” When you say that I have gone from playing to the fist-class reserve panel in 18 months it sounds quick but I have umpired a lot of matches in the last four years. ” With umpiring in Australia in the winter I have effectively got eight years rolled into four really.” Middlebrook, 40, expected to start his umpiring career two years ago after he was released by Northamptonshire at the end of the 2014 season. But he answered a call from Yorkshire’s then captain Andrew Gale and enjoyed a successful swansong in his second spell with his native county. ” Chris Kelly, the ECB Umpires’ Manager, has been a great help. He told me that I should play as long as I could but to get as much umpiring experience as I could,” he said. ” The year I wanted to umpire was 2015 and I got picked up by Yorkshire. Chris allowed me to have my days playing for Yorkshire but I was umpiring in Second XI matches in between.” In addition to his ECB commitments Middlebrook is also a member of the Minor Counties umpires’ panel and he also finds time to turn out for New Farnley in the Bradford League, although this will be his last season as a player. ” I will miss the dressing room but I won’t miss the playing or the sore knees. Now I’m umpiring I don’t mind who wins or loses, who gets 100 or nought, as long as I get my decisions right I don’t care about the result,” he said. Middlebrook’s story shows what commitment and hard work can be achieved and he has some sensible practical advice for other players who are considering a career as an umpire. ” My advice would be to go and stand at square leg in a schools match or at your local club to see if you can stand there for 20 or 30 overs,” he said. ” They are long days. Every day is a fielder’s day. As a player you get a get a chance to sit down but as an umpire you are always on the field. ” If you find you enjoy umpiring then go searching for your own games. Umpires are always needed so there are plenty of opportunities to gain experience.” If you are interested in becoming an umpire then speak to your Personal Development Manager and for more information click here.
