Four decades with an eagle eye: Dave Alexander’s quiet devotion to the game

IF YOU have been a player or a spectator at a club cricket match in Kimberley over the last four decades, chances are you’ve had the privilege of watching Dave Alexander in action.

Dave would be the seemingly unassuming, but very alert and switched-on umpire standing on the field making key decisions that would decide batsmen’s fate — and therefore the course of the game.

I had the privilege of working with Dave at the DFA a few years ago, and every end of the week, he’d announce which games he’d be umpiring. I would jokingly encourage him to keep his itchy trigger finger loaded and ready, but he’d calmly remind me – ensuring that I understood it clearly – he was not out to just dismiss batsmen.

For Dave, fairness, objectivity and impartiality were non-negotiable. He wouldn’t even joke about those aspects. This quality clearly comes from an immense love for the game; and love it he must – he’s been umpiring for over 40 years.

More than just an umpire

Dave has thus far been enjoying a good innings, and on the brink of his 80th year is still bright, active and witty.

I wondered how he had kept himself occupied for the past 79 years, and when asked what sports he played over the decades, the list was long. “Cricket, rugby, soccer, golf,” he said, grinning after mentioning golf. “A bit of bowls, tennis, and I umpired hockey. But umpiring cricket was still my favourite, and still is.”

I asked about the smile, and Dave told me about his biggest sporting achievement ever: “Hole in one on 16 February 1974, in Kimberley at the golf course. I was playing with my Escom manager at the time.” Then he added, “Those days Escom was spelled with a ‘c’.”

But umpiring was not all that kept Dave occupied over the years.

He says that he started as an apprentice electrician at De Beers back in 1968, and this went on until 1972, whereafter he joined 'Escom' as an Electrician.

At the power utility, he worked as a technician in the Test and Telcoms Department, and then moved up to become a senior technician in the Advanced Metering Field.

Dave held a Certificate of Competence in the National Calibration Service, and was – and still is – a member of the SAIEE (South African Institute of Electrical Engineers).

After retirement, Dave – not being accustomed to sitting on his hands – started to hustle as a reporter for the DFA’s YES magazine. He became a familiar face as he covered the sporting and academic achievements of learners in Kimberley and De Aar schools.

Eventually, he would write reports and supply photographs for the DFA’s sports pages, which widened his circle of connections.

“I must have met and dealt with between eight and 10 Griqua rugby coaches,” Dave says. “I also had some good talks with Stormers coach John Dobson.”

When pushed to name some of the other big SA sporting personalities he’s had dealings with, the list gets long: “The Pollock brothers – Peter and Graeme, Quinton de Kock, Jacques Kallis, David Miller, Dale Steyn and the first female rugby referee, Aimee Barrtett Theron, then there’s also Michael Cann a Welsh cricketer who played for Griquas and coached with me at CBC, amongst others.”

Love of the laws

Dave spoke about how he first got into cricket umpiring, saying that if one is a cricket coach, then one needs to be interested in umpiring as well, because it gives one a better perspective on the game.

“I started cricket umpiring whilst coaching at CBC in 1985,” says Dave, “But did my first umpiring course in 1988, with Don Lee, the chairman of the umpires association at the time.”

He then grinned as he added: “In that class of wannabe umpires was a certain gentleman who went on to be a famous ICC umpire by the name of Rudie Koortzen, better known as 'Slow Death'.”

When asked about which aspects of umpiring prove most challenging during a game, Dave says that having your mind switched on all the time to make LBW decisions really tests him. Along with this, keeping abreast of law changes is also quite a heavy, though necessary, burden.

“The problem is, writing umpiring exams at my age is not easy,” Dave admits.

I asked Dave if, over the decade,s he’s noticed whether the attitude of players has changed, and if so, what could be the reason for the shift in attitude?

He did not answer the question directly, but replied philosophically, saying that he believes players always have and always will need to know and understand the laws of cricket.

Then he said, “When players get to know their umpires better, it becomes much more pleasant on and off the field.” And he left it at that.

Highlights on the field

I wondered if there was one big game, one pinnacle of his umpiring career that stood out.

“Of course,” he said, with his face lighting up. “Recently, I umpired a First League T20 final at the Oval …”

He paused, then shook his head and added, “No, wait. Many, many years ago, I umpired a cricket match at the Oval between a Griqua Rugby team and a Griqua Cricket team, which was supposed to have been a fun game.” He chuckled as he added, “But it was also a grudge fun game!”

Dave also recalled some memorable moments: “One game had me umpire a Premier League 50-over game with my son, Michael (nickname Bosal) at the Country Club B field.

“Another game that comes to mind is a game during the Over-40s Tournament in Kimberley two years ago, in which a National Umpire played, who, incidentally, was actually very helpful.” Dave then added, “Unfortunately, he has passed away since.”

Still not done

When asked how the thought of retirement from the game sits with him, Dave said: “I actually retired two years ago. But had my arm twisted until nearly broken to return to help out, as there were very few umpires.

“So as long as I am enjoying it, it looks like I am stuck in the role,” he smiled.

However, he still finds ways to stay busy beyond the boundary rope.

“I joined the MOTHs (Memorial Order of Tim Hats), and I am an Adjutant of one of the two Shellholes in Kimberley. I am also vice-chairman of SAAFA (South African Airforce Association) Kimberly Branch,” he said.

“But there’s more,” he quickly added. “I am also on the board of Camelot Estate. Now and again I take my dogs for a walk as well as spending some time in my garage doing some woodwork to keep me out of mischief.”

After four decades behind the stumps and a lifetime of service across fields, wires and words, Dave Alexander still shows up — calm, fair and ready. Kimberley cricket, and everyone who’s shared a field with him, is all the better for it.