Bill Copeland

Who was Bill Copeland?

William John Copeland, was an Australian Test cricket match umpire, from Warrnambool, Victoria.

He umpired 1 Test match in 1980 between Australia and England at Sydney on 4 January to 8 January 1980, a low-scoring game with bowlers Dennis Lillee, Geoff Dymock, and Len Pascoe giving Australia a victory by 6 wickets, after a number of controversial decisions went against England. Copeland’s partner was Robin Bailhache.

Copeland umpired one One Day International match in December 1979. In January 1979 he umpired one women’s Test match. Altogether, he umpired 14 first-class matches in his career between 1973 and 1980, the Test match being his last.

Off the field Copeland was a member of the Victorian police force.

Copeland died peacefully on 18 September 2011 aged 82.