Drinks With Paul Reiffel

Cast your mind back over the past two decades of Australian cricket and it’s easy to pass by Paul Reiffel.

Reiffel reckons a lack of experience on English decks lost the Ashes for the Aussies, not Punter. Image: Getty Images

He was the man whose bowling was described as “nagging”, whose batting was described as “solid”. He was the quiet, self-effacing bloke who, upon retiring from the game in ’02, eschewed the glamour of the commentary box or coach’s seat for the grind of umpiring. But don’t underestimate the quality of Reiffel. This is a bloke whose Test bowling average (26.96) bettered Craig McDermott’s, whose Test batting average (26.52) placed him in the all-rounder bracket. In his first Ashes Test back in ’93 at Headingley he finished with eight wickets. Australia won by an innings and 48 runs. In the first innings of the following Test at Edgbaston he took 6/71 off 23 flawless overs. Australia won by eight wickets. Four years later in England he came into the team for the second Test. Australia was trailing 1-0 and floundering. He restored stability, snared another five-for in Leeds and the Aussies took a series lead they never relinquished. What we would have done for a bloke like Reiffel this time around …

Mate, Cricket Australia Umpire of the Year in ’08 – congratulations.

Yeah, thankyou …

When every other past player seems to be turning to the commentary box or the coach’s seat, why take up umpiring?

That’s a good question … When I first started it wasn’t an easy gig, and I asked myself that question a lot – why am I doing this? But I think last year provided me with the reason – entering the international stage in a small way, being involved in bigger games, the Shield final, the Ford Ranger Cup final. It was where I wanted to be – I wanted to be back out there, in amongst the excitement and the pressure. Everything I missed when I retired from cricket is there in umpiring.

As a player, in your wildest dreams did you ever countenance the thought of being an umpire?

No, not at all. As a player you’re caught in your own little world and you don’t see anyone else. I certainly didn’t see umpires in that world. It’s not the most high-profile job, and as a player I certainly had my moments with certain umpires. But it was in the last year of my playing career that CA decided they wanted to get some former players involved in umpiring and it just coincided with my retirement. I thought, ‘Wow, here’s an opportunity to do something different.’ It’s certainly a challenge and that’s what I needed when I retired.