A Deep Dive into Umpiring in West Indies Cricket History

May 06, 2025

"The best umpires are invisible until they’re needed. But when they’re needed, they must be right." — Steve Bucknor.

When we hear the name West Indies, uncles might envisage Golden Giants, Antiguan Knights, or a four-pronged pace attack. For youths, Gayle-Force winds and Pooran Power probably come to mind. Yet, lurking in the shadows remains probably the most under-discussed aspect of West Indies cricket. While the batsmen and bowlers are regularly bathed in stardom and lauded for their service in deconstructing colonial roots, umpires have played an equally crucial role in shaping the narrative around Caribbean cricket. They have often borne the weight of integrity, fairness, and internal politicking to combat racist rhetoric both on and off the pitch. Their journey, from the days of colonial Test matches to the hyper-scrutinised DRS era, mirrors the highs and lows of West Indies cricket itself.

Today, as the region searches for a new golden era, it must also ask: What happened to West Indian umpires, and why aren’t they leading on the global stage anymore?

The Early Years: Umpiring in the Shadow of an Empire

When the West Indies gained Test status almost a century ago in 1928, cricket was still a sport held in the bondage of British colonial roots. In those early days, umpires in the region were typically self-taught and selected from local, under-regulated leagues. Matches also relied upon local umpires, marring games in allegations of bias and corruption, though this issue was not unique to West Indian soil.

"In those days, if you were from Barbados and officiated in a Test against England, folks still thought you’d help your boys out. It was a no-win job." — Retired regional umpire Carl Brathwaite, Barbados Cricket Association.

Umpires of the era often maintained full-time jobs while umpiring part-time, viewing the skill as a duty or a hobby rather than a feasible career. Imagine requesting five days off work so you could umpire a Test match. Can't be me in this economy, inno.

A lack of exposure, respect, and standardised training were notable themes of the era, though many of these issues were repeated in the wider cricketing world. Operating in a region so far away from other major cricketing nations was another complication. Importing teaching materials from Australia or England, or allowing region-based umpires to travel between islands, was difficult to accomplish given the stage of global technological development.

Enter the Modern Era: The Rise of the Slow Death

For better or worse, the name Steve Bucknor, and his nickname, Slow Death, cannot be separated from West Indies history. His rise to become one of the most recognisable umpires in world cricket holds deep racial, political, and historical significance, especially within the Caribbean’s post-colonial context. Bucknor wasn’t just another official, he was a Black man from a once-colonised and colonially abused region stepping into a role traditionally dominated by white umpires from England, Australia, and South Africa. His calm authority on the field challenged centuries of cricketing hierarchy, where the ‘gentleman’s game’ was overseen by officials who rarely looked like the players from the developing world they were tasked with adjudicating. For many West Indians, seeing Bucknor at the centre of iconic Test matches was symbolic: proof that the Caribbean could produce not just cricketing greats but figures who upheld the game’s highest values of fairness and integrity on the global stage.

Politically, Bucknor’s career unfolded during a period in the late 1980s when the West Indies, as a cricketing entity, was still solidifying its identity. His ascent reflected a quiet but significant shift from being subjects of imperial cricket to becoming respected arbiters within it. By the 1990s, the West Indies’ dominance on the field was waning, but Bucknor’s presence reminded the world that the West Indian brand still carried weight in international cricket, not through power hitting or pace bowling, but through moral authority and impartiality in the game’s most sacred role.

Racially, Bucknor became a trailblazer in an era where very few Black umpires were trusted with the game’s biggest moments. His appointment to officiate five consecutive World Cup Finals between 1992 and 2007 was unprecedented and is a record that still stands today. It sent a powerful message, particularly to aspiring umpires from the Global South, that excellence in officiating wasn’t confined to England or Australia. Yet, Bucknor’s visibility also subjected him to harsher criticism, particularly from fans and media in India and Australia, where contentious decisions occasionally sparked racially-motivated backlashes. Still, Bucknor weathered those storms with stoicism, becoming a symbol of Black professionalism in a space where few like him had stood before.

Historically, Bucknor’s legacy extends beyond the records he set. He redefined the image of the Caribbean cricket official, morphing from a peripheral figure in regional games to a global standard-bearer. His calm movements, particularly the way he slowly raised his finger, became part of cricket’s folklore. But more importantly, his career paved the way for conversations about umpiring diversity, representation, and the Caribbean’s place in the governance of the sport. In many ways, Steve Bucknor wasn’t just umpiring matches, he was umpiring history.

"I have made mistakes. All umpires do. But the game moves on, and players move on. Umpires must do the same." — Steve Bucknor (in a 2009 interview).

The DRS Bacchanal

The introduction of the Decision Review System (DRS) is seen as one of the most monumental technological leaps since the invention of doubles with slight everything. The technology, although originally engineered for cricket, has influenced other sports, including the VAR system used in football. In the context of the cricketing world, it is very difficult to argue against DRS being a divine boon. That said, in the specific context of the region, DRS has been met with both praise and cuss-outs regarding its impact on the game, especially in extreme high-pressure moments.

