Umpire nails examination pass

High scorer: Jason Trowill scored 98 percent in both the oral and written examinations for the first-class Level 4 Certificate in Cricket Umpiring. Picture by Paul Rickard

To get 98 percent in any national exam is outstanding.

Poverty Bay Cricket umpire Jason Trowill has scored 98 percent in both the oral and written examinations for the first-class Level 4 Certificate.

In the most recent batch of four Northern Districts umpires to have passed their exams this year, he is second only to his study mate, Hamilton’s Texin Thangalathil, who scored 100 percent in the oral exam and 99.5 percent in the written.

Helping Trowill pass were a month’s worth of zoom meetings with former International Cricket Council manager for umpires and referees Doug Cowie, the Northern Districts regional training officer, who is a former test umpire. Hours of study, and a passion for the minutiae of the Laws of Cricket and domestic playing conditions also helped get Trowill home.

He was one of more than 30 men in white coats to receive feedback from New Zealand Cricket community umpiring manager Eugene Sanders at ND Cricket’s headquarters, Seddon Park. His status and certificate were acknowledged at the NZC annual meeting in Wellington.

Trowill, 52, has been promoted from the Northern Districts Emerging Panel of umpires to the Northern Districts A Panel, one step below the highest ND bracket, the six-strong ND Regional Panel. From the regional panel, umpires may progress to the NZ reserve panel and stand in first-class matches.

Trowill will stand with Stewart Patrick and James Raroa in Poverty Bay Cricket’s Doleman Cup, DJ Barry Cup and Walker Shield when the first of those competitions starts in October.

ND regional officials co-ordinator and developer Luan Kloppers said: “Opportunities were limited last year due to lockdowns, and no tournaments were held, but we should be back to normal this season. Jason will have the opportunity to be tested, and to gain experience. His law knowledge is excellent, so we’ll also now work on field craft and managing pressure.”

The 2020 winner of the Rees Scragg Memorial Trophy for Service to Poverty Bay Cricket, Galaxy World manager Trowill has in the past seven years assigned and made appointments for local umpires who include last year’s Scragg Memorial Trophy recipient Patrick, Raroa, Tony Lee, Gary Coutts and Marty Bennett.

Trowill helped to train and prepare six Level 2 umpires last season.

The Poverty Bay Cricket Association has long supported the development of local umpires. For many years, that was undertaken by Poverty Bay Cricket life member Don Cook. It continued in the 2021-2022 season under outgoing director of cricket Dave Castle.

“Umpire development is a key step in the cricket association’s goal to have more development focus across all facets of cricket,” Castle said.

“Jason’s shown his knowledge of the laws is exceptional and his test results prove this. I look forward to seeing his professionalism and on-field application continue to improve and develop.

“We’re lucky to have such quality umpires as Jason and Stewart in our premier grade. Jason has led James Raroa’s training and development, and James’s promotion from the B Grade to the premier ranks is of huge benefit to our region. We hope that there are others in that vein who, like James, might enjoy a Saturday afternoon in the sun.

“I can’t stress enough just how much good umpiring adds to the experience and quality of cricket.”