Davis, Mr Steve

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:52): I move:

That this house—

(a) celebrates the outstanding 25 year career of South Australian international cricket umpire Steve Davis upon his retirement in June;

(b) acknowledges Steve Davis’s commitment to cricket in which he umpired 57 tests, 137 one day internationals and 26 T20 international matches; and

(c) recognises the important role played by umpires, officials and volunteers in grassroots, state, national and international sport.

I think it was worthy that I put up this motion. We often acknowledge many athletes and sporting identities who have performed admirably in their chosen sport. Despite their importance, the careers of umpires are often overlooked and they really do not get the recognition that they deserve. Steve Davis's career in cricket circles is nothing short of outstanding. A South Australian-based umpire, Steve had a remarkable lengthy career; in fact, he did his job so well that often they said that you would not notice that he was there as the umpire, which is great praise particularly for a cricket umpire.

Steve Davis announced his retirement in June 2015 after a five match one-day international series between England and New Zealand. Steve represented South Australia proudly on the world cricket stage, with an umpiring career spanning 25 years: 57 tests, 137 one day internationals and 26 international T20s.

He made his first-class debut umpiring in 1991 and umpired his first one day international game in 1992 when he officiated between Pakistan and the West Indies in Adelaide. His first test appointment was five years later in Hobart when he stood in in the match between Australia and New Zealand. In 2002, he was selected for the Emirates International Panel of International Cricket Council Umpires before being promoted to the Emirates Elite Panel of International Cricket Council Umpires in 2008. Cricket Australia's CEO, James Sutherland, described Davis as 'one of Australia's leading officials, held in high esteem by match officials and players alike'.

I have recently been to the Allan Border Medal presentations and spoke to the current Australian captain, Steve Smith, and a number of cricketers, and they all hold Steve Davis in awe as just a great sportsman, they call him, not just an umpire. Over time, he has been regarded as one of the nice guys in sport. He said that meeting all the great players, meeting all the people in different countries, having a chance to travel and stand in the best spot to watch some of the greatest cricket ever has been a great opportunity in his life.

One of the drawbacks he had was being involved in a terrorist attack in Lahore. Steve remained involved in the game despite the horrific circumstances of that terrorist attack. He was in a minivan travelling behind the Pakistan team bus. Steve Davis described that terrifying ordeal to the local media in which eight people were killed, including six Pakistani policemen and two civilians. He described it in these terms:

We pulled up to a halt behind the Sri Lankan bus—

not the Pakistani bus—

which had stopped, and we knew things were on because our van started getting hit by bullets. The driver, before he got hit, told us to get down and stay down. The driver was killed with two bullet wounds and died instantly. Glass was shattering everywhere and there were noises of bullets and other ammunition just pelting at us from all sides—back, both sides and the front. I thought we were all going to be killed. I thought they would just do away with us.

Steve's character stood up and he continued his illustrious career. Just recently, I caught up with Steve at the sportspersons of the year awards at which he was named the umpire of the year. We had a beer and a lot of laughs about some of the times we had previously caught up in life's walk. He is currently in England officiating at a cricket series, even though he is officially retired.

I think it is vital to recognise the role played by umpires, officials and volunteers in all sports in South Australia. Without umpires we do not have competitive sport: it is just as simple as that. In conclusion, I would like to congratulate Steve on an outstanding career and wish him well in retirement, albeit he is still umpiring. My motion is about recognising umpires such as Steve who are great South Australians, unsung heroes of our sports and who, too often, do not get the recognition they deserve.

Mr WINGARD (Mitchell) (12:58): I rise, too, to briefly speak in support of the motion put forward by the member for Chaffey to recognise the great efforts of Steve Davis as an international cricket umpire. I was lucky, in a previous life, to get to know Steve and see him around the traps and have a few chats with him and listen to some of his tales. It was an amazing career, indeed. As the member for Chaffey said, we recognise what a great job umpires do right across the board. At the elite level, in his 25-year career, Steve is to be commended for his 57 tests, 137 ODIs and 26 T20 internationals as well. He has umpired at the world cups, champions trophies and, also, the ICC World Twenty20 events.

He has done myriad things. It is what young people can aspire to. I meet a lot of young people in my community who are into umpiring across a number of different sports and it is great to have role models like Steve out there. They do not have the profile of the international sports people, as such, but they do a marvellous job and a lot of young people look up to them for what they have achieved and what they have done, and we hope to have more people following in their footsteps. I often say to people that, if my wife would allow me to be an international cricketer later in life, I would love to do it. I think it would be a fantastic job. I am glad that Steve has had such a wonderfully successful life.

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon: Umpire, or cricketer?

Mr WINGARD: Umpire, I think. I'm too old to play cricket anymore, in response to the member for Newland. As Steve says, he was never the world's best cricketer but he loved the game so much he went on to umpire, and I think that is just a great thing. For all young people out there, it is a great thing to aspire to. I will finish by saying that I commend this motion to the house and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Steve Davis for all the wonderful work he has done umpiring around the world and representing his country with great professionalism.

Motion carried.

Sitting suspended from 13:00 to 14:00.