MUMBAI: Bruce Oxenford, who has been using a shield on his left arm in the ongoing IPL matches in India, says he will continue to use it at the international level in all Twenty 20s.
Oxenford is scheduled to officiate in the IPL final between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalurun on Sunday.
Speaking exclusively over his Indian mobile, the Australian umpire, who turned 56 in March, says, “This is the first IPL season where I have tried this. I intend to use it in all T-20 international games in future also because the impact of the ball is more in this format of the game. I am not sure whether the same would be used in ODIs’ and Tests by me. It will depend on the circumstances. There has been no ICC restriction on the use”.
“I got this (shield) made myself in Australia. It is to protect the heart which is an important organ in one’s life”.
The umpire, however, has not been using helmet as few other umpires do.
“Head is not as important as heart. When the ball comes at you with the speed, immediately your hand reaches at your heart and hence I thought of using this protective gear for my chest”, he added.
“At present, I am the only umpire using this shield”, he claimed.
“I have not been using it for the other arm also, because it would then possibly been too difficult to adjust while signalling a wide ball”, he further added.
“I have not been using helmet because it sometimes obstructs vision and the umpires may find it difficult to hear the call”, he added.
Oxenford will leave for Australia on Monday morning.
Oxenford had used this protective gear in a World T20 warm-up match between Australia and West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Krishnamachari Bharatan, the other umpire who officiated with Oxenford in one of the IPL matches, was “surprised” to see Oxenford officiating with this shield.
“Yes, it took me a surprise on that day. He has brought this gear from Australia, I am told. It is left to the individuals and if one uses it to protect himself, it is fine”, he said to this Reporter.
