Billy Bowden

Rise To International Umpiring

Brent Fraser "Billy" Bowden (born 11 April 1963) is an international cricket umpire from New Zealand. He is known for his dramatic signalling style, which has earned him both fans and critics alike. He began his career as a player until, at the age of 21, he began to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, seemingly ending his career as a cricketer. Soon after, he took a position as an umpire, to stay involved with the game he loved so much.

Bowden impressed at the domestic level, giving some very accurate performances. In March 1995 he was appointed to his first ODI, the fixture between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Hamilton. Over the next few years he stood in many more ODIs, and was also appointed to be the TV Umpire in several test matches, and his decision making continued to impress. In March 2000 he was appointed his first test match as an on-field umpire, and in 2002 he was included in the Emirates Panel of International Umpires. A year later he was asked to umpire at the Cricket World Cup in South Africa, where he was one of the best umpires; in fact he was chosen to be the fourth official in the final in preference to members of the Elite Panel of Umpires. Shortly after this he was duly promoted to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, of which he is still a member.

Bowden has had the opportunity to umpire in many high profile matches, including several India-Pakistan fixtures and, to date, five Ashes test matches, including the famous Edgbaston 2005 test, where he was the umpire who gave Michael Kasprowicz out, caught-behind, to give England victory by just 2 runs. Many Australians claim this decision cost them the Ashes because after endless close-up, slow-motion replays from side on it was found that Kasprowicz should not have been out. However, when viewed from front-on at full speed (Bowden's viewpoint), the only decision he could have made was to give Kasprowicz out, and so the decision was a good one. He was also involved in another memorable incident in the Brisbane Ashes test of 2006 in which, while standing at square leg, Bowden was floored after being struck by a ball which Geraint Jones had swept. Attempting to take evasive action, the ball hit Bowden on the hip and sent him to the ground in a shower of sunglasses and electrical equipment. Clearly embarrassed, Bowden was caught mouthing an expletive by the TV cameras. He also received little sympathy: Steve Bucknor (the other umpire) was grinning broadly as he went to check on his colleague, and the crowd began to chant "Biiiily...Biiiily". A far more noteworthy achievement came in January 2007, when he became the youngest umpire to officiate in 100 ODIs, with the fixture between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Hamilton, which corresponded exactly with his first ODI in 1995. A few days later, however, Simon Taufel took the record of being the youngest umpire to officiate 100 ODIs.

Signals

Because of his arthritis, it was too painful for Bowden to signal a batsman out in the conventional fashion, with a straight index finger raised above the head, and this led to the "crooked finger of doom". He has also put his own slant on several other signals, including a "crumb-sweeping" wave of the arm to signal four, and the "double crooked finger six-phase hop" to signal a six. His signals are also toned to the situation, in Tests he tries to be more sedate, while in ODIs he is more flamboyant, and is yet more flamboyant when it comes to Twenty20.

These antics have attracted him both fans and critics alike. Martin Crowe has referred to him as Bozo the Clown, and many people have said he should remember cricket is for the players, not for the umpires. Others, though, say that is style is really quite refreshing, and that he brings a new lease of life to the game - certainly crowds are more excited than annoyed when he starts to reach for the sky to signal six. His fans also point out that, even though his signals can distract you from it, he is a truly outstanding decision maker. Often at first glance it can seem he has got a decision wrong, only for a slow-motion, technologically-aided replay to show that he was, in fact, absoultely correct.

Umpiring Statistics

	First	Last	Total
Tests	New Zealand v Australia at Auckland, Mar 2000	Australia v England at Sydney, Jan 2007	39
ODIs	New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Hamilton, Mar 1995	New Zealand v Australia at Wellington, Feb 2007	105

Forthcoming Appointments

Bowden has no outstanding appointments before the Cricket World Cup begins in March 2007.