The cricket community is this week celebrating a resurgence in umpire numbers after an off-season marred by controversy and disputes.

Four of the six WDCA division one matches will have two umpires in charge.

The other two, as well as every division two and division three clash, will have one umpire. Clubs will have to supply a player to stand at square leg. Warrnambool Cricket Umpires’ Association (WCUA) secretary Sean Cole said the increased numbers was good news for the sport.

“For the first time in three years at least we have sufficient umpires to have an umpire in every game for the coming round,” he said.

“That includes all of division three. And most of division one has two umpires … it’s bloody fantastic.”

The resurgence has come after a winter full of drama, sparked when the WDCA attempted to seize control of umpire management in April.

The WDCA claimed the WCUA had broken a memorandum of understanding between the pair, with its decision designed to lift umpire numbers. But the incursion sparked a bitter months-long dispute which ultimately required mediation.

The outcome was the creation of an independent selection panel (ISP) which featured representatives of both organisations.

The WDCA-WCUA relationship remains testy and the parties have separate training and development programs.

But their willingness to work together has sparked the improved health of the umpiring ranks.

There are 27 umpires in the pool to choose from, up from 18 at the best of times last season.

“(The ISP) takes the pressure off the executive of the umpires and it makes sense. I haven’t got a problem with it,” Cole said.

WDCA chairman Nick Frampton said increased numbers reflected the success of the association’s umpiring academy, launched in 2013.

“At the end of the day we’ve got umpires on the park, which is what players will be happy about,” he said.

“The independent selection panel is working to ensure we’ve got the best umpires in the best game.

“They have allocated umpires into panels. There will be a certain group of umpires who will look after division one games.

“Another panel will look after division two and a third panel will look after division three, with slight movement between the panels.

“The idea is throughout the season you’ll hone your skills in the division and get to know the players and be able to build that rapport.”

The independent selection panel features Frank Lenehan as chairman, WDCA board member Tony Brown and WCUA member Keith Ellerton.

“What we’ve seen is real change. We’ve put a policy in place and we’ve made it happen,” Frampton said.