World Exclusive - well, almost - re Darrell Hair

This information has been available for a short time (I posted it on the
NSW 
Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association website last week) but only the 
Tasmanian CUSA website has picked it up so far.

Darrell Hair, enormously talented umpire, harshly treated by the ICC
because 
they were too scared and/or too political to deal with the issue,
reinstated 
after serving a period of rehabilitation, has announced his retirement
from 
all umpiring duties to both the ICC and Cricket Australia.

We should remember that, at the time of the "ball tampering" Test, Darrell

was officially ranked number 2 umpire in the world by the players (and,
from 
memory, officially number 1 in Decision Making), behind fellow New South 
Welshman Simon Taufel (the only man EVER to have been officially
recognised 
as Umpire of the Year).

Darrell will take up duties as Executive Officer of the NSW Cricket
Umpires 
and Scorers Association on 1 September, following the retirement of 
in***bent Peter Hughes after 16 extraordinary years in the role. This 
position has beeen revamped, allowing Darrell to take a more active role
in 
coaching and developing umpires than his predecessor, by the appointment
of 
an Executive Assistant, Newcastle's Royce McCormack, who will also
commence 
duties from 1 September.

Darren Goodger, who has already taken up his role as Education and 
Development Manager, will be able to spend more time in his other roles
with 
Cricket Australia's Global Development program and as a tutor with the 
International Institute of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (IICUS). Darren
(and 
members of his NSW training committee) have been, or will shortly be, 
conducting training in countries including Bangladesh, Malaysia, India and

Nepal. Darren flies out to Bangladesh yet again this Sunday to continue 
development programmes there.

I guess there will be some who will welcome Darrell's retirement. The 
up-and-coming umpires of NSW who will benefit enormously from his
assistance 
will be among them, although it will be tinged with sadness that the
career 
of this excellent umpire and very humble man will be remembered by many
for 
the controversy that dogged his latter years most unfairly.