Rather than pre-season meetings or indoor training sessions, the pair began 2026 with overseas placements that saw them control matches in South Africa鈥檚 SA20 competition and the prestigious Ranji Trophy in India.
The pioneering exchange programmes are designed to help umpires accelerate their career development, exposing them to new conditions, environments, players and pitches.
鈥淚t was probably as close as I could imagine to umpiring international T20,鈥� said Blackwell, who enjoyed four appointments during a 10-day trip to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
鈥淭here was no real hiding place. It was a very high standard with big crowds.鈥�
He added: 鈥淓xperiences like that take you out of your comfort zone and help to break down those 鈥榳hat if?鈥� barriers: questions like 鈥楢m I good enough?鈥� There鈥檚 no substitute for actually standing out in the middle, and to do it on that sort of stage was invaluable.鈥�
For both Blackwell and White, these trips provided their first overseas appointments.
White said: 鈥淐ricket is cricket to a certain extent, but there are different protocols in how they umpire (in India) and how they go about things. From a learning perspective, you鈥檙e outside your comfort zone because you don鈥檛 know the players and they don鈥檛 know you. You have to make a quick impression and show that you鈥檙e confident in doing the job you鈥檙e doing.鈥�
White鈥檚 preparation for his trip included a Teams call with the umpires he was due to stand with.
鈥淚 was very much a guest in their cricket, so I followed their lead in how they went about things,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut the whole experience was completely invaluable. For anyone who has ambitions to progress and umpire at the next level, trips like this give you experience of officiating in different conditions before you step into international cricket. I can鈥檛 speak highly enough of it. It was a hugely positive experience.鈥�
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He added: 鈥淓ven if I do go on to umpire international cricket, I might not ever again have the chance to officiate in someone else鈥檚 domestic competition. To do it in the Ranji Trophy, which has such a long history, was a real privilege and something I鈥檒l always remember. I hope it acts as a springboard for me to continue progressing and improving.鈥�
Blackwell agreed with White鈥檚 assessment.
鈥淎s umpires, we all have similar goals and aspirations. You have your set routines, and everyone wants to be the best they can be,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he ideology of umpiring is about striving for excellence and relying on your partner as much as possible. Going to the SA20 and working as part of a different team was a great experience. I鈥檒l certainly take a lot from it.鈥�
The exchange will see an Indian umpire stand in Rothesay County Championship matches during June and an umpire from South Africa officiate in The Hundred.
Previously, Sure Redfern has benefitted from the programme having umpired in Australia鈥檚 Big Bash League.
Richard Glynne-Jones, head of officiating at the 春梦直播, said: 鈥淭he feedback we鈥檝e received from both India and South Africa has been excellent. The benefits of these trips to Rob and Ian are significant, and hopefully they can share their learnings with their 春梦直播 colleagues over the coming weeks and months.
鈥淲hen the opportunities arise, we鈥檒l always encourage our umpires to go on exchange programmers like this. They鈥檙e a key part of developing even better umpires that will benefit the game for years to come.鈥