Sydney, Feb 15 (IANS): Fairy tales often don’t come true but try telling that to Trinidadian umpire Joel Wilson. He will be the only West Indian official to stand in the cricket World Cup which bowled off in Australia and New Zealand Saturday.
The 48-year-old will stand in three matches in the preliminary round as he marks a personal milestone of 20 years of umpiring. Wilson has described it as an absolute honour to be chosen among the game's elite to stand in the Feb 14 to March 29 tournament, undeniably cricket’s greatest showpiece, reported CMC.
“I’m humbled and honoured at the same time to be part of a team of officials that could be considered the best crop in the world. To be at this World Cup means a lot to me and to West Indian umpires in general,” Wilson said.
“I’m looking forward to my assignments. This is, for me, something special and something I worked towards. I’ve been umpiring for 20 years and after two decades I have been given the opportunity to participate in one of the biggest sporting events on earth.”
Wilson’s first assignment was Saturday’s big contest between co-hosts Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where he was the fourth umpire.
His next assignments are in Canberra, when Afghanistan clash with Bangladesh at the Manuka Oval Feb 18, in Brisbane, when Zimbabwe face Pakistan at the Gabba March 1, and in Tasmania, when Sri Lanka take on Scotland March 11.
Wilson will become the third West Indian to stand in the World Cup, the others being legends of umpiring.
Jamaican Steve Bucknor proved to be one of the best of all-time, becoming the only man to stand in four World Cup finals. He ended an illustrious career, having completed a record 128 Tests and 181 One-Day Internationals (ODI).
Billy Doctrove of Dominica stood in the 2007 and 2011 Cups and ended his career with 38 Tests, 112 ODIs and 17 Twenty20 Internationals.
Wilson is thrilled by the history he is making for his country Trinidad and Tobago.
“I am the first Trinidadian umpire at the World Cup. We had Michael Ragoonath who stood in the FIFA World Cup and is now a regional match referee in cricket. So from a Trinidad perspective, we have something to be proud of,” Wilson said.
Wilson acknowledged that at some stage of his career he felt like quitting but kind words of encouragement from former umpire Clyde Cumberbatch helped to strengthen his resolve.
“I remember the first day I stood in a match 20 years ago. After that first day, I felt like giving up. I promised myself I would not go back,” he said.
“I was scheduled to be with a colleague who did not show up and I had to stand at both ends. It was a school game and was very taxing. That day was a horror story. I didn’t get a breather and didn’t have another umpire to talk to.”
“I was going to announce that I was finished with umpiring. Mr. Cumberbatch met me and said ‘I saw you at the weekend and your umpiring was really good’ and that motivated me and I didn’t announce my ‘retirement’,” he added.
Wilson also spoke of his close friendship with fellow umpire Gregory Brathwaite.
“Gregory has been a friend for a while now and we discuss cricket and umpiring. There is so much happening in the field of umpiring and we always try to keep up-to-date with the latest happenings.”
Only four years ago, Wilson made his international debut in an ODI between the West Indies and India in Jamaica capital Kingston. Now, 18 ODIs and 16 T20Is later, Wilson is commanding the biggest stage.
“I never thought when I started that I would reach the World Cup. All I really wanted to do was give my best to the game of cricket. My ultimate ambition is to stand in a Test match. I see Test cricket as the ultimate form of the game and dream of making it all the way to that level,” Wilson said.