IT was disappointing to turn up to matches last Saturday to find the grounds covered in puddles.

Everyone looks forward to a game, not just players but umpires too.

Club members and players worked hard to get rid of all the water to make games playable but certainly where I was at Darcy Lever, we were beaten by the weather.

We could have done without the downpour about 3pm.

Members of both teams worked hard to mop up again but time was always against us and we had to call it off, in spite of reducing boundaries and ample sawdust spread over damp wicket ends.

Three minutes after calling it off the heavens opened again which, had we been playing, would have ended it as the ground couldn’t take much more water.

There is nothing worse than just sitting around waiting for play to start. As I said a few weeks ago the umpires now have to make the decisions and you will please some captains and upset others. All we ask is that the umpire’s decision be respected.

The T20 competition is now up and running and should be good to watch as this year professionals can play in our competition.

We have had our share of T20 cricket on the TV over the winter with the World Cup, the Indian Premier League (IPL) and England’s tour matches.

These matches often throw up run-outs as players endeavour to score quick singles.

The question often asked is what happens if both batsmen end up at the same end with the wickets broken at the other? Who is out?

I have seen a batsman set off walking thinking he will make the sacrifice so that the established batsman can carry on getting the runs but called back by the umpires as he was last to make good his ground at that end.

The umpires should confer and agree if the batsmen had crossed and who was last in at that end as he would be nearer the end the wicket has been broken and therefore out.

It sounds complicated and it can be. There is an example shown at umpires' training courses of two Australians ending up at the same end, and it's only through slowing down the TV replay frame by frame you see one batsman ground his foot ever so slightly before the other.

What chance has a grassroots umpire of seeing that? None whatsoever and yet a decision has to be made and more so, accepted by the batsmen.