Jim Cameron - player, coach, umpire

NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association | February 21, 2023

Jim Cameron has had a long association with cricket in Sydney. Firstly playing Grade cricket for Gordon and then coaching overseas before turning his hand to umpiring where he had a long and distinguished career.

Let’s find out more about Jim’s cricketing journey

What year were you born?

1953

Where did you go the high school?

Shore school in North Sydney.

Do you remember your first ever game of cricket?

My first ever game of competitive cricket would have been for the primary school 1st XI, bowling donkey drops non-spinning off breaks. I would have been eleven. Cannot remember how I went, but I couldn’t have been that successful as the spin bowling career had finished a year later.

Where did you play your junior cricket?

All my cricket before grade, was at school. We had a very good 1st IX in my final year at senior school, with eight of the team going on to play 1st grade cricket with various clubs around Sydney. Our coach was Neville Emery (Phil Emery’s dad).

Which clubs have you played for?

I played in Sydney for Gordon, two clubs in the Netherlands and whilst in England, for Sheffield United in the Yorkshire League and Steetley in the Bassetlaw League in Derbyshire, when I had an indoor cricket centre over there.

How old were you when you first played grade cricket?

I was eighteen when I first played grade cricket, Gordon 5th grade.

How old were you when you made your first grade debut?

First grade debut in 1975/76, aged 23.

Are we correct in saying you took over the wicket keeping gloves from Brian Taber?

No, Brian Taber finished the year before due to an eye injury and Bob Thomas kept in 1974/75. Thomas played as a batsman only in 1975/76 and I kept wicket for most of that season.

Who was the quickest bowler you kept to?

The quickest bowler for Gordon that I kept to was probably Craig Peifer.

Who was the best spinner you kept to?

The best spinner was undoubtedly leg spinner John Todd. He had two wrong- uns, one I could easily pick and one I couldn’t. I remember one day playing Western Suburbs and Bob Simpson was playing for them. I worked out how to pick this well disguised wrong-un by watching Simmo’s feet!!

Who was the quickest bowler you played against?

Probably the quickest bowler I played against was Steve Bernard. Facing him made me realize I was at best a mediocre 1st grade player. Honourable mentions to Andrew Jones from Balmain and Tim Curran from St George, who left me battered and bruised one day at Chatswood Oval on a wet wicket.

What was the best spinner you played against?

Difficult question to answer but I recall really struggling against UNSW spin twins Paddy Grattan- Smith and Mark Ray.

Who were the top 3 players in your time in Grade cricket you admired most?

Again, a difficult question to isolate only three players. Bob Simpson scored a big hundred against us. He had so much time to play his shots and just accumulated runs easily. Remembering he had retired from first class cricket at this stage and three or four years later he was back playing for Australia again. 

A team mate of mine, John Dedman. John was a left arm fast bowler who played 1st grade at seventeen years of age. He unfortunately had a serious shoulder injury the following year and was unable to bowl again. He ended up improving his batting to the extent he was later able to play 1st grade as a batsman.

Marshall Rosen was the 1st grade captain in 1975/76. He could bat beautifully and score runs at will on any kind of pitch, and also bowl very brisk medium quick. In my opinion, very unlucky not to play for Australia.

You left Australia in your mid 20’s to play and coach in the Netherlands. How did that come about and what do you remember of your time over there?

I went over to England in 1977 with some Gordon team mates to play cricket, watch The Ashes series and ‘do Europe’. The touring Australian team had committed (unofficially) to play two games in the Netherlands after the tour. You will recall that this was the tour that the news of the ‘Packer revolution’ broke. Most of the touring team decided not to go in the end. Only Chappell, Marsh, Bright and Ian Davis went. The rest of the team was made up of some Aussies in England at the time. The Gordon guys went on the tour, courtesy of Ian Davis’s invitation. He was playing for Gordon at the time. As a result of touring, I was asked by some Dutch guys if I was interested in coaching and playing over there, the next summer. Why not! I had five enjoyable summers over there. One in The Hague and four in Utrecht. We won a couple of premierships. The year after I left, the new coach was John Bell (former Queensland Shield player) and he managed (along with Peter Cantrell – himself a former Queensland Shield player) to move the team to the top division and also won premierships at that level. Cantrell ended up playing for the national team, married a Dutch girl and still lives and works in Utrecht.

