Umpires Taylor, Hamilton named to first-class panel

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Two of Jamaica's most promising young umpires, Christopher Taylor and Athol Hamilton, were recently appointed to the region's panel of first-class umpires and are expected to begin officiating in the West Indies Cricket Board's next cricket tournament.

The 31-year-old Taylor, who in being appointed became the youngest Jamaican to do so, and 36-year-old Hamilton, who says he wants to be like former International Cricket Council (ICC) Elite panel umpires, England's Dickie Bird or compatriot Steve Bucknor, will join four other Jamaicans on the first-class panel.

The others are international panel umpire Norman Malcolm, Vivian Johnson, Verdayne Smith, and Patrick Gustard.

serious work

"When I heard the news I was ecstatic. I have been umpiring from 2006 at the age of 26 and my aim was to make the regional panel by the age of 35. So, at the moment, I have superseded my expectations," said Taylor.

"Now that I have made the regional panel, the hope is that in the next four to five years I will put in some serious work, so that I can be on the brink of making the international panel.

"I am also looking forward to experiencing umpiring in the other islands, where I will face different environments and people, and will be able to widen my knowledge as an umpire," added the former Campion and Ardenne alumni.

Hamilton, a past student of Clarendon College who is currently the student services and development manager at Taylor Hall, University of the West Indies, said he was a bit surprised at the appointment.

"I was a little bit surprised, but I knew that there was a push by the local authorities to fast-track a number of the younger and more promising umpires, and was always hopeful," said Hamilton.

"It (the appointment) is something that I have been looking forward to since becoming an umpire. I now look forward to the challenge, as the higher one goes up the higher the pressure, and the levels of scrutiny."

Meanwhile, both Taylor and Hamilton say they will be aiming to try to emulate the achievements of the now-retired Bucknor and Malcolm.

Bucknor has stood in a record five World Cup finals, and holds the record for umpiring in the most Test matches, while Malcolm, along with Trinidad and Tobago's Peter Nero, are the region's representative on the ICC international (primarily one-day internationals) panel.

Dominica's Billy Doctrove is currently the region's only representative on the 12-member ICC elite (primarily Tests) panel.