Ex-Test umpire in CLL mission

JOHN HOLDER: CLL mission

CRICKET: JOHN Holder, one of the country’s most respected umpires and a man with a track record at the highest echelons of cricket, is on a mission to clean up the sport at local level.

The former Royton opening bowler and batsman (pictured), who played county cricket for Hampshire and was an umpire at Test-match and county level, is a passionate defender of cricket’s reputation.

And in a bid to help out the Lake Garage CLL, whose umpires list has been dwindling in recent seasons, Rochdale-based Holder has agreed to stand in a dozen games this summer.

His first match will be at Littleborough, who host Monton and Weaste on April 30.

He said: “I am doing this for two reasons. The first is the CLL’s shortage of umpires and the second is to try to help improve the behaviour of the players.

“I am not a vigilante, but I love the game and do feel it needs to be cleaned up. There is too much squaring up between players, and umpires being abused.

“And if umpires feel they are not being backed up when they submit reports of such behaviour, it is not surprising they decide to leave the league. Teams must be made aware that they could end up umpiring their own matches.

“I have a lot of fondness for this area and the league in general and if I can help I will do.”

Holder, who was once an ICC worldwide regional umpires’ performance manager, would like to see a zero tolerance approach in the CLL and local cricket in general.

And while the CLL is clearly no worse than other local cricket leagues, there have been a number of instances of dissent toward umpires and bad blood between players during the last few seasons.