I absolutely loved the time over there and still keep in contact with many people.

Why did you stop playing and what was the attraction to start umpiring?

To answer both these questions:

I retired from playing in 1990, aged 38. I am ashamed to say, I was suspended that year for questioning an umpire’s decision (quite vehemently). Former Test umpire Dick French, who I knew quite well, suggested over a beer that rather than upset umpires, I should take it up myself. I did the course and started umpiring the following season. I wanted to stay involved in the game somehow, and umpiring ended up a great choice.

How old were you when you made your debut umpiring in Grade Cricket?

I was 39 when I made my umpiring debut in a 4th grade fixture, at North Sydney No 2 Oval. My umpiring partner was the great Tom Brooks.

How long did it take to progress through to First Grade and then to First Class Cricket?

Two seasons after I started umpiring, I progressed to 1st grade in 1993/94 season. My first State game was a one day Mercantile Mutual fixture between NSW and South Australia in February 1995. It was a memorable game, which you can see from the newspaper cutting. My first Shield game was the next season. NSW v Victoria.

Who were the umpires you admired most when you started out as an umpire? Is there anyone in particular you wanted to model your umpiring on?

Darrell Hair was always a great umpire to stand with, as were Ian Jackson and Ian Thomas. Simon Taufel and I were starting out at around the same time and he and I learnt from each other.

I didn’t want to model myself on anyone in particular. I wanted to be the best I could be, enjoy the interaction with the players and enjoy the game. Some of the umpires I played under, and some I later stood with, didn’t seem to be enjoying the game, the banter, and I perceived some to be over officious (CONTROVERSIAL). I just wanted to be myself.

Most favourite ground in Sydney to umpire?

I didn’t really have a favourite ground although I always enjoyed being at Hurstville Oval and Waitara Oval. Petersham Oval was also special (mainly for the teas).

Were there any Grade players you especially had to keep an eye on?

There were a few volatile players around (by reputation) who were liable to lose their cool quicker than most, if they felt hard done by. They were often the characters of the game.

Personally, I found a quiet word or gesture suggesting to keep calmer early in the piece, before things could escalate, seemed to work. I must say however that the perceived ‘problem players’ were guys I got on well with, during and after the game. I don’t know if that is a reflection on them or me!

When did you make your debut as an umpire in First Class Cricket? How excited were you and what do you remember most about the experience

February 1995. The Mercantile Cup fixture mentioned previously. I was excited to be there as my aim when I started umpiring was always to be a better umpire than I was a player (Not hard!) It was memorable because of the way the game panned out. (See attached article).

Who were the three batsman you admired most as an umpire in Premier Cricket?

Very difficult to narrow it down to three players. It was a privilege to watch a lot of very good players at grade level who would not have been out of place at first class level. I’ll name three players who impressed me over a long period for different reasons: Scott Hookey was the most damaging batsman I saw. He could destroy an attack easily, particularly at North Sydney Oval. I remember him smashing the ball out of the ground many times. Corey Richards had the best technique of any opening batsman I had the pleasure of watching. He should have played more first class cricket, in my opinion. Nathan Ashley was a very good player for Balmain and struck the ball so cleanly. It was always a pleasure to watch him bat from the best seat in the house.

Who were the three bowlers you admired most as an umpire in Premier Cricket?

Daniel Jackson from Parramatta was a favourite of mine. For the first six or eight overs of any game, he was as good an opening bowler as there was. Ken Hall was the most competitive player I had the pleasure of umpiring. He was bowling left arm orthodox when I umpired (as opposed to medium paced when I played). He always maintained immense pressure on the batting side when he was bowling. He also had great bucket hands in the slips. Robert Smith, St George leg spinner, was a most underrated bowler by most opposition teams, I felt. He was instrumental in winning games for his team (often finals matches) regularly. 

