Fred Goodall

Frederick Robert Goodall (born 1938) is a former international cricket umpire from New Zealand who officiated in 24 Tests and 15 one-day internationals between 1965 and 1988. His debut as one-day international umpire was at Christchurch in February 1973, in the first one-day cricket match played in New Zealand; he made his Test debut eight years earlier, also in Christchurch.

One of the most notorious matches involving Fred Goodall was the Second Test between New Zealand and West Indies at Christchurch's Lancaster Park in February 1980. Goodall had previously turned down several appeals against New Zealand batsmen, claiming unsubstantial evidence. So incensed with what the tourists considered poor umpiring, the West Indies refused to emerge from their dressing room after the tea break on Day 3, unless Goodall was immediately replaced. After a delay of twelve minutes, organisers managed to coax the tourists back onto the field for a spiteful third session. Goodall enjoyed the support of match organisers in New Zealand, and continued his role in the Test. This resulted in an even more spiteful fourth day, in which Goodall was, at one stage, shoulder-charged by bowler Colin Croft. West Indies manager Willie Rodriguez, in a press conference at the end of the series, later accused the umpires, including Goodall, of not being biased, but instead incompetent. West Indies captain Clive Lloyd later regretted not taking a firmer line with his players.

Fred Goodall continued officiating in Tests and one-day matches after the infamous Christchurch incident. His last match as umpire was a one-day international at Napier in March 1988.

External links

* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/columns/content/player/37215.html Cricinfo Profile]
* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/237606.html Cricinfo's article on the West Indies' sour tour of New Zealand in 1979-80]