Norman Townsend

{{Short description|Australian cricket umpire (1924–1984)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}}

Norman Edward Townsend (24 October 1924 – February 1984) was an Australian cricket Test match umpire.{{cite web|title=Norman Townsend|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/36/36203/36203.html|website=cricketarchive|accessdate=11 February 2015}}

Townsend was born in Northam, Western Australia. He served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1942 to 1948.{{cite web |title=Townsend, Norman Edward |url=https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1175741&c=WW2#R |website=DVA |access-date=28 February 2022}}

He umpired one Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Adelaide on 22 December to 27 December 1972, won by Australia by an innings with Ian Chappell scoring 196, Rod Marsh becoming the first Australian wicket-keeper to score a century, and Ashley Mallett taking 8/59 in Pakistan's second innings. Townsend's partner in this match was Max O'Connell.{{cite web |title=1st Test, Adelaide, Dec 22 - 27 1972, Pakistan tour of Australia |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pakistan-tour-of-australia-1972-73-61480/australia-vs-pakistan-1st-test-63094/full-scorecard |website=Cricinfo |access-date=2 March 2022}}

In the previous season, 1971/72, a World XI visited Australia and played a series of Test standard, although never officially recognised as Tests. Townsend stood in one of these matches, in Perth, in which Dennis Lillee took 8/29 and 4/63 to help Australia to an innings win against a powerful batting line-up.{{cite web |title=Australia v World XI, Perth 1971-72|url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1970S/1971-72/WORLD-XI_IN_AUS/WORLD-XI_AUS_10-12DEC1971.html |website=Cricinfo |access-date=2 March 2022}}