Cortez Jordan
Encyclopedia
Hugh Cortez Jordan was a Test cricket
umpire
between 1953 and 1974. In total, he oversaw 22 Test matches, all in the Caribbean
and involving the West Indies team.
His first Test, at the Kensington Oval
in Bridgetown
, on his home island of Barbados
, saw the West Indies defeat India by 142 runs on 7-12 February 1953.
Jordan umpired the first-class
match between Barbados
and the touring Indian team in March 1962, in which Charlie Griffith
bowled a bouncer
that struck Indian captain
Nari Contractor
on the back of his head at the start of the Indians' first innings. After being helped off the field, Contractor underwent emergency surgery to remove two blood clots on his brain. He was unconscious for six days, and the injury ending his international cricket career. Later in the same match, Jordan was the first of two umpires to call Griffith for throwing
in a first-class match (the other being Arthur Fagg
in a match against Lancashire in 1966) Vijay Manjrekar
was also forced to retire hurt in the first innings after being hit on the nose by Griffith, and the tourists were skittled out for 86. Despite an unbeaten century by Manjrekar in the second innings, following on, Barbados won by an innings and 95 runs, with Contractor, Polly Umrigar
and E.A.S. Prasanna all absent.
Jordan became the first West Indian umpire to stand in a Test match outside his home territory when he officiated in the match between West Indies and Australia in Georgetown, Guyana
in April 1965. After the British Guiana
umpires association ordered local umpire Cecil Kippins to withdraw at short notice, West Indies chairman of selectors and former Test cricketer Gerry Gomez
took Kippins' place - the first time that Gomez had umpired a first-class match, and his only Test as an umpire.
Jordan and Douglas Sang-Hue were the umpires in the drawn Test against the touring England in February 1968 at Kingston, Jamaica
. West Indies were bowled out for 143 in their first innings, 233 runs behind England, and were asked to follow on. Crowd trouble started on the fourth day when Basil Butcher
was fifth out in the second innings with West Indies still 28 runs behind. The police used tear gas to subdue the crowd. Unfortunately strong winds blew the gas back towards the police, into the commentator's stand and then into the main pavilion, where the Governor-General, Clifford Campbell
, and other dignitaries were watching the match. The match was extended by 70 minutes into a sixth day to make up for lost time. A century by Gary Sobers set England a target of 159 to win, but the match ended with England on 68-8, still 90 runs behind.
His final match, after 21 years as a Test umpire, was then drawn match against England at Sabina Park
in Kingston, Jamaica
between 16 and 21 February 1974. He died in 1982, in Barbados.
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
umpire
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
between 1953 and 1974. In total, he oversaw 22 Test matches, all in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and involving the West Indies team.
His first Test, at the Kensington Oval
Kensington Oval
The Kensington Oval is located to the west of the capital-city Bridgetown on the island of Barbados. "The Oval" is one of the major sporting facilities on the island and is primarily used for cricket...
in Bridgetown
Bridgetown
The city of Bridgetown , metropolitan pop 96,578 , is the capital and largest city of the nation of Barbados. Formerly, the Town of Saint Michael, the Greater Bridgetown area is located within the parish of Saint Michael...
, on his home island of Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, saw the West Indies defeat India by 142 runs on 7-12 February 1953.
Jordan umpired the first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
match between Barbados
Barbados national cricket team
The Barbadian cricket team is the representative first class cricket team of Barbados.It does not take part in any international competitions , but rather in inter-regional competitions in the Caribbean, such as the Regional Four Day Competition and the WICB Cup, and the best players may be...
and the touring Indian team in March 1962, in which Charlie Griffith
Charlie Griffith
Charles Christopher Griffith is a former West Indian cricketer who played in 28 Tests from 1960 to 1969. He formed a lethal fast bowling partnership with Wes Hall during the 1960s...
bowled a bouncer
Bouncer (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a bouncer is a type of delivery, usually bowled by a fast bowler. It is pitched short so that it bounces on the pitch well short of the batsman and rears up to chest or head height as it reaches the batsman.Bouncers are used tactically to drive the batsman back on to his...
that struck Indian captain
Indian national cricket captains
This is a list of all cricketers who have captained Indian national cricket team at the international level. The list includes all Indian captains of men's, women's and youth cricket. India became a full member of the Imperial Cricket Conference on 31 May 1926...
