Billy Bowden

Brent Fraser "Billy" Bowden (born 11 April 1963) is a cricket umpire from New Zealand. He is known for his original and theatrical manner of signalling various decisions (see Umpire (cricket) for the traditional signals and their meanings).

Most cricket umpires signal their decisions in a stiff, frowning manner. Bowden distinguished himself by using imaginative signals. Some applaud him for bringing originality to umpiring, while others declare that it is neither his job nor his place to use unorthodox and sometimes irritating signals.

His signal for "four", normally signalled by waving an arm back and forth, has been likened to "wiping bread crumbs off a table." He signals "six", which is normally indicated by raising both arms above the head, by rising from a crouching position and finally propelling himself into the air but leaving one leg on the ground while at the same time causing his two hands, which appear to be using sticks to play a drum, to rise with him. Bowden's signal for "leg byes", usually indicated by rasing one knee and tapping it, has been likened to the action of a human pogo-stick, while the signal for "byes", traditionally shown by raising an open palm, is similar to the movements of a window washer. Bowden's trademark is his method of indicating "out." Normally, the umpire raises one index finger straight up to make this signal. Bowden has challenged the tradition by curving his raised finger to resemble a hook.

It is little-known that Bowden's unorthodox signals do not simply derive from a desire to be eccentric, but that he developed them because he suffers from arthritis: it forced him to give up playing cricket when in his early twenties and if he stands still for too long, he begins suffering extreme pain: his signals are a way of keeping him in motion and thus stopping him from suffering while out in the middle. The curved 'out' finger developed because it causes him pain to simply hold his finger straight.