Honourable mention to Robbie Aitken. Still going strong.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Playing wise, was playing at the SCG against the now defunct Sydney Cricket Club and taking five catches and as a result picking up points in the Herald Best and Fairest.

Umpiring, obviously walking out on to the SCG for my first Shield game was great, but I have great memories of the first grade final between Penrith and Sydney University in 2002/3, in a really tight game. University won late on the third day. 

Who’s been the biggest influence in your involvement in cricket?

The guy that made me really want to play the game (although he didn’t know it) was Peter Philpott. He was a teacher at my school when he played for Australia in the mid 60s. If he got wickets I was overjoyed and it he got out I was inconsolable. I wanted to be like him and play for Australia, and practiced and practiced to achieve that, but unfortunately I obviously didn’t have the talent.

Who was the funniest umpire you’ve had the pleasure to umpire with?

Peter Hughes was great fun. His dry sense of humour was brilliant. He would even sledge players (in a fun way of course).

Who is your favourite all time cricketer growing up?

Favourite cricketer was probably Doug Walters. His century on debut for Australia, and subsequent long career, the way he scored his runs and his casual demeanor made him my cricketing hero.

What did you enjoy most about umpiring?

Being able to enjoy the game way past my playing days. The rapport and fun times with players on and off the field, combined with watching these skillful players at grade and first class levels, from the best seat in the house.

If you’re in the middle seat of the middle row of Qantas QF1flight to London which two umpires from any level would you choose to on your left and right?

I would choose Peter Hughes and David Shepherd. Both very funny men who would be entertaining the whole way and make the trip go quickly.

Did you have any superstitions?

No superstitions.

What the most intriguing ground you’ve umpired?

A ground in the middle of Kuala Lumpur surrounded by livestock on one side and a Mosque on the other. The baying of the livestock and the call to prayer emanating from the Mosque, interrupted umpire’s and player’s concentration continually.

Technology – good or bad for cricket from an umpire’s perspective?

Technology is, in my opinion, if used properly a good thing. Unfortunately, I believe that some ICC umpires seem to rely more on the technology rather than their positional play in order to get the correct decisions. I think as a result their thinking processes appear to be less precise.

What piece of technology is most valuable to an umpire and why?

Some bat/pad catches are the most difficult decisions to get correct. Gloves/bat/pads all close together, detecting edges from bat or gloves is difficult. Therefore, the ‘hot spot’ technology really does help get those decisions correct.

What’s the best advice you ever received?

Knowledge of the laws and playing conditions is paramount as an umpire. Learn to think like an umpire, not like a player. Be yourself and enjoy the game.

Are you still involved in Cricket and if so, in what capacity?

Not involved at all, although I still follow grade, shield and test cricket closely.

Do you like the modern game and what can the game do to make it better for umpires?

Yes. I love the game of cricket and always will. At grade level, I believe that nothing much really needs to change. It’s a ball v bat game that needs fair and accurate adjudication. 

At international level, the idea of referrals has been hijacked by teams to use as a tactic rather than to overturn decisions they believe are wrong. Technology use should be in the hands of the umpires only.

What advice would you offer a young 17 year old who has the ambition of umpiring Test Cricket?

Play the game until you achieve your level. I think you are too early at 17 to think about umpiring as a profession. Learn the laws of the game whilst playing. When you do become an umpire, you need to learn to think like an umpire and not a player.

Who would you consider the top 2 umpires in the game today?

ICC umpires Richard Kettleborough and Rod Tucker are the standouts to me. Their positional play is better than most. Their decision making seems calmly assessed, thoughtful and for the most part correct. They also seem to have the respect of the players.

What are your hobbies?

Working on my golf game (struggling) and lawn bowls.

What is your occupation?

Retired. I sold my sportsfield management business five years ago.

Are there any lessons from your time in cricket that you take into work or life in general?

Be the best you can be. Learn to enjoy the highs and not worry too much about the lows. Try to keep perspective and be positive in your outlook to the game and life in general.