Nari Contractor
Nari Contractor
Nariman Jamshedji "Nari" Contractor is a former cricket player. He was left-handed opening batsman whose international career was ended abruptly by a serious injury....
on the back of his head at the start of the Indians' first innings. After being helped off the field, Contractor underwent emergency surgery to remove two blood clots on his brain. He was unconscious for six days, and the injury ending his international cricket career. Later in the same match, Jordan was the first of two umpires to call Griffith for throwing
Throwing (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, throwing, commonly referred to as chucking, is an illegal bowling action which occurs when a bowler straightens their arm when delivering the ball. The Laws of Cricket specify that a bowler's arm must be fully extended and rotated about the shoulder to impart velocity to...
in a first-class match (the other being Arthur Fagg
Arthur Fagg
Arthur Edward Fagg was an English cricketer, who played for Kent and England....
in a match against Lancashire in 1966) Vijay Manjrekar
Vijay Manjrekar
Vijay Laxman Manjrekar is a former Indian cricketer who played 55 Tests. A small man, he was a fine cutter and hooker of the ball. He was the father of Sanjay Manjrekar....
was also forced to retire hurt in the first innings after being hit on the nose by Griffith, and the tourists were skittled out for 86. Despite an unbeaten century by Manjrekar in the second innings, following on, Barbados won by an innings and 95 runs, with Contractor, Polly Umrigar
Polly Umrigar
Pahlan Ratanji "Polly" Umrigar was an Indian cricketer. He played first-class cricket for Bombay, and Test cricket in the Indian cricket team, mainly as a middle-order batsman but also bowling occasional medium pace and off spin. He captained the Indian team in eight Test matches from 1955 to...
and E.A.S. Prasanna all absent.
Jordan became the first West Indian umpire to stand in a Test match outside his home territory when he officiated in the match between West Indies and Australia in Georgetown, Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana
Georgetown, estimated population 239,227 , is the capital and largest city of Guyana, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and it was nicknamed 'Garden City of the Caribbean.' Georgetown is located at . The city serves...
in April 1965. After the British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
umpires association ordered local umpire Cecil Kippins to withdraw at short notice, West Indies chairman of selectors and former Test cricketer Gerry Gomez
Gerry Gomez
Gerry Ethridge Gomez was a West Indian cricketer who played 29 Tests for the West Indies between 1939 and 1954, scoring 1,243 runs and taking 58 wickets. He captained in one match for the West Indies when England toured in 1947/8.Gomez was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad...
took Kippins' place - the first time that Gomez had umpired a first-class match, and his only Test as an umpire.
Jordan and Douglas Sang-Hue were the umpires in the drawn Test against the touring England in February 1968 at Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
. West Indies were bowled out for 143 in their first innings, 233 runs behind England, and were asked to follow on. Crowd trouble started on the fourth day when Basil Butcher
Basil Butcher
Basil Fitzherbert Butcher is a former West Indian cricketer who played in 44 Tests from 1958 to 1969. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1970....
was fifth out in the second innings with West Indies still 28 runs behind. The police used tear gas to subdue the crowd. Unfortunately strong winds blew the gas back towards the police, into the commentator's stand and then into the main pavilion, where the Governor-General, Clifford Campbell
Clifford Campbell
Sir Clifford Clarence Campbell ON, GCMG, GCVO, K.St.J was the first Jamaican-born Governor-General of Jamaica. He served in that position from December 1, 1962, until March 2, 1973....
, and other dignitaries were watching the match. The match was extended by 70 minutes into a sixth day to make up for lost time. A century by Gary Sobers set England a target of 159 to win, but the match ended with England on 68-8, still 90 runs behind.
His final match, after 21 years as a Test umpire, was then drawn match against England at Sabina Park
Sabina Park
Sabina Park is the home of the Kingston Cricket Club, and is the only Test cricket ground in Kingston, Jamaica and is often referred to as "The Holiday Home of Cricket"....
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
between 16 and 21 February 1974. He died in 1982, in Barbados.