The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : City man to keep an eye on close decisions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 16, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

City man to keep an eye on close decisions

Staff Reporter

To officiate as TV umpire for the Uppal One-Dayer

I. Sivaram

HYDERABAD : Cricket-crazy Hyderabadis, Very Very Special Laxman will not don the India colours against South Africans in the first one-dayer at Uppal Stadium here on November 16. But, one local hero is sure to be there though not the same in terms of popularity and fame. He happens to be the 50-year-old Ivaturi Sivaram, the only one from the State to be in the ICC panel of third umpires, for you. He will be officiating as the TV umpire for the maiden international at the new venue.

Critics could have easily dismissed off the role of a third umpire till even a few months ago. But, not any more in view of the tendency of the field umpires to refer every possible decision to him to steer themselves clear of any controversy. This is where Sivaram feels he has a bigger role than initially perceived. "Umpiring either on the field or inside the box is always a great experience. The feeling that you are involved in the action out there is something special," he says. What exactly is his role in the box?

Experience

"Besides being referred to catches taken cleanly or not, stumping, run-outs, it is my job to keep a tab on the over-rate and inform the field umpires at least five times during an innings if there is any deficit. And the match referee sits with me and also files a report on how I am approaching the job," explains Sivaram.

Sivaram, with the experience of officiating more than seven tests, nine one-dayers (some of them as third umpire) and 60 Ranji matches in a career spanning close to two decades, is highly respected for the authority with which he reads out the rules to keep players and officials at a safe distance. He has fond memories of his first Duleep Trophy match in 1986 between West and East Zones which had the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Dilip Vengsarkar and Arun Lal in action. "It was a great feeling for the assignment came to me within a month on being nominated to the All India panel of umpires. More importantly, I came out clean without any criticism," says Sivaram, who hates sledging in any form.

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