Also happy with WICB Umpire Exchange Programme
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad – West Indies Cricket Board Senior Panel umpire Gregory Brathwaite recently returned home after a successful stint officiating in the England at the start of the County Season. The 41-year-old was in England as part of the Umpire Exchange Programme between the WICB and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Brathwaite, who has served as Fourth Official in international matches, said he was quite happy with the time he spent in England and thanked the WICB for the "opportunity to develop and grow as an umpire".
"While I was in England I did four three-day matches and two Twenty20 matches and it was a great experience to be in foreign conditions and stand in matches involving different players from those I am accustomed to in the Caribbean," he said.
"There is a lot I can take from the experience in England. For us in the Caribbean, as match officials and players, the weather is very much the same from territory to territory, but the weather varies in England and while I was there it was quite cold. That can affect your performance, so it helped me a lot with my concentration levels and overall it was a great time.
He added: "It gave me the opportunity to see, close up, how the game is organized, structured and played in another part of the world. I learned a lot and now have some knowledge, which I can benefit from and also share with colleagues in the West Indies.
"I believe this is a very programme for us in the West Indies. It can only help you to grow and improve in the profession and in time I’m sure the programme will get even better. I was very happy to have been chosen by the WICB and I want to thank them."
Brathwaite is the third West Indian umpire to be part of the Umpire Exchange Programme. The others – Peter Nero and Joel Wilson – are also currently involved at the international level.