Billy seems to have become a permanent fixture in the International umpires' ranks since standing in his first ODI, when New Zealand met Sri Lanka at Seddon Park in March 1995.
 
Since his first international appointment thirty years ago, Billy has gone on to stand in over four hundred international fixtures. With 250-plus ODI matches and one hundred tests.
 
One not-so-well-known fact is that Billy Bowden's involvement in cricket started in the home of the Bay Oval, in Tauranga. Billy attended Tauranga South Primary School and Tauranga Intermediate in the late sixties through to the mid 1970s.
 
Tell us a little about how you got started in junior cricket.
I grew up playing cricket from the start of primary school. I played test cricket in the backyard with my older brother, sisters & Dad after school. My love & passion for cricket was wild, and I got my first size 2 Duncan Fearnley bat for my 5th birthday - I was the happiest kid in the world. I had a cricket ball in a sock tied to the clothesline so I could spend hours hitting it with my bat & then with a stump. I played for my school team & then moved on to playing club cricket on Saturdays   

What were the grounds that junior cricket was played on during your time in Tauranga?
We played at our school grounds & other school grounds. But mostly on Saturdays, we played at Tauranga Domain, and sometimes on Sundays during the summer  

Do you still have contact with friends from your long-ago days in Tauranga?
I left Tauranga to move to Milford on Auckland’s North Shore at 13 years old, and went to Westlake Boys High School, as my Dad, a Baptist Minister, shifted from Tauranga Baptist Church to Milford Baptist Church. I do see quite a few friends whenever I am in Tauranga, umpiring a 1st class cricket game at the Bay Oval. It's great to catch up & talk about the good ole days. My best Tauranga friend was Greg Heimann, who also played cricket with me; however, he passed away suddenly at a very young age, sadly. But I’ve kept in touch for over 45 years with his Dad & Mum (Max & Viv Heimann) & their daughters Sandra & Rachel, which has been really nice.
 
How far did you progress as a player before Rheumatoid Arthritis ended your playing days?
I had just come back from playing in the Lancashire Leagues in 1984 after playing for the Auckland B team & was in the Auckland A squad. During the winter, I suffered a virus & 2-3 months later, I was diagnosed with arthritis. I had to pull out of the AKL A squad to focus on getting back to good health, as I couldn't give the game I loved 100%
 
Why, how and where did you enter the umpire ranks?
One year after being diagnosed as having arthritis, there was an article in the NZ Herald calling for any umpires to give umpiring a go. Sometimes it's all about timing & for me, time was my friend, a blessed time, one could say. I had umpired a few age groups a few years before I got RA & loved it. So off I went to the AKL Umpires meeting at Eden Park. I must say, being only 23 at the time, I brought the umpiring average age down to around 45! 
 
Can you remember your first NZC Major Association game?
Yes clearly. It was at Eden Park in 1991-1992. A Shell Trophy Game, AKL v Northern Districts & my colleague was Tom McCall from Hamilton. David White, the former CEO of NZC, scored 157 until I gave him out run out! We still get on pretty well 33 years later (lol)
 
What were your feelings and aspirations on your first ICC umpiring appointment?
One of excitement leaving overseas for my first umpiring gig. To represent the ICC & NZ Cricket was a huge buzz. I felt I was ready for it. In saying that, a touch of nervousness & a few of those butterflies flying around inside, in about what lay ahead, the unknown was about to be known. Was I good enough? How do I handle pressure & handle making mistakes? I just told myself that I was appointed because NZC & ICC believed & had faith in me that I was up for the challenge. This gave me confidence to breathe normally & relax a little & be myself. I got through the game & came away wanting more gigs & opportunities to get better  
 
Tell us about your most memorable game standing in the middle.
Jeepers, there are a few. My first Test Match at Eden Park, NZ v Australia, March 11th 2000, would always be special. The 2 Steves as captain. Steve Fleming & Steve Waugh. Two tough & strong characters, like me, are fiercely competitive. Both were skilled at challenging you mentally throughout the 5 days with appeals & body language. To have them shake my hand after 5 days & say well done was rewarding.

