Calls are mounting for the Channel Islands’ top game to have neutral officials after this year’s excellent HSBC-sponsored fixture in Guernsey contained numerous contentious decisions.
Unfair or not, questions are regularly raised about the impartiality of any local official used in the inter-insular and now the Jersey and Guernsey Cricket Boards are keen to bring in officials from outside the islands for the fixture.
JCB vice-president Ward Jenner, a former team captain in both Jersey and Guernsey, said: ‘Even if both islands had the best umpires in the world questions would still be raised about their decisions.
‘But with the development with the ICC there are now great opportunities for umpires.
‘I’m very conscious of not upsetting the umpires in both islands because they do very well.
It would probably be sensible to follow world cricket where they don’t use home umpires.’ GCB chairman Dave Piesing said: ‘I think we have to look at it, we have to consider our options.
In my mind, it’s become a huge game.
‘Players might freeze on a big occasion and so can umpires.
I’m in favour, not as a criticism of our umpires, but because the game has become so huge.
‘Essentially we can offer opportunities elsewhere for our better umpires and I believe there will be no shortage of umpires in the European regions who would come over and umpire such a prestigious game.’
