ECB Confirms 2011 Umpiring List

ECB Confirms 2011 Umpiring List

Former Glamorgan and England fast bowler Alex Wharf has been added to the 2011 reserve list

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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the appointments of Steve Gale and Steve O’Shaughnessy to the First Class Umpires List for 2011 following the retirements of Barry Dudleston and Vanburn Holder last season.

Steve O’Shaughnessy played First Class Cricket for Lancashire and Worcestershire between 1980 and 1989, and has been umpiring since 2007.

Speaking about his elevation to the First Class Umpires List, Steve O’Shaughnessy said: “I am thrilled to be given this promotion and am looking forward to having the chance to further my career as an ECB official.”

Steve Gale is from Shrewsbury and has spent three seasons on the Reserve List after representing Shropshire in Minor Counties cricket between 1975 and 1987.

ECB Umpires’ Manager, Chris Kelly said: “We are pleased to welcome both Steve Gale and Steve O’Shaughnessy onto the Full List for 2011. Their commitment and attitude on the Reserve List has been outstanding and their promotion is the result of some exceptional performances in LV= County Championship matches.”

In addition, three new umpires have been added to the First Class Reserve List for 2011; Alex Wharf, Billy Taylor and Russell Evans.

Wharf and Taylor retired from First Class Cricket at the end of the 2009 season and Evans was contracted by Nottinghamshire between 1985 and 1990.

All three have used recent seasons to demonstrate their umpiring ability and are now presented with further umpiring opportunities.

ECB Umpires’ Manager, Chris Kelly said: “We are pleased to welcome Billy, Alex and Russell onto the Reserve List for 2011 which maintains the number of umpires available at this level. There is now plenty of competition for places on the Reserve List and these three have shown that they are in an excellent position to take their officiating forward.”