Cricket: Kiwi umpires debut in 'Hilly Billy' show at Lord's

New Zealand international cricket umpire Billy Bowden. Photo / Greg Bowker

New Zealand made their test debut at Lord's 79 years ago.

Another first takes place on August 26, when the fourth test between England and Pakistan at "HQ" will be controlled by two New Zealand umpires, Billy Bowden and Tony Hill.

New Zealand's two representatives on the International Cricket Council's elite umpiring panel have never officiated together in a test, and it will be Hill's first appointment at Lord's.

They have teamed up in one overseas ODI, at the Champions Trophy in South Africa two years ago for the game between Pakistan and Australia, and one Twenty20 game, between Ireland and England at Guyana in this year's world Twenty20 championship.

And the exuberant Bowden is chuffed that his 50th ICC touring appointment is with his fellow New Zealander and at the game's most famous ground.

"It'll be the Hilly and Billy show," he quipped.

Bowden, who will be officiating in his 62nd test, has been on the panel since 2003.

Hill - who did the first test of the present series and will also officiate in the third starting at The Oval next Wednesday - will be lining up in his 20th, and joined the elite group last year.

And yet they haven't been teamed in a test until now.

"That's just the way the cookie crumbles," said Bowden, at 47, 12 years older than fellow Aucklander Hill.

"It's wonderful to have a colleague who speaks your language and knows how you tick. We've got different personalities but we respect each other's game and the way we go about our umpiring."

It will be Hill's first test at Lord's. But while he is making strides up the ICC ladder, Bowden stands ninth for test appointments and, as the only active umpires ahead of him are Australians Daryl Harper and Simon Taufel, he'll be chipping his way past his colleagues as long as he's keen and required.

"At the end of the day I don't umpire for numbers. I do it for the challenge and to make a difference and see if I can match up to the skills of the players.

"I keep on being motivated and take each as if it's not my last, but my first," Bowden said yesterday.

Bowden reckons any bad day at his office "beats any good day at any office round the world. I get paid for something I love doing."

Throw in 148 ODIs (sixth alltime) since 1995 and 18 Twenty20 internationals (equal third) and it's been a full life for Bowden.

Hill has piled up 76 ODIs and 16 Twenty20s, including the first one at Eden Park against Australia in 2005 when he was teamed with - Bowden.

MOST CAPPED TEST UMPIRES
* 128: Steve Bucknor (West Indies, retired)
* 108: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa, retired)
* 92: David Shepherd (England, deceased)
* 90: Daryl Harper (Australia)
* 78: Darrell Hair (Australia, retired)
* 73: Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India, retired)
* 66: Dickie Bird (England, retired)
* 64: Simon Taufel (Australia)
* 61: Billy Bowden (New Zealand)

Also:
* 18: Tony Hill (New Zealand)