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ShareMumbai: He officiated in his first Test match at 29, a rarity among umpires where seniority carries lot of weight. It is a measure of Simon Taufel's brilliance that from 2004 till 2008 he bagged the ICC's Umpire of the Year Award.
In a chat with DNA, he says in the age of cutting-edge technology, the WYSIWYG method (what you see is what you get) works the best
You have been officiating for 8 years now. How much has umpiring as a profession changed you?
Actually, I've been umpiring since the season of 1991-92 (17 years and on the international stage since 1999). Umpiring has changed me enormously as I've been exposed to many more "people skills". In the past eight years, Cricket Australia and other educational avenues have expanded on these skills and added extra ones like fitness, diet, positive thinking, preparation, self assessment and recovering from a setback. So, by being part of cricket, the game has taught me to become a better person and better professional umpire.
Has umpiring become more difficult or easier with technological support?
Some people might say that since we are full time on the Emirates Elite Panel, we are professionals but I don't agree with that. To me, being professional means that you are always improving your skills and abilities in pursuit of excellence. So, the biggest change from the start of my umpiring experience till now is that there is now an umpiring career pathway and an opportunity to become a full time umpire and to become a professional umpire -- that opportunity did not exist at any level until before 2002.
You took up umpiring by chance, did you ever know that you would become one of the best?
Yes, I suppose you could say that umpiring chose me, I did not choose umpiring. However, I am a competitive person by nature and always like a challenge. So, I always look for ways to be as best as I can at the task at hand, and that is what I do with umpiring -- I look to be the best umpire I can be and not the best umpire in the world. The best athletes and companies in the world never stop when they reach No.1, and that is the path that I choose to follow.
The game has become far more aggressive. What does it take to handle such situations?
Sport is competitive and yes, some players personify aggression. The best way to handle aggressive situation is to be yourself, empathise with the player and the situation, use "we" and "us" and keep your cool when others have lost theirs.
Can you share an incident in your umpiring career where you lost your cool?
I can honestly say that I have never lost my cool with a player but have had my patience tested with one or two other umpires. Working with some types of players is a challenge, and working with some umpires from other countries, cultural backgrounds and age groups is more challenging.
Of late, umpires have come under scanner for various reasons, never was umpiring under so much of glare. Your take on this?
Just do your best and focus on the things that allow you to do that. Other people can say and think what they want -- the only bloke I need to please is the man I see in the mirror.I focus on my game, not on what others say.
Which of the technology used is the most reliable? How much is HawkEye reliable?
From what I have seen of HawkEye, it is pretty close to being accurate in tracking the ball and telling us where it pitches but is not 100 per cent accurate. I favour WYSIWYG technology (what you see is what you get) and the only technology that fits this description and shows fact is HotSpot.
Probably you are the only umpire in the world who has got a personal trainer, dietician and other experts at disposal...
I doubt that I'm the only umpire or match official in the world with these types of coaches. But yes, all these coaches do help me to improve personally and professionally. As I said before, I don't need to be better or compete with other umpires, I just have to be a better umpire in my next game.
Records are an integral part of cricket. With age by your side, probably all umpiring records can fall in to your lap. Do you think about it?
No, someone else keeps the score and looks after the record books. Stats and records don't count when you get something wrong or make an error. My focus is on making my next game my best game not on what number match it is. Just like a top golfer, my focus is on the next shot (or the next ball) rather that standing on the tee and thinking what score I'm going to mark on my card for this hole.
Who is the best umpire according to you? Do you have any hero?
I have seen many excellent umpires who are the best in certain areas. What I like to do is look at these excellent umpires and see what makes them the best in certain skill areas and see if I can apply that to my performance. I don't have an umpiring hero but have several other heroes -- like Lance Armstrong (for his personal success with cancer and cycling) and Nelson Mandela (for his will, determination and ability to mobilise while maintaining self pride under duress). I like to see what makes certain individuals or companies successful and see how I might be able to apply that to me or my "business" -- such as Michael Schumacher, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods and several top business executives.
If not an umpire then what would you want to be?
Good question... A successful businessman/entrepreneur or sports/business coach.
How different is it to officiate in a Test, ODI or T20?
A Test is just that -- it tests all aspects of your game. A Test is an endurance of skill at the highest level and you are one ball away from a disaster in a personal game of around 2500 balls. ODIs are also a test of playing conditions' knowledge as there are so many rules of overs, fielding restrictions and rain-interruption calculations. A T20 game tests your ability to do all that you have to do in an ODI but to simply do it quicker!
How difficult it is to officiate on Indian grounds where there is vociferous support?
Yes, the Indian crowds are passionate and enthusiastic especially when a Tendulkar, Dravid or Dhoni is batting. I like to use that enthusiasm and energy to help me lift my game and focus.
Finally, who is the best batsmen and bowler according to you?
One of the great things about umpiring is that you see some really talented cricketers. But I don't think that it is appropriate that I name them for fear of jeopardising my position of being a neutral observer. I have no favourite bowlers, batsmen or teams.
