As Tamil Nadu and Bengal got their Ranji Trophy clash underway on Wednesday, the game was spiced up by African flavour when umpire Brad White walked out to the middle.
The 48-year-old former first-class cricketer is in India as part of the exchange programme between BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA) and will be officiating in three Ranji Trophy matches this season.
Speaking to reporters, White was excited at the prospect of umpiring in India and said: “I am really looking forward to the fact that Indian wickets turn a lot. It would be a great experience standing on such wickets. The conditions are also warmer and humid which will add to the challenge.”
A left-handed opener, White has scored 4,000 runs in 78 first-class games for teams like Border alongside Makhaya Ntini and Mark Boucher, Easterns and Transvaal.
Look up to Erasmus
White, who has been officiating for 17 years, has 131 matches under his belt and looks up to compatriot Marias Erasmus. “He has done so well; his demeanour, the way he handles people, confrontations. He has the perfect personality to be a world-class umpire.”
While India will be a new challenge, his big moment of reckoning will come early next year when Pakistan tours South Africa, for which he has been appointed as the fourth umpire for two games, marking his international debut.
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