International umpire Paul Wilson praises Darwin’s cricket potential

A former test quick turned international umpire has called Darwin’s cricket potential an untapped gem. See the full Strike League teams.

Darwin remains an untapped gem despite vastly improved facilities since his first class playing days wrapped up nearly 20 years ago, one-Test quick turned international umpire Paul “Blocker” Wilson says.

The 51-year-old, who played his only Test during a 1998 tour of India and returned to the Territory to umpire the Strike League’s opener and oversee officiating of the recent Under 19 World Cup qualifiers, was impressed by Darwin’s revamped offerings for professional cricket.

It comes as TIO Stadium hosted cricket for the first time in more than a decade earlier this month.

“It’s surprising teams don’t use Darwin and the facilities more than they do,” Wilson said.

“The facilities compared to when I played are obviously much better. It’s quite noticeable.

“The weather looks after itself.

“Great facilities, great centre wickets, great nets, grounds are excellent.

“You’ve basically got all the components you need to get quality practice and game time in during our winter.”

Tim Paine and Nathan Lyon of Australia questions umpire Paul Wilson over a DRS referral in a test match against India. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Wilson first got into umpiring in 2006 through the encouragement of former official Darryl Harper, following in the footsteps of Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker.

After playing his final Shield match in January 2004, Wilson initially dipped his toe into the world of coaching, but umpiring at the top level lingered in his mind.

Wilson officiated the England v Ireland Test match earlier this month, his eighth at the level.

However, Wilson admits the game has certainly changed a great deal since his playing days.

Despite the advent of the Decision Review System and its ability to shine a light on howlers through to marginally incorrect decisions, Wilson said players still dealt with a lot more pressure than umpires.

“It’s a unique job where your error can be seen by millions of people,” he said.

“It’s a different type of pressure (umpiring), for us you just worry about the next ball.

“For me, I feel as though there’s less pressure as an umpire than there is as a player.

“Something’s got to happen for us to answer an appeal.”

Kurtis Patterson (left) and Daniel Hughes of New South Wales speak with Umpires Paul Wilson (middle) and Sam Nogajski as rain halts play in the 2019 Sheffield Shield Final. Picture: AAP Image for Cricket Australia/Hamish Blair

He said initially umpiring under DRS was “a bit confronting”, but it was simply a matter of getting accustomed to its nuances and unique demands.

“The more you get involved with it and work under it, it’s part of the job,” he said.

“It’s a fine line, and the more you do it, I think you get more perspective, you realise it’s part of the game.

“If you do make a bad (decision) and it gets overturned, you just get on with the game.

“The marginal ones, you’ve got to take it as it comes, you win some, you lose some with those really tight ones.”

However, he said the technology had shaken up the age-old approach of simply giving the batters the benefit of the doubt.

“What we thought was the benefit of the doubt is now three reds,” he said.

Wilson, who traditionally umpires two to three Tests a year, plus a handful of ODIs a year, said the longest form of the game remained the “flagship” of the sport and the chosen format of most officials.

“The game that all of us want to do first and foremost is Test cricket,” he said.

“It tests us, it tests the players.”

‘Some miles into the legs’: Stanlake ready for NT Strike League

After being largely sidelined over the past two summers, former Australian one day international fast bowler Billy Stanlake will use Darwin as a launching pad for higher honours.

The 28-year-old, who has taken seven wickets from as many ODIs for the country, will return to the Top End for the Strike League which starts on June 25.

His arrival in the Territory follows a 2021-22 season curtailed by stress fractures in his back, sustained while playing with Derbyshire a few months prior.

Then after a move from his native Queensland to Tasmania during the 2022 off-season, Stanlake’s debut campaign with the Hobart Hurricanes was nipped in the bud after injuring a hamstring.

Hobart Hurricanes player Billy Stanlake with teammates Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Apart from a few club games with the Greater Northern Raiders last summer and a Second XI match against Victoria, Stanlake has been largely unseen over the past two “frustrating” years.

However, the 204cm quick said he was looking to play close to a full campaign in Darwin with the body feeling as good as it has felt since the May, 2021 back injury.

He said he would enter the Strike League not overly concerned about performance but rather getting his body through the month-long tournament, with T20 and 50-over fixtures awaiting him.

“The most important thing for me is to be playing,” Stanlake said.

“Get some miles into the legs. Get some rhythm going.

“The body’s all good.

“The back is good, which is the most important thing … so hopefully a big year this year.

“Everything’s tracking really well, I’m excited to go up and play some games.”

Stanlake bowling for Queensland against Victoria at the Gabba in February, 2020. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt.

Allowing him to spend some time with family in Queensland recently, Stanlake said heading further north was the “perfect” off-season destination at this point in his career.

However, he will not be following in the footsteps of NSW batter Jason Sangha – who recently turned out for Waratah in round 8 of the Premier Grade competition – by playing locally.

He also said the move from up north down to the Apple Isle last year had been beneficial so far.

“Sometimes change is exciting, especially when you’ve been in the one place all your life and career,” he said.

“A fresh start is a good thing.

“Hopefully plenty of years down here to come.”

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