Umpires keeping pace with technology
Hemantha Boteju officiating during the LPL
Former Sri Lanka and Thurstan College all-rounder Hemantha Boteju, who attained the distinction of being the youngest cricket umpire in the Emerging Panel of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), is relishing the challenge of keeping pace with technology in the modern game after his experience at the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL).
“The LPL was good exposure when there was no cricket for players, officials, spectators and the country. For the first time local umpires had the experience of DRS (Decision Review System). It was a challenge for umpires,” said Boteju, who officiated three matches as on-field umpire and had two decisions revoked.
“I always discussed with my mentor Peter Manuel and ICC (International Cricket Council) colleagues on how I can improve during the LPL. I went deeply into where I went wrong. In fact, Peter sent me a 14-point email. In the second and third match I improved in DRS. The LPL was a good learning experience,” said the 43-year-old banker, who is a graduate of the University of Colombo and is an author of two books.
An outstanding schoolboy cricketer who counts Sri Lanka legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene among his peers, Boteju became the 99th player to represent in Sri Lanka in One Day Internationals. He has shrugged off the disappointment of not being selected for the 1999 World Cup in England after having played in the Asia Cup held in India prior to that with Chandika Hathurusingha being preferred over him when head coach Bruce Yardley wanted a young all-rounder, to pursue a career as an umpire.
“Those days the selection committee did not tell what is my weakness. They just select and fire. For me there was no purpose in playing cricket without playing for the national team. Having played cricket since the age of nine, I could not get out of the game. When I decided to retire as a player, I had to choose between coaching and umpiring. I felt a coach is as good as the team he gets whereas umpiring is about individual success,” said Boteju following in the footsteps of his father Daya Boteju, a former Nomads opening batsman and first class umpire, during his cricket career.
“Getting involved as a player is the best. After making 100% sacrifice as a player, you can’t wait without getting involved in the game. I wanted to do something for cricket. Umpiring became a passion and got addicted since I could not wait without doing a match in the weekend,” explained Boteju, who made rapid progress after joining the Professional Cricket Umpires Association headed by Asoka de Silva a few days after playing his final Premier First Class match in 2011.
He was recruited by the Board (SLC) in 2012 officiating in Premier Division in 2014 before being selected to the Premier Emerging Panel in 2016.
The eldest in a family of four, Hemantha Devapriya Boteju stood out as a gangly opening bowler and opening batsman representing Thurstan First XI for six years from 1993 being captain of the side in 1995. He represented the Sri Lanka Under-17 team during the tour of Malaysia in 1993 when players like Sangakkara and Rangana Herath also made their international debut. The first player to score 1,000 runs in two consecutive seasons in 1995 and 1996, he was the Best All-rounder in schools for three consecutive years and got twin centuries against S. Thomas’. He became a celebrity when he smashed a last ball six ala Miandad against Nalanda in the semi-final on their way to the title in the Wesley 6-a-side Tournament which was telecast live for the first time in 1995. When the India Under-19 team toured in 1997, he got the highest runs and wickets in the three-match Youth Test series. Then India Under-19 coach Anshuman Gaekward predicted that three players – Sangakkara, Herath and Boteju – would go onto play for the national team. Incidentally Gaekward was India’s coach when Boteju made his debut for Sri Lanka in 1999.
He represented Bloomfield, CCC, Moors, Sebastianites and Lankans CC during his 19-year career but was dumped from the national team after playing just two matches in the Asia Cup. He also played a season with Durham CC in the English Minor Counties League in 2008 before deciding to call time on his playing career in 2011.
The only national cricketer with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations, Boteju wrote his first book titled ‘Walakulu’ (Cloud) a collection of poem while in the university in 2012. A junior executive at Hatton National Bank which he joined soon after leaving school, his talent as an author came to the fore when he was among 50 All-Island school writers selected in 1996 who underwent a two-day residential training in the National Institute of Education in Maharagama.
“From small days I used to write poems and read books,” said Boteju, who wrote his second book of poetry and autobiography titled ‘Ekunsiya Satahan’ (Documentary of 99) in 2016. He used the proceeds from his books to fund under privileged children in Horowpathana and Kebethigollawa. He also launched HB Foundation to carry out charity projects for children and has a dream of building an orphanage for kids in the future apart from writing two more books.
His umpiring career gained momentum as he officiated in practice matches when foreign teams and Ranji Trophy teams toured Sri Lanka while he got international experience during the CCL in India in 2013.
“It was a big exposure with DRS under lights with crowds of 40,000. It was very good experience in my second year (of umpiring). Another huge experience was when Australia toured here,” said Boteju, who has officiated in 500 matches at all levels.
“Umpires have to be physically fit than a normal player. I realised this when I got back pain after standing in my first match. We think bowlers have to be fitter but batsmen have to do more fitness because they run a lot,” he opined.
“An umpire has to watch 600 balls in a one-day match with the same concentration from the first to the last ball. He has to apply 42 laws to every ball and law 43 which is common sense. Now the game is also fast unlike those days. You have to avoid getting hit from straight shots. You have to be flexible, nimble, have good eyesight plus be mentally strong,” he said on the qualities which make a good umpire.
“For instance during LPL, we were not at home for a month. We can’t think of family issues. You need a satisfied family life to be an umpire. Family has to play a supporting role. Otherwise it is a difficult job,” said Boteju, who has a 11-year-old son Minula while his wife Padmali is a teacher by profession.
Having been a player has some advantages as an umpire.
“You are one step ahead of the players and you also have respect. Common sense is easy if you have played the game. I also earn respect of players because I was a national player. If I give a bad decision and say sorry, they accept it as a genuine mistake,” he said.
He admits there is always nervousness when a bad decision has been given.
“However, if you feel you gave a bad decision in the previous delivery, the focus should be to concentrate on the next ball. That is history. You must live in the present,” he said.
Boteju welcomed the advent of technology to assist umpires although they are under pressure.
“When a decision is revoked you are naturally disturbed. We give a decision by gut feeling instantly without benefit of replays. We are human. If we have a doubt, benefit goes to batsman. Technology is good because it explains whether it is right or wrong. No one can dispute it. The quality of umpiring also improves. Umpires try to do the correct thing. We endeavour to get close to technology otherwise you can give out without bat having struck the ball. But umpires are never partial,” he said.
He is fired by the dream of serving in the Elite panel of ICC umpires, being one of only three national cricketers to stand in the middle following Asoka de Silva and Kumara Dharmasena.