Trent Steenholdt umpiring with Dean Trigg.
Camera IconTrent Steenholdt umpiring with Dean Trigg. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Century looming for Willagee cricket umpire

Francis CurroComment News

He was also recently selected to umpire the Cricket Australia Under-17s National Championships in Brisbane, which started on September 28.

Steenholdt has stood in 92 first-grade cricket matches and is just 26.

He is hoping to one day umpire Sheffield Shield cricket and maybe international cricket.

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Steenholdt made his umpiring debut at 15 and stood in his initial first-grade game at Lark Hill when he was 19.

“I remember it was the windiest day down there and Adam Voges and Steve Magoffin were both playing and I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Steenholdt said he was never good enough as a player to make it in first-grade cricket, but he still wanted to be out there.

“I was always kind of in awe of people walking out in the first-grade rounds,” the former Fremantle cricketer said.

“I sort of thought, ‘What can I do to contribute to the game if I can’t make it at that level?’, so I thought I might give umpiring a shot.”

It wasn’t all smooth sailing in his first umpiring experience.

He put the bowler’s cap on his head and only realised his mistake when former Test umpire Rick Evans, who was watching on, started shaking his head.

So what does it take to be an umpire?

According to Steenholdt, patience and having a thick skin.

“It’s just like playing cricket, except you are just in a different pair of pants and a hat,” he said.

“You have to have a steady head, be stoic by nature and try not to get emotionally involved in the game.”