What Was Wrong With That Then, Umps? Paperback – May 26, 2016

A great read for new umpires. This read help me a lot in approaching each game specially to enjoy the game. Description of grounds, players action and preparation - all this make it very relatable to my personnel experience. A must read for every budding umpires. This book will make you enjoy your next matches when you go and stand in the middle. Great book and Thank you Matthew Stevenson.

Interesting incidences written in fluent language are lovable. This one will be interesting reading material for cricket lovers. Although technical language used in the book can become hurdle for readers who knows nothing about cricket.I completed whole book only in two seating (I am cricket fan...) and that is why i agreed to review this book when publisher asked about.If you want to look into mind of umpire go for this book....must read...disclaimer: Complimentary copy of the book was given by the publisher for honest, and unbiased review. this review is unpaid and my personal opinion for the book....

As a 2XI club player/umpire/scorer I was interested to read this from the perspective it came from; a former player turned umpire (especially as my own team would be delighted if I went to give LBWs against other teams for a change).Unfortunately the diary never really gets going, even with certain similar events being condensed to both enhance the narrative and avoid repetition. If anything the diary is more a review of the various grounds and teas with the occasional titbit about umpiring or player interaction.It just needed that little bit extra for me. Less around the chronology of events and more on the quirky nature of club cricket and finer points of recreational umpiring.

This is an excellent book to be read by all amateur and maybe even a few professional cricketers. I Umpired in Scotland for many years, and the parallels were astonishing. I immediately recognised some of the situations, and every Umpire has been where Matthew Stevenson has been. The characters are pretty universal. Mr Stevenson likes teas, trees and competitive cricket, but doesn't like noisy aeroplanes. He was once at a game where no tea or lunch was provided. (I hope he never goes back there!). He once arrived at a ground without his kit - we all make mistakes! - and sometimes agonises about decisions he made, but his humanity is proved by his willingness to "go with the flow" and to apply Law 43 the invisible one whereby "Umpires at all times shall always exercise common sense". He rightly despises "compensation" Umpiring (giving another wrong decision to make up for a previous one) but I wonder if he has ever indulged in "revenge" ie being a little finger-happy in the second half after a team has given you bother in the first when it was in the field. I was occasionally guilty of that, but Mr Stevenson, I'm sure, has never stooped so low. A very readable book!

There are many books out there on the laws of the game, but this is the first one that I have encountered that is written by a club umpire who has had to interpret the laws in real situations. One of the most frequently applied laws seems to be Law 43 (common sense). I would definitely recommend this book to all umpires and anyone else interested in the laws of the game, and that includes all cricketers, some of whom don't know the laws as well as they should.

Surprisingly entertaining and gives a good insight into what can be a no win pastime. The author has obviously been very meticulous in his recording of events. Well worth a read to anyone who has been involved in amateur cricket as I have myself, but probably of no interest to anyone who doesn't like cricket, but that is their misfortune.

This is a great book. I wasn't sure what I was expecting - but it is what it says. A diary, and a well written one. I think the best thing about it is the reflection the author gives on the different situations he encounters in the course of his role as an umpire. It's a fascinating glimpse about grass roots Cricket from an alternative perspective. It's worth any club cricketer reading this and reflecting on their own input into the game. Highly enjoyable, and highly recommended. For less than three quid for the Kindle version it's a steal!