CRICKET: Prosecutor slips on white coat to judge

HAMISH BIDWELL
There could be few more thankless tasks than the ones Graeme Webster performs.
In either of his roles, as a police prosecutor or cricket umpire, Webster has grown accustomed to not exactly being showered with compliments by the people who cross his path.
But if the pressure of acting as the long arm of the law in court and on the pitch is getting to him, then it certainly isn't showing. You could hardly wish to meet a more pleasant or easy-going individual, which is quite an advantage given the occasionally confrontational nature of his work.
In three weeks in Hawke's Bay, since transferring down from Auckland, the 53-year-old has already become a familiar sight, standing before judges and players.
But while Webster has to defer to a judge during his courtroom duties, he has been very much in charge on the cricket pitch since he took up umpiring nine years ago.
"I did my (umpiring) training in Auckland and I started off doing women's games and progressed from there to second grade and then first grade and premier grade," Sergeant Webster said.
"I really enjoy cricket and even though I was well past the playing stage, I wanted to give something back to it."
That doesn't mean that the role is always fun, after all umpires can often be on a hiding to nothing, with players never bashful about telling the men in white coats when they've got it wrong.
"Oh definitely, no matter which way you go. If you give a decision that you believe is out and the batsman doesn't, he can get quite upset, or if you give a not out the bowler can get a bit upset because bowlers believe every ball they bowl deserves a wicket."
The other great challenge of umpiring is the concentration required. Whereas the greatest problem for a batsman who has nicked out early is trying not to fall asleep either watching or fielding, the men in the middle are under the pump for six and a half hours.
"It can be quite difficult late in the afternoon and you really have to concentrate quite hard, especially on a hot day, which can be quite energy sapping.
"Your mind does wander at times but if it's a really good interesting game there isn't a problem, it's when the game's just plodding along that you can have a bit of a problem with concentration."
He says the decline in behaviour has been a most noticeable trend during his umpiring career, although the new rule which prevents players from questioning umpire's decisions has gone some way towards alleviating that.
Webster is standing in the Thirsty Whale Napier Tech match against Best United Travel Havelock North, where Tech has a 177-run advantage over Havelock who are 96 for four chasing 273.
At Taradale Park, Merson Contractors Roofing and Spouting Taradale will resume at 77 for six in reply to Harvey's Cornwall's 220, while at Central Hawke's Bay College Ruahine Motors CHB hold the upper hand over Sideline Bar Napier Old Boys' Marist who are 81 for three chasing 257 for first innings points.