A LOT of comments have been made recently about umpires not being in a position to give run-outs.

In previous years an umpire was expected to try and get square on to the popping crease to be in the best position to give a run out and to stand on the side the ball goes so that you have a good view of the wickets being broken by the fielder or wicketkeeper as it comes in.

The game has moved on – it’s become quicker, bats are thicker, the ball travels faster and throws are more accurate as hitting the stumps on the full can be a frequent occurrence.

The bowler's end umpire is usually stood back behind the stumps giving him time to see the ball coming straight back at him and get out of the way.

The further he stands back, the further he has to run to try to get in line so now it's okay to get to an angle of 45 degrees rather than 90 and be stationary so your head is still and eyes are focused in order to judge a run-out.

Comments are often heard “you aren’t in line umpire”. That is not the way umpires are being taught and no longer where an umpire has to be stood.

For a ball played into the outfield, the umpire is now instructed to go to the opposite side the ball goes to so that the throw can be seen, as long as you don’t put yourself in direct line of the fielder and the stumps.

There have been a few cases where an umpire has been hit on the head by a fielder returning the ball from the boundary and causing serious injury with, unfortunately, a couple of fatalities.

Hence the new attitude towards where an umpire should stand and where he should move to.

Those watching international matches on TV will notice the positioning of umpires at square leg.

They appear to be stood in line with the bowling crease or halfway between the two creases. That’s purely for the TV cameras so that run-outs can be reviewed without the umpire getting in the way.

We don’t have that luxury and need to be stood where we can see and be safe.

Well what a wash out Saturday was. While the covers did their job to keep the day's pitches playable, the outfield was the main problem and no amount of effort from the groundsmen could cope with the rain falling periodically during the day. We almost made a start at Bradshaw but a sudden heavy shower put paid to that.

Tea was taken early but then more rain finished any chance of play at 4.15pm.