Game 18: Aliens vs Alna
Alna vs Aliens, the final game of the 2018 season. Excitement for the game built throughout the week. A Facebook event was created and tickets were sold out within seconds of the event going live. Our WhatsApp group was abuzz with activity as Dave the statistician crunched the numbers. With leading wicket taker Damon set to miss the match, skipper Dennis only needed 2 wickets to take the title. Pete was also hoping to further improve his world beating strike rate. With both teams safe and no chance of promotion or demotion for either, the game was a chance to stake claims for next season. We turned up the Stubberumyra Oval at 8:15 for our usual warmup. A lone umpire was already at the ground and ready to get game started. It was a balmy 8C with overcast skies, much warmer than then forecasted 3C; a lovely autumn’s day for cricket. Chris and Matt gave the pitch a light brush. Dennis won the toss and elected to have a bowl given the seamer friendly conditions. Just before we were about get play started, the ‘elite’ umpire rocked up in his trendy skinny jeans and light shell jacket. As a West Indian wearing wool from head to toe, I would never question the attire of a Norwegian.
Marcus was handed the new ball opened the bowling with a tight over – line and length with a dose of wobble. Pete ran in hard from the other end bending his back producing a short one just outside off, pulled straight to Chis at midwicket, the ball nestling safely between his chest and hands. In between balls, Gavin tried his best to keep the ball wet. Marcus followed up his opening over with another tidy one. The score now 7-1 off 3.
The ‘elite’ umpire then summoned both captains for an extended discussion which grew more and more animated. Then word broke, the ‘elite’ umpire was not happy with playing conditions and was therefore suspending play: it was his opinion that it was too cold to play cricket and he was worried about player safety and risk of injury. The umpire relied on a temperature app on his mobile and the temperature reading in his car to which he sought refuge to warm up. He did offer to shorten the game to 18 overs each. His logic, apparently a shortened game, playing in the coldest part of the day, would mean ……… actually it made no sense. Chris swiftly offered him a warmer jacket and even his reindeer skin, all of which he refused. Tempers began to flare, calls were made to the NCF umpiring panel but still his decision stood. In the end play was abandoned at around 10:45, after hanging around for almost 2 hrs without play.
This was by and large the worst umpiring decision ever made. Out of all the games played this weekend, ours was the only one to lose time. Even the ones at windswept Ekeberg played on without issue. This sort of behaviour is not even experienced at any of the 5876 kindergartens in Norway. The last game of our season abandoned. No more cricket for 7 months.
Parting words to the ‘elite’ umpire, ‘enjoy your sauna’.