Newell named on Reserve List of First Class Umpires for 2017

Sussex Cricket Premier League umpire Mark Newell has been named on the Reserve List of First-Class Umpires for the 2017 season.
Mark Newell in action for Three BridgesMark Newell in action for Three Bridges
Mark Newell in action for Three Bridges

The former Sussex batsman and Three Bridges captain was named alongside James Middlebrook as additions to the list this year.

The eight-strong Reserve List are there to support the 25-strong First Class panel.

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And the 43-year-old is delighted to have progressed to this level.

Mark NewellMark Newell
Mark Newell

He said: “I’m very chuffed about it, it’s a good bit of news. It’s the second tier of professional umpiring that supports the first class group.

“We get a full amount of fixtures, predominantly second team cricket with some university stuff thrown in, but there will be some first class games.”

Newell will run the umpiring side-by-side with his job at Gatwick Airport but his long-term aim is to do umpiring full-time.

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He said: “Next step is to get on to the full list but a degree of patience is required because a lot of those guys go through to retirement age.

“They are waiting for spaces to become available and then they select the guys to fill those spaces from the reserve list.”

Batsman Newell, from Crawley, played 24 First Class games for Sussex and Derbyshire, hitting three centuries before returning to play for Three Bridges.

He said: “Umpiring wasn’t on my mind when I came out of the professional game. I wanted to stay in cricket so I went back and played for Three Bridges.

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“It’s when I got to my mid-30s I started to think about the next phase of what I wanted to do with cricket as my playing career was winding down.

“I had a chat with a few of the local league umpires like Tony Millard and Terry Burstow and they talked about umpiring as a way forward and I liked what they said and it went from there.

“They gave me guidance on how to progress and guided me through the early stages. Certainly the Sussex League has been very good to me in terms of pushing my progression through quickly.

“I do miss playing but I also miss being 25. You have to be realistic about things. Towards the end of my playing career I had four 15 or 16-year-olds in the side. That made me feel quite old and that hastened my decision to look at the next stage.”

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Newell believes having played First Class is a big help to umpiring at the higher standard. He said: “It certainly helps.

“It gives you an understanding the kind of pressures the guys you are umpiring are going through and that gives you a certain amount of empathy with them.

“In that respect I think it does help. I don’t think it alters how you manage the game though.”

And what advice would Newell give to any one looking to progress in the umpiring world?

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“Look for guidance. Seek out guys who have progressed up the ladder and ask them how they got there, what kind of commitments you have to make to progress and listen to what they have to say.

“They have been there and done it and any advice they can give you should heed.”

Chairman of the Sussex Association of Cricket Officials Terry Burstow said: “Besides being a very good batsman I found Mark to be a very thoughtful and intelligent cricketer when he captained Three Bridges.

“He used these attributes as he moved steadily through the umpiring ranks.

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“His calm nature has provided the ideal base for clear decision making which is a huge benefit in umpiring.

“His elevation is completely deserved and the Sussex umpiring fraternity is justifiably proud of him as he follows in Martin Bodenham’s footsteps.”

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