Australian Umpire Ben Treloar Reflects On Memorable First Ranji Trophy Experience

Australian umpire Ben Treloar says two Ranji Trophy matches, new friendships and a newfound appreciation for Indian cuisine are memories he will cherish for the rest of his life after completing his maiden first-class umpiring assignment in India. Treloar spent the second half of October in India before returning to Sydney. During his visit, he officiated in two Ranji Trophy matches: the second-round Elite Group C fixture between Delhi and Gujarat at the Palam Air Force 'B' Ground, and the third-round match between Mumbai and Haryana at the BKC Ground in Mumbai. His appointment was made possible through the Umpire Exchange Programme between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). As part of the arrangement, Indian umpire Parashar Joshi will officiate in two Sheffield Shield matches and one One-Day Cup fixture in Australia.

"Absolutely, I'll remember this for as long as I can. It has been an incredible experience and I'd love to come back, whether to umpire or simply to see more of India. It's an amazing place and hopefully one I can share with my family in the near future," Treloar told IANS.

Treloar, who learned of his trip around six weeks before travelling, arrived in India with significant experience, having officiated in 107 men's matches across first-class, List A and T20 cricket, in addition to two women's ODIs and seven women's T20Is.

Despite that experience, his Ranji Trophy debut presented a unique challenge. He stood for 318.5 overs during a high-scoring four-day draw at Palam.

Treloar arrived in New Delhi four days before the match to acclimatise to the weather and time zone. Shortly after checking into his hotel at 2 a.m., he spent nearly 10 hours touring the city with a guide.

"The following day, I was driving around Delhi, seeing the sights and learning about the city's history. For me, it was about embracing the culture, being in the city, meeting people, eating the food and getting used to the weather. All of that helped prepare me for the game a few days later," he said.

He admitted to feeling nervous before the opening day's play, largely because he wanted to justify the faith shown in him by CA and the BCCI.

"It wasn't lost on me how prestigious the Ranji Trophy is and the history associated with the competition. The players understand that too, which is why they play with so much passion."

"There were definitely some nerves, but they were good nerves. I was looking forward to getting started and beginning this Indian journey," he added.

Among the highlights of the tour were witnessing memorable performances, including Priyansh Arya's 199, a double century from Ayush Badoni, centuries from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Musheer Khan and Nishant Sindhu, as well as Tanush Kotian's 8/81.

"Those are the things that will stay with me forever. Being part of those moments was special. But what also stood out was how close our officiating team became."

"My colleagues, Vinod Seshan and Sadashiv Iyer, along with the match referees, made me feel completely welcome. I never felt like an outsider. We shared responsibilities, worked together and built friendships that I believe will last a lifetime," he said.

Treloar added that players from both teams made him feel comfortable throughout the matches.

"A lot of players would come over before the game or while standing near me on the field and ask where I was from. There was genuine interest, and everyone was very welcoming. It was really nice."

On maintaining concentration through marathon batting performances, Treloar credited routines developed over two decades of umpiring.

"You fall back on your routines, making sure you're doing the same thing every ball. You bring yourself back into the moment and focus on the job at hand. It's six balls at a time."

The low-flying aircraft passing over Palam Ground also provided a unique experience.

"It was definitely noticeable. We have a similar ground in Sydney where planes fly overhead regularly, so I leaned on that experience. The planes at Palam were lower and louder, but by the end of the game I barely noticed them."

Treloar also highlighted the contrasting nature of Indian pitches.

At Palam, the black-soil surface offered lower bounce and slower pace, while the red-soil wicket in Mumbai provided more bounce and assistance for spin.

"In Mumbai, the ball was spinning and bouncing more than you expected, so you had to adjust quickly and track it carefully."

To prepare, Treloar attended net sessions with both teams before the Mumbai match.

"When those conditions appeared during the game, they weren't a surprise because we'd already seen them. It doesn't make you perfect, but it gives you the best possible chance."

Away from cricket, Indian food left a lasting impression. From stuffed vegetables, roti, naan and dal in Delhi to lighter meals in Mumbai, Treloar embraced the local cuisine.

Upon returning to Australia, he cooked butter chicken, saffron rice and roti from scratch for his family.

"Being in India helped me understand the different flavour profiles. Sharing that experience with my family when I got home was really special. They loved it."

Asked whether he now considered himself a cooking expert, Treloar laughed.

"I don't know about a connoisseur, but I enjoy it. It's something away from cricket where you can lose yourself, and it makes your family happy."

Treloar's cricket journey began as a player before he switched to umpiring in his early twenties.

"I was playing cricket on Saturdays and umpiring on Sundays for a season. By the end of that season, my love for umpiring had taken over, so I stopped playing and focused on officiating."

He has now spent 21 years on the umpiring circuit and works full-time as an education officer with the New South Wales Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association.

Looking back on the tour, Treloar expressed deep gratitude to both Cricket Australia and the BCCI for creating opportunities through the exchange programme.

"Cricket Australia and the BCCI have a strong relationship. The programme gives umpires invaluable experience in different conditions and cultures. The knowledge we bring back can help other officials develop and prepare for similar opportunities in the future."

"If we can help others be even more prepared than we were, then the programme has done its job. That's what makes it so valuable," he concluded.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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