Herbert Alfred Rhys Elphinston (25 February 1905 at Leichhardt, Sydney – 8 July 1966 at Forestville, Sydney) was an Australian Test cricket umpire.[1]

Umpiring career

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After playing club cricket in Sydney as a bowler, Herb Elphinston took up umpiring in the 1930s.[2] He umpired 45 first-class matches between 1945 and 1954, most of them in Sydney. He umpired ten Test matches between 1948 and 1953.[3] His first Test was between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 1 January to 5 January 1948, a match comfortably won by Australia with Don Bradman scoring a century in each innings. Elphinston's partner in this match was Andy Barlow. His last Test was between Australia and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 9 January to 13 January 1953, where the home team won by an innings with Neil Harvey scoring 190 and Ray Lindwall taking 8 wickets. Mel McInnes was Elphinston's partner in this match.[4]

Elphinston was a leader in warning fast bowlers against the persistent use of short-pitched deliveries (bouncers), resulting in Australian first-class umpires being given more power to intervene against intimidatory bowling.[5]

Outside cricket

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Elphinston attended Canterbury Boys' High School in Sydney. He worked as a clerk in the timekeeper's office at Sydney County Council.[2] He died in 1966; his wife Miriam died in 1965. They had three daughters.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Herbert Elphinston". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "A Test ump. was never stumped". Daily Telegraph: 48. 3 December 1950.
  3. ^ "Herbert Elphinston as Umpire in First-Class Matches". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Mix-up at end of day's play in Test". Daily Telegraph: 10. 10 January 1953.
  5. ^ Robinson, Ray (19 April 1952). "N.S.W. bid to control bumper attack". The Mail: 5.
  • Pollard, Jack, "Australian Cricket: 1948-1995, The Packer Years". Sydney, The Book Company, 1995.
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