Best umpires should umpire the biggest games: Ian Gould

Ian Gould has officiated more than 250 International matches in his 13-year-long umpiring career. In 2019, after the World Cup, Gould announced that he would retire from the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) panel of elite umpires.

Before plying his trade as an umpire in world cricket, the wicket-keeper batsman represented England at the highest level and played 18 ODIs in his International career. He was also a part of the Three Lions’ 1983 Prudential Cup squad.  Since retiring from the ICC umpires panel, Gould wrote a book, “My Life in Cricket” covering his time as a player for Middlesex, Sussex, and England.

In an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Gould spoke about the positive changes that the new system and rules have brought towards the game from an officiator's point of view.

Ian Gould had an exceptional answer to the critics of England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) initiative the Hundred: “Whatever people talk about the Hundred, over the years I've been in the game, I've seen the 60-over game, the 50-over game, the The 40-over game, and I remember doing the first T20 game at Bristol, and everyone said, "Well, this is just pub cricket." Now we look back on that. It's moved on very, very quickly,” he said.

When asked about which league, series or tournament he was looking forward to the most, ge replied, “I was actually really looking forward to it [the Hundred] and I feel very sorry for the boys at the ECB that took some flak leading up to it. Now it's wait until next year, but I'm sure it will take off.”

The experienced umpire claims that the technology has made the game even more competitive and it makes sure that everyone abides by the laws that govern the sport.

"Umpires are not going to catch players [tampering with the ball]. Unless you do it right in front of my face, I'm not going to catch you. But cameramen will catch you,” he said.

The 62-year-old also reckons that DRS (Decision Review System) has brought in a revolution even for the umpires because now there is no margin for error. The major aspect which the DRS has brought is that the modern-day umpires have thrown away their egos because they understand the system well: “I think the best umpires should umpire the biggest games, because DRS now is not letting you go. If you're making a mistake, you're making a mistake,” he added.

[With ESPN Cricinfo inputs]