 

What is the most dramatic finish you have been involved with?
The Ashes 2005 at Edgbaston with England winning by 2 runs to level the 5-Test series 1-1. After being thumped in the first Test at Lords, this was a massive game changer & momentum shift & it changed the whole Test series & also a 10-year period of Australia dominating Test cricket 
 
What are the pressures of umpiring in the international arena?
Being away from family & loved ones brings its pressures. Travelling around doing what you love & getting paid for it is the bonus. However, being in different countries, different food, the climate, the temperatures, the culture, the media, the crowds, all bring different pressures, especially when you are having a tough day in the battlefield. It can get pretty lonely at times, but I keep telling myself that the sun will rise, I will be criticised, but more importantly, my family will always love me! Guess what? Those sentiments haven't changed after 35 years.
 
Tell us about a few of the real characters of the game that you have encountered.
To me, you need characters & to have fun, a laugh or a joke along the way. There are a few in each team around the cricketing world. Laughter is the best medicine & the likes of Shane Warne, Andrew Symonds from Australia, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Irfan & Yusuf Pathan, Virender Sehwag from India, Trent Boult & Chris Harris from NZ, you always got a joke or a laugh from. They are true characters of the game, but boy oh boy, like me, they were truly competitive in every sense of the word, but found a way to enjoy themselves, have a giggle & have a laugh both on & off the field 
 
What still drives you to be involved in umpiring after three-plus decades out in the middle?
You can take umpiring out of Billy, but you can't take Billy out of umpiring! Firstly, fitness - it’s hugely important as an umpire. You're out there standing for 6-7 hrs a day in all weather conditions. I just love the challenge & making a difference in what I think is the best sporting code on the planet. Having the will, work ethic & desire, passion, & the willingness to improve & get better in all aspects of umpiring are some of the reasons why I've lasted for 35 years.
 
However, the most difficult decision is not on the field but off it. When to say ''over & time'' for the last time & going out at the top of your game is the key. Yes, leaving at 5 to 9, not 5 past 9! I would rather have people saying Why did Billy retire, instead of Why is Billy not retiring?! You'll never get everything right or be perfect, but how you respond to adversity is important. Being a good person & showing character in any given moment or situation will see you either sink or swim   
 
Where have your much-loved signals in the field come from? 
Arrrr, it's my DNA. I actually umpired hockey before becoming a cricket umpire. This is where a few moves with the whistle came from when teams were scoring goals, having penalty corners or free kicks. I've always enjoyed a few moves & a bit of dancing on the dance floor as well. Getting arthritis probably brought the moves on, as exercise was good for my arthritis.
 
Back in the early 1990s, Martin Crowe invented a game called "Max" cricket. There was a charity game at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland. He told me to let my hair down & enjoy it. I didn't need a 2nd invitation. There were a few special signals he wanted to use so I obliged with interest.  Yes, I have had my share of critics knockers in my career, but one thing for sure, I bet you I was having more fun than they were (lol). It made me determined to keep doing what felt natural to me, just being me. What you see is what you get. Oh, dare to be different, huh?
 
Where to from here into the future for Brent 'Billy' Bowden?
Well, it's not quite 5 to 9 yet. Probably 20 to 9 (lol) I'm looking forward to the 2025-2026 summer of cricket & not only umpiring but being a coach/mentor for the upcoming generation of umpires. I really enjoy it! Maybe that is something I could be interested in down the line. It's good to see some talent & depth in both men & women umpires coming through. It's exciting that we have a new Umpires Manager, Andrew Duncan, who has taken to his role like a duck to water. He is already a tremendous asset to NZC & to the umpiring & scorers fraternity.
 
There will hopefully be opportunities again for me to be invited to a few T20 tournaments overseas this coming season, which would be heaps of fun. Out of cricket, I'm excited to be able to get into a little merchandising business of my own. The company is called "Crooked Finger" & we have started making quality caps & bucket hats with various colours that fit any size head with the unique "crooked finger" logo. We will be having a website crookedfinger.co.nz coming soon, where you can purchase a cap or bucket hat online & become a member.