-says it’s a great step in his career
THE umpiring fraternity in Guyana has something to celebrate, following the appointment of their very own Nigel Duguid to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Television Umpiring Panel (TUA), following approval from the governing body for cricket.
Duguid replaced Jamaica’s Norman Malcolm on the panel and part of his duties will see him officiating in the England and Wales Cricket Board 2012 season and the West Indies Cricket Board’s exchange programme.
Apart from Duguid, Barbados’ Gregory Brathwaite and the Trinidad and Tobago’s pair of Peter Nero and Joel Wilson were also appointed to the ICC, with Brathwaite working alongside Duguid on the TUA, while Nero and Wilson have earned on the field appointments.
Speaking with Chronicle Sport, the 41 year old Duguid, who is a former Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) player and quit cricket as a player in 1995 taking up umpiring five years later on the encouragement of the late Compton Vyphuis, said the appointment is a great step in his already budding umpiring career.
“From the time I took the decision to become an umpire on the advice of Compton and later on with the guidance of the late Clyde Duncan, my aim was to make the ICC’s Elite Panel, having watched the performance of such umpires.
This appointment certainly takes me one step closer to realising that goal and although I have not reached the on-field group as yet, I have already made up my mind to work harder towards getting there as soon as possible.
After being encouraged by Vyphuis and with the advice I received from Duncan during my first match, Eddie Nicholls, Grantley Culbard and Colin Alfred among others later on, I decided to make umpiring my next career goal and being a former player, that has helped me a lot.”
Fortunately for Jamaica, it was Duguid who, along with Brathwaite, was chosen by the WICB to officiate in the final of the Regional Super50 tournament which Jamaica won by five wickets at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence last Saturday.
Duguid was also one of the on field umpires for this year’s WICB four day final between Jamaica and the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC), which the Jamaicans also won, hence their victory last Saturday made them double champions.
Asked to comment on the exchange programme between the WICB and the ECB, Duguid said it was a good thing and he is earnestly looking forward to officiating in England for a one month period between April and May of next year, as it would enable him to get a feel of the different climate and working conditions they have to offer.
“Honestly, if you were to look closely at my umpiring career, you would see that while I started same in 1995, I only became a Regional umpire last year in October at the Regional limited overs tournament,” stated Duguid.
He added, “I feel confident with the strides I have made as an umpire, especially with this recent appointment knowing that I only officiated in my first Regional match one year ago and my aim is to reach the top to which I know I will by God’s grace and the hard work I intend to put in, which includes keeping my mind up to date with the laws of the game.”
His next assignment would be the Bangladesh ‘A’ team tour of the Caribbean next month, wherein he would be officiating in the “Test” match and two Twenty20 in St. Lucia, before moving on to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the three 50 overs matches.
After that, Duguid who was congratulated by the WICB on his appointment is looking at next year’s Caribbean T20 tournament which will be held in Trinidad and Barbados from January 9 to 22.