The system, which includes technologies such as Hawk-Eye for ball tracking and Ultra-Edge for detecting faint edges, was designed to provide more accurate decision-making and reduce the likelihood of errors. For West Indian umpires, many of whom had grown accustomed to making decisions based solely on their experience and judgment, the arrival of DRS presented both an opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, it offered a means to correct wrong decisions and provided a safety net. However, the reliance on technology also placed a level of pressure on them, as every decision was now open to review and public scrutiny.

One of the key impacts of DRS on West Indian umpires is the training and adaptation required to use the system effectively. While top-tier umpires like Steve Bucknor and Joel Wilson had exposure to DRS in international matches, many Caribbean umpires working in regional competitions were not as familiar with the technology. This created a disparity in experience between international and domestic officials. For those officiating local matches in the Caribbean, there was often no access to the technology, making it harder for them to maintain consistency when promoted to international duties. It would be like your boss demanding that you use a new system at work but not bothering to explain how it works. When these umpires did encounter DRS in higher-profile matches, they were often criticised for being slow or hesitant in using the technology to review decisions, which affected the flow of the game and sometimes their confidence in making calls.

Regional inequality in the availability of DRS further complicated the situation. While international matches involving the West Indies benefited from DRS, domestic competitions like the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) or regional first-class cricket rarely had access to the technology. This created a gap in experience for Caribbean umpires, who were often called to officiate at the highest level without the preparation of using DRS in domestic settings. The system exposed the lack of infrastructure and training for West Indian umpires compared to their counterparts in countries like Australia, England, and India, where the technology was regularly used at the domestic level. As a result, the Caribbean’s umpiring pool struggled to gel with the new era of technology-driven decision-making, which slowed their professional growth and hindered their ability to perform confidently when faced with DRS challenges on the international stage.

"It was tough, but that’s the job now. Players are judged, so why not us? You just work hard, review footage, and try to be better next match." — Joel Wilson (2019 post-Ashes interview).

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Where Are the West Indies’ Umpires Now?

So where does that leave us? The current umpiring situation in the region reflects the mixed bag of progression and stagnation that has haunted both umpire and playerbase alike. Although the region once supplied the global game with some of the most renowned umpires in the world, today it grapples with a combination of underrepresentation on the global stage and the challenges of modern cricketing technology.

Joel Wilson, who continues to be the only West Indian representative to serve on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, remains a rare success story in that regard. Having risen through the ranks in the Caribbean to become one of the top officials in the game, Wilson's career symbolises the potential for West Indian umpires to reach the highest levels of the profession. However, despite Wilson's accomplishments, his journey remains exceptional, and the overall number of Caribbean umpires at the top international level has dwindled over the years.

The issue of regional insularity is another complication. It is almost impossible to talk about West Indies cricket without repeatedly mentioning insularity. The region’s members have diverse cricketing cultures, yet they all seem to struggle with internal competition and politics, which often undermines the development of a unified umpiring structure. Umpires in the region must contend with accusations of bias in inter-island competitions, while the reluctance to use foreign umpires in domestic matches has prevented the necessary cross-pollination of ideas and expertise. This insularity has, in turn, stymied the creation of a professional system that could nurture and develop local umpiring talent for the international stage.

How Can Windies Umpires Rise Again?

The revival of West Indies umpiring on the global stage is a sticky wicket. To regain prominence on the international stage, the region must begin by addressing the key issue of infrastructure and training. The disparity between regional and international umpiring standards, especially in the face of modern technology like DRS, is a significant obstacle, so providing local umpires with consistent access to such tools, alongside comprehensive training, would help level the playing field. By creating a more robust development pathway, with exposure to international best practices, the region can start to close the knowledge gap and produce umpires who are confident and capable when officiating at the highest level.

Joel Wilson’s success has shown that with the right opportunities, the region can still produce world-class officials. With investment, commitment, and a focus on education and technology, West Indies umpiring can once again lead the cricketing world, reflecting the same integrity, fairness, and pride that the region has long been known for on the playing field. The time has come for West Indies umpires to reclaim their place on the global stage, ensuring their legacy is honoured and their contributions recognised.

"The Caribbean knows cricket. The Caribbean lives cricket. It’s time our umpires got the respect and the training to show the world we can lead from the middle again." — Retired WI pacer turned TV pundit, Ian Bishop.

Addendum:

When this article was written, Joel Wilson was on the ICC Elite Panel, however, he was subsequently removed on March 25th 2025. This means the West Indies now has no representative on the Elite Panel, which underscores the importance of rebuilding the umpire development systems in the region. Regardless of your opinion on Wilson’s quality as an umpire, being unrepresented in this aspect of cricket is a dangerous situation to be in. In an era where negative rumours spread quickly, now more than ever, it is important to have a voice at the highest level of the game.

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