Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers
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The Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (commonly abbreviated as the ACU&S) was established in 1953 by the umpire Tom Smith as the Association of Cricket Umpires (the scorers were included in the title several years later), in order to provide training and advice to
cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
officials. It had a membership exceeding 8,000 in countries all over the world before it was merged with the ECB Officials Association on 1 January 2008. The ACU&S also had the duty of assigning qualified umpires and scorers to cricket matches around the world. It was funded by membership fees, sponsorship, advertising in its quarterly newsletter ''How's That,'' and the profits from selling official umpire and scorer accessories and clothing.


Merger

In December 2007, the membership of the ACU&S voted (67% for, 33% against on a low turnout) to merge with the ECB Officials Association CB OA This ended a period of uncertainty during which various claims were made both about the Association's financial stability and its internal governance. This new organisation eventually became the ECB
Association of Cricket Officials The Association of Cricket Officials (ACO) is an organisation set up to represent and support cricket officials, especially umpires and scorers. It operates under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and is often referred to ...
. The move was criticised by some who viewed it a cynical move by the ECB as a means to secure additional funding by Sport England as well as by overseas members who believed that an organisation under the auspices of the ECB would not have the same interest in them as the ACU&S, which had supported members across the world. Supporters of the merger argued that integration with the ECB would raise the profile of umpiring and scoring, provide much needed funds, improve training and put an end to the multitude of official bodies that had begun after alleged irregularities in administration had come to light. This aspiration to improve training must sound rather hollow now ECB no longer examines candidates for knowledge of the Laws of Cricket. 5 Gloucestershire Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers minutes 18 November 2017.


Association textbook

The textbook, ''Cricket Umpiring and Scoring'', was first published in 1957 under the authorship of Colonel
Rowan Rait Kerr Colonel Rowan Scrope Rait Kerr (13 April 1891 – 7 April 1961) was an Irish-born cricketer and sporting administrator. Rait Kerr was born in Bray, Ireland third son of Sylvester Rait Kerr of Rathmoyle, Edenderry King's Co and led a distin ...
. Later editions were edited by Tom Smith,
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. Later revisions were undertaken by Sheila Hill, MBE, and Robbie Robins in about 1992, when the name was changed to ''Tom Smith's Cricket Umpiring and Scoring'' at the suggestion of Colin Pearson as a permanent honour to the founder. The changes to the Laws of cricket in 2000 required a substantial re-write and this was undertaken by Colin Edwards, Graeme Lowrie (NZ), and Graham Cooper. The new edition was published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 2004. Shortly before merging to form the ECB ACO, the copyright to the textbook was transferred by the ACU&S to
Marylebone Cricket Club Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London. The club was formerly the governing body of cricket retaining considerable global influence ...
(MCC), who continue to update it; Weidenfeld & Nicolson also continue to publish it.


See also

*
Association of Cricket Officials The Association of Cricket Officials (ACO) is an organisation set up to represent and support cricket officials, especially umpires and scorers. It operates under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and is often referred to ...
Former ACUS website


References

{{Reflist Cricket umpiring Scoring (cricket) Cricket umpiring associations 1953 establishments in the United Kingdom 2007 disestablishments in the United Kingdom English cricket in the 20th century