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ECB issued this statement on 22nd March 2006.
We have put in place insurance cover for those applying for Full membership and you will be covered from 1st April. ECB will ensure that the cover is valid even if the membership subscription arrangements are not finalised by 1st April so you will certainly be insured by the start of the 2006 season."

We understand that some members are not quite sure what the ECB is doing about setting up an organisation which umpires and scorers may join for the coming season.
We hope the following will clarify the position.

The ECB website - www.ecb.co.uk - has the official announcement. To save you searching through the various links (but we tell you how at the end of this) it reads as follows:-

ECB Officials Association
The ECB Officials Association (provisional title) is being set up by ECB to represent umpires, scorers and match referees throughout cricket in England and Wales.
The ECB believes that the establishment of an organisation representing Officials, under the auspices of the National Governing Body for cricket in England and Wales and supported by the MCC, the Guardians of the Laws of Cricket, will be a positive move that will command widespread support within the game.
You can find more details in the ECB media release announcing the formation of the ECB Officials Association, plus a discussion paper for you to comment on.

Applications for Membership
The ECB is inviting applications for membership from umpires and scorers who wish to join the ECB Officials Association, which will begin operations before the start of the 2006 season.
Membership is open to all umpires and scorers including those outside England and Wales.

• For more details, and to download an application form, please see the membership section at www.ecb.co.uk.

You will note that membership is open also to those outside England and Wales. (Bet you missed that first time round!)

How to find it on the ECB website:-

• Go to www.ecb.co.uk (or click on the link)
• Click on Recreational
• Click ECB Officials Association, in the last section, lower right

You can also find a similar announcement on www.playcricket.com - on the Home Page, click on the second item on the left side - "News"

Additionally, the item makes this point: "In making this decision the ECB Board of Directors was conscious that, apart from the West Indies, all other Full ICC member countries take direct responsibility for their officials and that most other sports in this country operate on the same basis."